New-York tribune., 1901-10-13
THE DIR ANA.
,,1ss GALLAND IN A NEW PLAY.
THE LOVE MATCH"

Fm O. the neat exposition Of a story of matri-
hsDs, irfeIIcity. evanescent amatory trouble and
1,rostantial complication, Variegated with en-
e,,,br,ents Of eccentric and conventional English
pe.- and enlvened with an incidental por-
ch :. formal commonplace English household
a-s Like all the plays that come from Mr.
L5vss hand # is marked by ingenuity Of mech
-, and by that continual relevance or natural
---r,, which is at once eXpositive Of character
coz cumulative Of movement. Its value, however.
81. =, found TO consist more in superficial quail
" " outward hourishes, eccentricities of person
-. and traits of manner.-than in either dra-
-,. s,,bstance or memorable significance. The
M - ,s adrotly told but. intrinsically it was not
ST., s', worth the telling; although. certainly. it
e'' q rnornentariy amusing contrast of thinly
P+-fc and typically dense English characters,
'.o,,s one dramatic situation (of forced and
cOsI ,sIoI kind though effective), frames occasion
considerable display of fervid feeling, and
~ s,-+s its beholder's sense of right with graft
60 and salutary rebuke Of injustice.
Hs 80 scene of "A Love Match" is manor house
. -.rl,ebire England. to the city of Read
u - The matrimonial infelicity is that of Pansy
-' :. castro who having surreptitously married a
s.,nating rascal, and subsequently left him be-
' -sa ~ his vicious and brutal conduct is living
% her tyranncal old maiden aunt. by whose
-,roand she has resumed her family name and
o,sented tc the suppression of her domestic his
- and under whose stern dominion she is made
.++erlv 10 feel the iron yoke of bondage. This old
nsn-a formidable and fussy. yet ludicrous
snot who regulates everybody around her. and,
,ns all regulators. dffuses incessant MISERY'S
,nareut heir all the estate of her deceased
h-other Pansy's father, with the single exception
:, ncture painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds, which
a. beoueathed to Pansy, and which ultimately
ovas TO be the depository of final will. in her
sovor written on the back Of the canvas, insurng
to her an ample inheritance Pansy, in her for
Io-n and prosecuted state, has won the love of a
worthy and kindly man. whom-although, secretly.
in .--cfa iS Ohlfo 70
Affairs being in this posture. her husband comes.
b. night and cuts the Reynolds picture out of its
frame intending steal it, but he is surprised and
nrevented by Pansy. and, after leaving her, in a
state Of desperate misery. he browns himself in the
Thames. The discovery Of the final will ensues as
consequence of this knave's feonious proceedings:
the selfish obnoxious but fantasticaly comic old
aunt is discounted; and Pansy. lowered with
wealth and blessed at last with true affection, is
relieved from the sorrowful results of bad Love
Match and enabled to possess the joys of a good
one.
Miss Galland shows that she has had plenty of
experience now that she has got into a rational
play for she and her associate players interpreted
this comedy in a spirit of winning earnestness
and vfvecity so as 10 leave upon every observing
mind impression OF commingled ability and zeal.
The domestic tyrant Miss Harriet de Castro, was
assumed by Mrs. Walcot, whose stimulation of heart
lessnes acerbity petulance and consequential state
IS so thorough be almost painful. and yet so
comic. At the last this character is occupied with
plans for the erection Of a marble mausoleum upon
the lawn OF the Berkshire home, TO enshrine pres
emily her defunct person. and locally 20 perpetuate
her unsavory memory. Mrs. Walcot's demeanor
and deliVery-evolving all the humor OF the part
(Which OF course is intended a satire on itseO.-
are such as nevertheless, to make it seriously po-
tentisl; and herein the fine actress shows the
premscy OF talent and the advantages Of ripe ex-
perience. This old tyrant is really the dominant
aT1s o4I,a
persons revolve and upon which its whole struct-
ure depends. Miss Galland acted Pansy giving
sweet and simple suggestion Of good
who has known sorrow, who has learned
bear afiiction with patience. who is strong amid
trials OF painful circumstance. and who is capable
equally OF self-sacrihce and Of love. The dominant
traits OF the part sadness and apprehensive
perplexity-the woman being shamed with memory
Of bad husband and grieved for her dead child,
and worse still. being constrained 10 maintain a
false positon-but over this aspect OF natural grief
there is steadily TO be diffused semblance OF
posure and even Of cheer When alone she may
drop the mask and, at the climax when she at
length confronts the wretch who has darkened
and embittered her life. she may yield TO the emo
tons hitherto suppressed, and speak freely from
The depths Of her woe. Miss Galland, whose soft,
seductive beauty, romanticaly mournful counte-
nance, caressing voice. and sensibility OF tenn
peTament are s!ngularly harmonious with such an
ideal, manifested discretion in her slow impairment
demands Of the crowning situation. The part
however, is neither exalted, obscure, complex, ex-
ecung, nor In any way difficult OF representation
hy any experienced actress. There is nothing
uaoroinary about it. or about the play, and in
common justice well common sense, it should
be added that there is nothing exceptional in Miss
Salands acting Of It In the reluctant rejection
of her lover in her revolt against the cruel aunt
and In the scene Of final parting with the depravei
husband, she evinced decided force, without, how
ever, much directness precision Of art. Sin
eerity should. al least. be simulated Pansy's an
guish did not prevent her display Of most opu-
lent and various wardrobe. Grief has not at any
time been more elaborately and bewitchingly
Tayed Mr.. F. c. Bangs contributed to the humor-
Gus vein OF the representation by a clever embodi-
nent OF the dragon-aunt's meek. submissive, plat-
tuoinous brother. There are two suitors for the
hand Of Pansy. a manly fellow, and the other
me limp curate: these also help the mirth. Miss
Deronda Mayo showed excellent spirit. a roguish
girl who is suddenly stirred TO righteous anger.
The scenes are rich and handsome, especially that
OF the Picture Gallery.