New-York tribune., 1902-12-27
THE DRAMA.
H-. Willard at the Garden.
GALL FOR HER."

willard as Hugh Trevor. gives a performance Of
t,grlsr power. brilliant with variety and sombre
With pathos Seldom. indeed. has the stage been
rraced by a drama noble in spirit. and this no
ui+v yializes and carries it. though its style
little antiquated. its language slightly pleonas-
-ic and Of its incidents forced Art. herein.
sr,es one Of the most exalted ideals that can he
resented 10 the human mind. and the word for the
hour is one Of welcome and gratitude When
Thackeray drew the character OF Henry Esmond,
Ie presented the highest type of gentleman. When
Iackens drew the character Of Sidney Carton. he
,resented ideal hero. Attributes of both those
,ersons are united in the character of Hugh Trevor
and passages from the experience of both
welded in the dramatic story Of which he is made
The central figure The purpose the presenta-
ton of an image Of self-sacrifce upon the shrine
of urselfsh love. Full OF this high motive. this
arama long ago took its place among the perma-
,ent treasures Of theatrical literature and as long
IS It endures it will dfuse the best influence of the
stage.
Now as heretofore. the thought that is prompted
nv this play drifts toward its subtle and delicate
spiritual meaning. Those who lose In the realm,
of the ideal and the affections, not the proper
objects Of pity. Love that wins may be made
radiant with temporary happiness: love that loses
Is halowed by sorrow To the spirit thus be-
reaved there viii remain at least celestial
memory. Nothing set it in the
light: nothing can ever drag 1t down into the
common day The fresde may be lonely. to him
who dreams beside it. IN the haunted night; but
one
viii shine upon him from the dying embers, and
one voice that is perfect music, viii speak him
in the moaning wind. Human beings change;
ideals Esrnond might well love. to the last,
the Beatrix of his youthful dream. Sidney Carton,
going 10 death for the sake Of pure love. ends
on the loftiest height that human devotion can
reach. Hugh Trevor, though he enthralls the i'm
asination and deeply touches the heart. does not
inspire regret Favored 10y all auspicious deities.
and happy beyond the common lot. is the man
fe-e friN NOR
fore his illusions have been despoiled, and while
vet MS heart is faithful, magnanimous, and pure
Life may lead to a brighter goal than can ever
be reached through the fulhlrnenr Of our earthly
desires. That truth. the gospel Of disappointment,
il can harm to learn; and that is the
meaning OF "AI For Her
On the English stage this play has been known
for more than twenty-five years. Il was first pro-
duced on October Is 1875. at the Court Theatre,
London under Mr.. John Hare's management. with
the lamented Jonn Clayton Hugh Trevor, and
its authors Herman Merivale and Palgrave Sinp
son. were honored with such tributes of enthusi-
astic admiration the English press and public
have seldom been known to bestow. In America
its first performance occurred at Boston. II was
first acted in New-York January D. 1877. at
WaIack's Theatre.-then at the northeast corner
Of Broadway and Thrteenth-st.-and Lester Wal
lack. as Hugh Trevor. gained of the brightest
laurels of his artistic life. The cast was eXcep-
tionally strong:
Hugh Lester I Wallscb
Richard Radford Steele Maekaye
colonel
Lord Edendale a 9'ExesDh IoIIsDh
Edgar shannon
Captaip Mervsle. MI Clarke
Lazy Msrsoen-- Rnse Wood
SgTyy. SgTy RIVERS Mrz John SETON
The scene of "An For Her. is laid in England,
IN the time OF George IL The chief person.
Hugh Trevor is picturesque. unfortunate, un-
happy man. exceptional in a personality of amiable
drifting weakness. and in sad experience OF ois-
appointment. intemperance, and bhsht 1teSoI
is the eldest son of Lord Edendale. deceased but
he is, incorrectly, supposed to be iuegluInate
and therefore he is set aside, and lndlnerehllS
treated by his younger brother who mas lnherlUeu
The Edendale property and title. This brother mas
toinaa tne Jacobite conspiracy of 1745 Both the
brothers love the same woman. Lady Marsoeh
but the elder is hopeless and silent, whlle lhe
Younger is prosperous and favored A spy, named
Radford, has betrayed the young LORD Eoendale'
hut inst as his arrest is about be made, Trevor
tnterposes and adroitly enables him 10 escape
The fugitive subsequently is captured uhue[ sun
circumstances seem TO warrant peheL tna|
Treya- has revealed his retreat. Lady Marsoen'
to whom Trevor desperately discloses his passion
bitterly upbraids him, and, as he has a4rea0s
been repudated by his brother, he feels hlllseI
10 be an outcast. At last, when the ulne SET io
The execution of the condemned Lord Edendale
draws near Trevor obtains admittance TO the
nrjson ana compels Radford who has CUSTODY
OF the prisoner, 70 allow him to take Eoenoa
,laca T9v this means he saves his brother's NE
lberates him, and restores him TO Lazy MAJ sue-
himself meanwhile. going TO the scaHolo' A' =.
dooned conspirator His integrity is thus vlnol-
Gated while his blighted, wasted h1e hitneIto q
trouble TO others and calamitous trlal 10 hiiI0
is finally sacrificed for the woman whom ne loNes'
Mr. Willard would produce greater erect WIN
his fine performance Of Trevor If all OF ms ASST
ci.tes ir the cast were sympathetic with the 10
mantle spirit Of the play, were accoroaa. ~ ~
-er,,liar and diversified requirements OF ,he seE-
eral characters and able TO initiate huliieI -
;tv and TO speak the English language ING -
effect of the ideal is dependent IN an uiiuS
degree in this drama, upon coordination alo PC Pc
fectton Of detail And Mr.. willard woulo oe more
Victorious also upon the popular rnlno IL aii o.
tress capable OF playing Lady Marsden were asso- =
ciated with him. a doll Is ornafel,0ai, ~. - -
does rst account for a grand passion. Lazy -,
should De beautiful, and she snouio possess -,
5ist,nctson of manner great tenderness OF teeis,
- t,a,.ar and q gentle enchantTnent or
,ro-,srboos to dominate the heart She mas neHeI
been but once perfectly presented mere aN -
was when Mrs. Kendall played the pa o. ~,
Fifth Avenue Theatre, twelve years ago. Ali-
lard however made manifest True ioe
Trevor Indicating with especial fehclty' lie as
+r5nric ,obieness of nature that makes man ca
r7shIe of self-ss crifce and, in this parucui0t -
stance suffuses his whole condiGon OF pfeoe pf- -
failure and blight with an frFeslsuoie ei@-A. 80
pathos The keynote Of the part Is IA one 80 -
that Trevor speaks (though MI "iiia-e -ra,,ae.
speak it: II am like one VINO oieo Soe' 80 :
an my life might have been" The IRONY 'i4e
reckless humor-at once sad and droh,-lne - -.
terness the laughter that Is more ioiio-A -
Tears the tipsy joviality, and. through e'e.s -
ahe innate refinement of the gentleihan-s-. -
- - . "A blended into one picturesque. con
sistent personality the aathenuc liSse VI "a
piIrity supreme above mortal passion @Iu -
moral grandeur triumphant over human sriei'
Among the auxiliar performances oiiy % oe -,