New-York tribune., 1901-03-19
NEW PLAY AT THE LYCFT-u
THE SHADES OF NIGHT

From the play OF "A ROYAL Family - ,,..,-- -
otsslui at the Lyceum, and still prosperous sIso
"here' the public has learned that its author 60
tam Marshall is a man of rare talent vrbosa -,
Is strongly distinctive, if not exceptionally original
ana VINO possesses expert invention vbir,,s,
Iahey' satirtcal force. and the faculty OF the rb
touch These attributes again appear in his -
ana relicttous comedy. The Shades of No.. >.
"hleh was acted last night at the Lyceunn a. Az
a1terplece TO The Lash Of a Whip" In ~
taorlc or whim and sentiment two love stories are
def'Iy olended.-the scene being an old mansior A.
rural England. and the persons being two b,,r,.- -
beings and two spectres. 1t is revealed tba, ,ch.
IN mortal life the ghosts man and woman wsra
lovers that their romance had a fatal end ard
that they are doomed 10 haunt this mansion tha
scene OF 'helr experience. until a betrothal shah
rave taken place between two descendants of +bet.
respective families. The living lovers a-a .ba
descendants, and their ultimate alliance Hfrs "tb
curse which Is usual in such cases and sends tha
perturoed spirits 10 rest In the structure ard
conduct OF the piece the phantoms are for
time, supposed TO be invisible and inaud,
Die TO the mortals There is a colloquy for
the material speakers, there is colloquy for tbs
spiritual speakers. and there is conversation Tor
the quartet; and the words and actions of these
n'eriocutors are contrasted and commingIed in a
manner that is steadily felictous and incesssntly
droH- The plan might have been wrested m
tragical effect,-as remotely kindred plan has
been. in one of Mr.. Shorthouse's noveIs-but Can
tain Marshall's purpose was whimsical nerrinnent
and he has shown lovely spirit and admirable
artistic dexterty in the accomplishment of il The
phantoms are shown in rehearsal OF their poison
ing scene which was the supreme scene of their
mortal lives; Sir Ludovic. on being rejected bv
Lady Mildred. had proposed a parting glass. and
had prepared a poisoned dFaught for his own
absorption, but. as he explains. the lady drank
both doses. and so expired and the mirth is made
by grotesqUe theatrical presentment of that
catastrophe, effected with studied elegance. Read
ers who recall Charles Dickens's story Of the
Phantom Mail Coach, in ''Pickwick' will surmse
the drift the atmosphere and the general effect Of
this truly delicious piece OF art The chief parts
impersonated by e. NJ. Holland and Miss
Elsie De Wolfe. and their Joyous. fluent acting en-
HANGED the sparkling effect of the play.
Mr. Arnold DAILY. new face here. acted IN
vein of fine discretion and spoke the language with
exceptional clarity and purity of articulation, max
ing the lover duly sentimental yet preserving the
exact character of the modern English youth 1Ir
z. NJ Holland. whose versatility has long been re-
markabIe. gave a proof OF it: his elaborate
old world. antique manner being excellent in
stateIiness. and charmingIy touched with comic
humor Miss De Wolfe impaired TO the perform
a most agreeable element of refinement. The
play is a distinct success and one of the brightest
features of the season.
CAST OF THE SHADES OF NIGHT"
Lady Mildred Yestsr. ghost Elsie De Woifs
WinfIeG W. lester b, ~ HiiT HiI14
Captain Hon Terence Trivett Arnold DAILY
The first performance in America OF The Shades
of Night il will be remembered. was given az the
Broadway Theatre, on Friday afternoon. March 1.
on the occasion of the benefit for the Actors Fund
Its several parts then acted by Cecilia Lotus
William Courtnay. Alison skipworth and Grant
Stewart W. ".