The Washington times., 1902-06-03

| plays who continually harps on the
| idea that the unknown dramatist has
no chance with the modern theatrical
manager will rise up and point out tina,
no Pauline that ever lived could oyer
forget and forgive the trick Claude
| played upon her and actually live 10
learn to love him: he will assert that
| the whole thing is bosh. and artificial
to a superlative degree.
What if it is?
Anybody who would dare stand ND and
| tell that intelligent audience at the
Rapley playhouse last night that 1t was
all wrong in applauding the seutimen-
| tai speeches of Claude and Pauline
would be informed that St Elizabeth's
is across the river and that there are
still few unoccupied rooms.
A Model for Dramatists.
OF course. much that the disappointed
dramatist claims is true to a certain de-
gree. 1t is fact that the language of
the play is not the kind that would find
much favor with the average audience
Of the present period. but Sir Edward
George Earle Lytton Bulwcr-afterward
finite charm. one that has served as
model for many later dramatic writings,
none of which has ever attained any
thing like the success of the original
The chances are that THE Lady OF
Lyons: or, Love and Pride''-to give its
full title-will be entertaining the pub
lie long after the vast majority of lat
ter-day plays have been forgotten.
The CHIEF interest in the performance
centers in the work of Eyrle Bellew
whose tour in ~ Gentleman of France"
did not bring him to Washington dur
ing the past season. MIR. Bellew has
played Claude on and off for these many
years. and should know Just about how
TO handle the sugar-coe:ed gentleman
He makes him fascinating sort of n
youth, as pretty as paint and powder
and satins and laces will permit OF. not
to mention the players own clcan-cut
beauty.
AS the Prince. Mr.. Bellew is nightly
good, but 1t is as the peasant that he fails
to convince as he should. The trouble
is that he is the Prince from the very
moment he makes his appearance upon
the stage. Certainly no such graceful
and handsome a clodhoppcr ever exist
cd. But when Mr.. Bellew assails the
heart of the fair Pauline he is the
IDEAL Melnotte.
Here is an actor that some of tho
products OF the dramatic schools might |
study with much profit. He reads his
lines with intelligence, splendid elo- |
cutionary powers and marked clarity |
His gestures are the very personifica- /
ton of grace, and IL there Is any little |
trick that he has not learned in the |
school Of the drama he did not forget |
Il last night
His performance was source Of |
much delight to all the students of |
he stage and overshadowed the numer-
,us little deficiencies of the other end
If the starring combination.
OF the supporting company undoubted-
Y the best is Edwin Arden, who ap-
,ears as Monsieur Beauseant Mr..
arden can always be counted upon to
i've a performance that is just about as
'erfect as possible. and in his newest
ole he adds another notable charac-
erization to his already long list of
marked successes. Maclyn Arbuckle's
)amas is the conventional. He has one
t the difficult characters of the play.
nd he succeeds very well in picturing
he warm hearted, big. blun. cam
aigner.
one Of the best bits Of work done by
he feminine contingent is contributed
" Mrs. w. G. Jones, as the Widow
ielnotte. She is an old-time actress.
no in her day as Julia Deane essayed
'auline with no little success. AS the
'idow she is simply splendid. I
other members OF the organization
re May Davenport Seymour, a daugh-
nr of William Seymour, who was earlier
! the season the stage manager at the
lafayette Square Theater. and who is |
for the excellence of THE
ady OF Lyons" production: Mrs. Kate
attison Selten. Russell Craufurd and
random Tyford.
THE Lady OF Lyons" is the last thea {
-ical performance that will be seen at !
ne National Theater until the com '
enccment OF next season. in September.