New-York tribune., 1901-09-16
LONDON DRAMA.
MISS MARIE 1M0EpKST AS BECKY SHARP
SALT THAT DOES NOT
LOSE SAVIOR

X.
pect to satisfy close interpreters of Thackeray.
A play could not be constructed by piecing to-
gether episodes precisely as the novelist staged
and connected them. In order to provide CO.
nerent play with motives and dramatic situa-
tions they were forced to alter the entrances
ana exits OF characters. to put quotations in the
wrong mouths. to rearrange one tableau after
another, and TO alter the artistic values of va
rious elements of great picture of modern
manners Photographic accuracy in the repro
ouction OF the scenes was impraeticable The
best series of illustrations of Vanity Fair" ever
made would not be servceable for stage pur-
poses. even IL the costumes were faithfully
copied and the characters transformed into talk
ing machines Transpositions and nterpola-
tions were inevitable. il play were to be based
upon the life story of Becky Sharp. Lovers Of
Thackeray ought not to have been surprised If
they found themselves in topsy-turveydom on
the opening night of the play with the Marques
or Steyne turning up Unexpectedly in the flower
market at Brussels; with Amelia converted into
a victim of hystercal emotion as a theatrical
foil for Becky; with Dobbin missing and Peggy
O'Dowd borrowing some of his remarks: with
rearrangement of the scene at Gaunt House:
with Mr.. Wenham intruding upon the privacy OF
Rawdon Crawley in Cursitor-st.. and with nu-
merous other alterations and innovations Jf
they had not been prepared for these variations
they should have remained in their libraries and
reread, In peace and quiet, an illustrated edi-
tion Of Vanity Fair
Mr.. Hichens and Mr.. Gordon-Lennox who
have undertaken the dramatization Of Vanity
Fair" have succeeded in producing an amusing
and interesting play for uncritical audiences
whose recollections of the book are vague and
confused They have done their work satisfac-
he bOy Of
shall be surprised if the play does not have
long run. The galleries will laugh at the carica-
lures of Jos Sedley. General Tufto. Amelia and
George Osborne, if the bookwOrn writhes
and squirms in his STALL and the clowning of
the Waterloo officers and the social functions
AT Gaunt House, with the costumes. the theatri-
calls. the Royal Parsonage. the stage supper and
the old fashioned Regency dance. will appeal TO
the sympathes of large classes of playgoerS
The dramatists may not have reproduced the
environment of the British army on the eve Of
Waterloo. or created the atmosphere of Curzon-
st. and Gaunt House. but they have not lost
sight of the wholesome satire of Vanity Fair"
The spirit of the book is in the play. and ii is
well adapted for the illustration Of the follies
and weaknesses of smart society of the day.
Whether Miss Tempest makes as much of the
part of Becky Sharp either of the American
actresses recently associated with the imperso-
nation, l cannot say. This was the first stage
Becky whom / had seen; and l found little
ground for criticism. The artifces and man
nerisms of musical comedy. which were con-
spicuOus in Miss Tempest's English Nell and
Peg Wellington. We're less observable in her
Becky. She conveyed a clear, definite impression
of heartless and ambitious upstart. bent upon
getting on in the world by hook or by crook.
and indifferent TO means penalties. so long
as she could force her way into the presence
OF the great. She invested the part with the
intellectual charm and fascination of an alert
and resourcefuI if shallow. mind. Her Becky
neither desperately wicked nor i'll natured.
Moral sense was utterly lacking for the direc-
ton of an irrepressibe ambition for social ad-
vancement. She was good natured and some
times generous when impulse not diverted
by calculation; and she always light
hearted and nimble wtted, finding childish
sense of pleasurable excitement in her shallow
intrigues and social adventures. and attracting
men to her by sheer joy in life. BY many light
touches and much comic byplay Miss Tempest
succeeded in making Becky a real and intelli-
gible character. with subtle fascination, even
in her coolest and most heartless moments. She
was most effective in the scenes with the Mar
guess of Steyne and at the ball in Gaunt House,
where she filed the stage with sense or her
social triumph.
The old satyr. the Marques was decrepit,
blear eyed and toothless. as impersonated py
Mr.. Gilbert Hare who has marked talent for
old parts 1t the most characteristic
Thackeray figure on the stage. and an admirable
foil for Becky The Marques was felt as
definite personality and social force through
out the pIav and this was much. for Thackeray
drew him from life. Mr.. Leonard Boyle marred
a fine performance as Rawdon Crawley oy eA-
cessive laughter: but ne was effective IN the
parting with Becky before Waterloo. ana ae'eu
admirably in the spOnging house scene anu Ia
the final interview with his wife ana the Mar
GUESS This was the strongest acting scene III
the plsv and brought down the curtain with
proper effect of climax II Amelia ana 0eOrso
Osborn were indifferently played. so that one
was thankful that there was no DooOin' -''
Holman Clark bore striking resenolahee ~
Thackerays Pitt Crawley. and there was MUS
conical Mrs. O'Dowd who was welcomed Tor
her brogue even II she were sorely out Oh piaee
in the revels at Gaunt House. The play "a'
admirably staged and eostumed, and a pretty
song was provided for Miss Tempest "heh SH0
was bent upon fascinating the Royal Personas7
There were obvious flaws both in the Worh u
the pIaywrights and of the actors 1t was haiui'
worth while to make the weeping anu aiOeA'
Amelia a victim OF hysteria merely TOT 'he So
of heightening the contrast with the Gun"
unconditional Becky; nor was IL necessary
send the sentimental Jos Sediey spraWhhs az
against countesses. nor to muster the oIhcei' -
Wellington's army low comedians aihois -
Brussels flower girls merely TO excite hio"
airy laughter in the galleries Tne play
dignity IN passages where farcicai effects oluh.-
ed the fine edge of satire. and some OF thU ~
ors were too noisy and clownish on the opehlns
night. These defects will probably disappeA.
with the compression needed for closer piaSii's'
and when the sense of proportion and vaiues