New-York tribune., 1902-10-09
TIE DRAMA.
THE TANoUERAY SCANDAL.
MRS. PATRICK CAMPBELL

In the Garden Theatre, last night Mrs Patrick
Campbell repeated her weI-kaoWn irnpersopstion
OF Faula, IN MT Flnero's abOmnable play Of The
Second Mrs Tanqueray," and again she mani
tested the temperament of impulse the rremor OF
seusibiity. and the singuarity OF eccentric char
acter- The merits Of her performance are its tart
and moTdant utterance OF insOlent sarcasm: its
correct denctement OF wayward nature, cynical
ly defiant Of conventionality: and its effective
stimulation Of despair. Its defects are paIpabIe
hollowness and artihce,-showing themselves in
silly kittenish aectation and saccharine excess of
elderly oandishments-and the sibilant elocutOn of
lemon-squeezer II clearly displays a clear
ideal OF an exceedingly mischle sous and deplora-
BILE type Of woman. who is shown in association
with thoroughly disgusting type of man Mrs
CampoelIs acting does not. at any point rise above
mediocrity but, mediocrirv il is efficient and
respectaole-far more respectable than most OF the
dramas upon which its potencies have hitherto
been expended She was attentfveIy Observed and
frequently applauded by considerable audience
the Tanqueray scandal, like other scandals seem
ing 10 possess perennial allurement for the des-
ultory multitude; and once. the really pathetic
Give ne another chance whi1h Is. by far. the
best point in the play. the applause was deserved.
Comment on this subject has been literally fur
nished. and much additional consideration OF a
theme noxious can, perhaps. be spared The
play IS a rank offence against good taste and good
manners. absolutely trite in its teaching and
dinusve Of nothing but shame detection and dis
excellencies as dramatic composition: those ex-
ceIlencies-without being at all unusual in the
period Of Westland Marston, W. 5 Gilbert Her
Merivale w G. Wills Henry Arthur Jones'
and Sidney GrUndy.-are considerable: but even
though they were as colossal and stupendous as the
everlasting hills, they would not redeem a fabric
that is vulgar in subject. depressing and dsheart-
ening in moral influence and utterly useless in
practical effect. There is depravtty in human
nature. and there are dark and dreadful facts in
matters in a work OF art. can be justified only
IL az abby the final impairment OF some posi-
tive good. some permanent help some practical
benefit TO mankind. The dramatist who merely
shows his photograph Of evil is only the scavenger
who drops his load of garbage and drives away.
Mr.. PinerO. In his drama Of THE Second Mrs
Tanqueray." has nothing TO declare. except that
marriage with a wantOn adventures must in
evitNbly lead TO disaster. and it would seem quite
possible for even ordinary mind to sustain that
load of wisdom without staggering. Most people,
indeed. have somewhere read about THE wages
Of sin." and that her house Is the way to hell.
going down TO the chambers of DEATH"
Mr.. John Blair seeming 20 apprehend Tanqueray
as a combination OF the retired undertaken and the
Methodist missionary caused that uxorious moral
ist 70 expend himself IN much hollow exhortation.
and. altogether presented most painful type of
morbid mentality and trOwsy. uncouth, unheathful
existence. The rasping voice OF NJ. R. c. Herr
was heard with deep discomfort, in the part of
Cayley Drummle for which part the actor dis
played neither feeling, humor, weight of character
nor elegance OF manners. The notable performance
of the night that OF the vulgaran Lady Orreyed
by Rose Dupre: offensive. but nfelike and IN a
way. comic. This drama will have four additional
On Monday night the Garden
Theatre will be closed for rehearsal on Tuesday
Mrs. Campbell will present Mr. Sudermann's play.
ca led. in English. The Joy Of Living" To see
Mrs. Campbell in the joy Of anything ought to be a
public comfort W w.