New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-11-11
THE DRAMA.
MRS. LIE MoYNE AT THE GARDEN.
AMONG THOSE PRESENT.


Mrs. lie Moyne, cordially welcomed by numer-
Gus and appreciatlVe audience. appeared at the
Garden Theatre last night. and in a play by Mr.
Glen Macdonough. entitled Among Those Pres
EFT /" she impersonated the vague character OF a
leader OF fashionable society. The person thus
,euresented seems to have heen meant as a typif-
cation Of frivolity. fuss and extravagance and
the underlying design, in presenting her. 20
have been.-by setting forth this image in a tangled
environment of frippery and prattle-to intimate
that these the cardinal attributes Of contem-
porary society and that the prevalence of them is
something 10 be deeply deplored. The proposition
that social defects. wherever they exist are OBJ
iectionahle and ought be remedied is not likely
10 impress any observer momentously novel,
but least il is conservative and respectable and
Mr. Macdonough's comedy should therefore be
commended for accuracy Of moral vision and rec
titude OF pnecept. just now new play that is de-
cent shines by comparison, but. aside from these
virtues this fabric is trite insipidity and fral
10 attenuation.
Importance OF salutary meaning may not, per-
haps always be essential. i'm theatrical satire on
society: humor OF treatment sometimes sufices: but
surely such satire should be representative with
pictorial truth. in this piece the story is neither
interesting. representative, nor brightly told
No such society exists has here been denoted.
and no such incidents could be made dramatically
effective IN themselves, as are here rehearsed. The
fashionable spendthrift Mrs Clinton alienates her
between them temporary separation; but Mrs.
Clinton Is kindly and clever and when her 1u-
venile widow friend Mrs. Parker,-who has been
eted by gay acquaintance Of the name Of Penn
broke.-res bullet into the person OF that faith
less swain. she deftly interposes to comfort this
impassioned and impetuous lady, and while shield
ing her from the consequences Of a bad shot.
GWakens 70 q consciousness Of her folly, and
becomes reconciled TO her husband and 10 a sensi-
bic and decorous manner of social life. Such
story Is well enough IN its way, but its way. OBJ
ViOusly, is little These persons not specific and
vital characters, expressing themseves,-as in a
comedy they ought TO express themselves.-by con-
duct that is naturally fluent from their several and
distinct personalities: they are scarcely more than
wooden puppets, pulled with strings. Mrs Clinton
must act like a reckless fool. in order that Mr..
Clinton may leave her. Mr.. Pembroke must make
unnecessary marriage with a disreputable ad-
ventures, in order that the Widow Parker whom
he has discarded, may shoot at him. Mr. Clinton
must be surgeon, in order that he may be
hand TO dress Mr. Pembroke's wound And Mrs.
Clinton who has rismanaged frightfully at the
beginning, must manage beautifully at the close.
Mrs. lie Moyne is. Of course, expeditions. adroit.
and competent in all the situations OF the piece
and her polished action and fine elocution mot
E1thstanding a heavy cold, make her performance
delightful. and invest the play with a briniancy
which. but for her. It would wofully lack-for most
of its persons are vacuous simpletons. and most
Of its dialogue sounds like the chatter OF monkeys.
No doubt vapid persons occur in society, but
they DO out of IL: the literary and artistic class
has monopoly OF brains: and. whatever may be
its faults society is not composed exclusively OF
fools. The play opens with mere gable. plunges
into farce and then tamely wobbles around the in
cident OF q possible homcide-and all TO say that
q woman who lives for the purpose of being named
IN a newspaper among those present has lived
sn vain. Mrs. lie Moyne has but few opportunities
Of acting. Her dismissal OF the countess. who is
Bscertained TO have been criminal. marked
with distinction and innate authority. and her
sumption OF self-command and her expeditions
action after the incident of the shooting has been
disclosed revealed the trained and sure touch OF the
accomplished actress Among the auxiliar perform
hnces. those OF DR.. Clinton. by Harold Russell
simple, digniied and right-Van Coriears, by
George Gaston-a neat sketch Of q subdued hen
pecked husband-snd Mrs Parker. by Olga E9inck
good study OF jealous suffering and passion
attracted special observance Nasal tones and mis-
pronunciations were as abundant as ever-"gut" for
got ''un" for EN-" 'gentlemun'' for gentleman,
etc Neglect OF the art OF speaking seems 10 be
radical and permanent Mrs. LIE Moyne however,
Is always heard with pleasure. Her play IS weak:
her personal success is strong. W. W.