Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-26
Tho New York Sun.

Audrey" q dramasization OF Mary
Jobpson's novel, by Harriet Ford and r.
p Beddington was presented at the
Madison Square Theatre last night
Eleanor Robson headed an eScenent COM
pany and played the wood nylnph AUDREY.
For several reasons, the tragic end OF the
book has been altered 10 a happy one
in the stage version: Audrey marries
Howard. and Hugon. the halfbreed kills
himself. thus placating the sensibilities
OF the matinee girl. OF Monday night
that same girl can witness tragedy dire
and bloody: but Saturday afternoon she
prefers her plays charged with candied
sentiments and whiffs Of violets. And
Audrey seems to have been primarily
designed for the matinee girl.
The drsmatization Of most novels usual
~ results in a compound that is neither
fish nor flesh nor good red fiction. "Au-
drye'' is no exception. 1t has gracious
moments. pretty speeches, sentiments.
situations. costumes, but its story is put
on the stage in six unrelated episodes
during which the spectator awalts-and
it comes not. Those in the audience last
night who had not read the novel, knew
before the final curtain dropped that i
was better than the play. and it needed
not the sixth sense Of clairvoyancy TO
pass this judgment. 1t was writ large in
every act.
The first half of Act I. was comic opera
pure and simple. with all the joyous ir-
relevancy of that entertaining form of
art. But at its close Audrey reveals in
single fash her nature. Curtain. Act II.
shows US the home Of Audrey's protectors.
Again we await tie act that will hasten
the tale. Despite the pretty love advances
of the pair and the baleful arrow-noth-
ing, no struggle, no drama Curtain!
Act III, not SO good the preceding one
because less happens. Curtain! Act ",
the governors ball, is che of the clum-
siest. ill-devised of scenes. There is
row at the close led up to in an absurdly
CLYDE Fitch. Hawthorne-or any one:
A church scene, a denunciation. a deTni-
nine scolding, a rude Indian embrace ard
Aulrcw despairs. Yet nothing has hap
pened. Curtairi Last act something does
Audrey marries and all Miss JohnstOn's
careful preparation in the novel goes Tor
naught There is no tragedy. It has heen
switched to suicide This is not playing
fair in the game. The half-breed, despite
his Sir Henry Irving accent, is the one
live character ir the piece. However, for
the sake CT formality-curtain!
Eleanor Robson acted with her oo
charm and skill. She wa- ably seconded
by James Wilson. Frederick Perry was
an active Hugon. The rest We're well
cast. Eugene Presbrey staged the play
several Of the scenes were picturesque
and Henry X. Hadley wrote the inciden-
tai music. He also conducted it. Within
its bars was more action than in the
entire drama Observation-Disclosures is better
word Mr.. Hadleys pre..dc contains
musical summary of the noyel-not the
play-and there are frequent dances In
;crspersed throughout. Audrey's woe is
also depicted. as is the revengeful char
acter of the Indian. This latter was the
most characteristic. The audience was
friendly. There were applause and flow
ers for Miss Robson-but the curtain was
the protagonist Of the play.