The St. Louis Republic., 1901-10-15
AN ENGAGING PLAY Is THIS ONE,
THE FIRST DUCHESS OF MARLBOROUGH

Mrs LeAroyne has good right TO feel proud
of what she did at the Century Thea,er
las: right.
One of the best audiences of any season
in ST. Louis found itself capitally enter
taihed throughout fve-act play that was
devoid of the usual interests that play
goers look for
On the other hand. it had two or three
interests of another kind, and all OF them
we're of the best sort.
Mrs. LeMoyne's chief pride must lie in
the fact that she centered in all Of these
irterests-and held attention from the be-
ginning of the first act to the end of the
fifth act.
1t n:attered not to the audience that Mr..
Meltzer had toyed somewhat with mis- his
tory. He couldn't help hiTse!f-for history.
as you may know. has way of working
ii.ef out without regard 10 the subsequent
playwright and his needs. 1t mattered not to
the audience that there was no young love
story, that there was no brilliant youth
with daredeviltry in his action. that there
was no signing sweetheart. no pusins mail
er-it was enough to hear the story of in
trigre that was so admirably worked out
by Mrs. LeMoyne principglly) and Eer ca
pable company Of Players.
There was consistency and realism
about the famous folks of history that
made them seem akin TO what our fances
would make Of them. II frequently happens
that plays of history. as interpreted by
players, keep far away from the popular
conception whsr the famous individual -
pictured. / recall the Doctor Johnson played
in Mr.. Robson's ''G1ldsmith." II was too
slow n parsonage for the wise man that the
audience had in mind. Then we have had
Garricks who didn't seem 10 be real-and
SO on through long list.
But Doctor Swift came to us with a rsal-
thing look last night. From the moment
of his entrance until the last glimpse If
him he appeared to be the man of the wan-
dering minds eye. He was played with
tkis commanding intelligence by Mr.. Joseph
Wilkes Robert Harley. the man of manu-
scripts who plotted with Mrs. Masham. was
an exquisite piece of villa!ny at the hands
of Mr. Frederick Paulding an actor who
has always had capability, but whose name
and fame seemed to have slipped away
from the audience of last night. for It was
time indeed before he got the applause
that usually comes to the well-known one
long before there has been a line of speech
to earn it. 1t was pleasant TO note that
Mr. Paulding had lost none of his old-time
graces.
1.-The First Duchess of Marlborough tells
a connected and swiftly-moving story Of
the intrigues that fell about the Duchess in
'he wabbly court of Anne. Mrs. Masham.
aided by MIR. Harley. are the chief plotters.
and the five acts present succession Of in
trtcacies that hold attention capitally.
Mrs. LeMoyne continues TO be the best of
all our women readers. There are moments
when 1t seems that her voice is not so gooI
as 1t used TO be. but there is never an in
stant when she IS not mistress OF the words
and phrases that form upon her lips.
The man who cares for art in his dramat-
les will 60 to see this new play. whether
he cares for the historical period or not.
he Will go whether he has yearning for
swift. for an impersonation of John
churchill. Duke of Marlborough for the
wonderful Sarah-or the rest He will find
himself amply repaid when Mrs. lie Moyne
Is before the gaze. The John. Duke OF
Marlborough. is capitally done by Mr.. Rus