New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-17
THE DRAMA.
COMEDY AT THE GARDEN THEATRE-MRs.
PATRICK CAMPBELL

The Garden Theatre opered last night for
the new dramatic season. and Mrs Patrick Camp
bell appeared there in play called Aunt Jeannie
giving an exposition of adroit feminine duplicity
and effective feminine Establishments and pleasing
q considerable assemblage Of the admirers of &C.
centric character and fantastic The fine figure
and opulent ratment of this singular actress are
customarily viewed with pleasure and they were
so viewed on this occasion: the play by Mr. z. F.
Benson. was observed with occasional CLEANS Of
favor but for the most part with lauguid interest
In the person of Aunt JEANNE, Mrs Campbell has to
represent a tempting widow who temporarily tan
giles herself in mesh of troubles by flirting with
her nieces betrothed lover order to prevent that
nieCes marriage with a scamp Her purpose is &C
complished: but. in the pursuit of it, she grieves
her niece and aftiicts her lover and, for a
time. she suffers the usual consequences CT virtu-
Gus selt-saCrinCe. The play becomes mildly ardent
its episode of allurement but in the main it is
habby and feeble and the public will gain nothing
from its production. aside from a pleasing view of
Mrs Campbelrs somewhat nature though still
potential. fascination It is the prox synopsis of
sentimental love story-probabIy a French novel
and it is completely destitute of movement The
love story. Furthermore is wildly irrational There
was need for the widow TO resort 10 the tndelicate
expedient of Irritation. her scheme is unreces-
sary' as 1t Is vulgar and there the slight
est need of Withholding her confidence from the
whom she had plighJed her troth The
motive Of Aunt Jeanne's dupIicity however. Is
Trtuous one,-the decelver. whom she dupes. be-
fools, and exposes having caused the 1nisera BILE
death of her nieCe's own sister so that Aunt
jeanne is neither immoral nor morbid. In a
mote sense The theme of Mr.. Benson's piece is
analogous to that of Tennyson's Promise of
May: but the comedy is more study of manners
and an emblematc depletion of woman's wit Its
style is dulness incarrate.
Mrs Patrick CamphelIs acting Of Aunt JEANNE
neither gives new impression nor modifies the old
one The actress shows neither depth of feeling
nor power Of expression; but her acting is sincere
the easy and jealous expositura of a sensitive.
feverish. nervous temperament; sometimes spark
ling and graceful often fantastic. almost always
artificial with self-conscious manner. even at the
highest tension Of excitement. II reveals neither
opulence of emotional nature nor commanding no
bilitv Of intellectual purpose The better Of its
memorable attributes professional zeal. sweet
ness OF caresslng zone, demure pleasantly. and
finely intelligent. though often i11istinCt delivery.
In the chief scene the usual weapons Of coquetry
were employed with expert proficiency. but this,
surely. cannot be deemed remarkable. Coquetry is
easy TO most clever women. and they seldom re
frdin from amusing themselves with the practice
of it. Mrs. Campbell. an elderly SIREN is effec
tive: but neither bewitchment nor snguIarity makes
a great actress. The ponderous. sepulChral and
metallic Mr.. John Blair after much strenuous
wrestling with the Norwegian humbug, Mr. Ibsen.
has Joined Mrs. CampbeIrs dramatic company, and
promise is duly made of the Tanquerays. Magdas,
Maranas and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. odoriferous flowers
of disease and blight that fringe the charne house
of The Serious Drama" Mr. Bair's acting lacks
distinction refinement and manner. but it possesses
brute force. In the love scene he was coarse in
attitude and violent in demeanor. but he partially
redeemed a gross performance by some touches Of
manly feeling the close. Mrs Campbell had
many curtain calls. the customary tribute Of per-
sonaI friends. w W.