New-York tribune., 1902-01-17
THE DRAMA.
vRs. CAMPBELL AT THE REPUBLIC.
THE SECOND MRS. TANQUERAY"


THE SECOND MRS. TANQUERAY"
NJ Patrick Campbell at the Republic Theatre.
.ssnred the bill last night and appeared Paula
: NJ Pinero's exceptionally nOxious and futile
s-s-,a n The Second drs Tanqueray"-a piece
"a uss first made known here. in the autumn of
80 p, M and Mrs. Kendall, and since then has
,s--sded the land In London, when this play was
Sc performed. Mrs. Campbell inpersonated Paula
-er embodiment OF the married courtesan obtain
ing high commendation; and New-York now has
.be uriv.lege Of beholding what London admired
On previous occasions Mr.. Pinero's essay in the
corruption # English dramatic literature has been
sas~rired and characterized here and present COM
,ent on II must naturally follow familiar course
The subject IS one that readily be discussed
v-th0ur some slight offence 10 propriety and good
,sste bur tor this the stage IS responsible and not
me reviewer. As said before in this place when
s-amatls- undertakes to portray the relations ac-
,usl 0r fa-cifHl. between female rake and decent
society be enters on a dubious field and he leads
where Il IS difficult TO follow
This drama may mean many things. II may
mean that, under some circumstances a woman
xho has Jed unchaste life may nevertheless
he worthy 10 become the wife Of a respectable
nan, ii may mean that marriage between a
decent man and wanton adventures is always
unU-se and VIII always end in disaster. or Il may
mean that woman who has gone wrong is just
as much entitled 70 rehabilitation and social re-
adjustment nau Who has gone wrong; it
may mean that marriages between weak-minded
uxorioGs men and Ecentious women. temporarily
refornel.-each party TO the solemn contract mis-
taking transient desire for an impulse Of noble
prlncple.-do occur. and do cause infinite mischief
i may carry q whole freight train OF morals
imm0ra-s- That point is not important The
ground OF objection against the play, and against
al such plays is one Of good taste and good man
ners. Persons who have a moral 10 Inculcate often
appear 10 suppose that they possess a clear and
perfect right TO discard all considerations of
anement. and 10 offend decency 10 any and every
extent. and. accordingly. with the best intentions,
and sometimes with the wurst,-they make them
selves exec sdingly offensive. 4 Moral may be an
inpertineuce. The notion that a noraist, simply
Is such, IS entitled 70 create q nuisance on the
rlss tha- he Is trying 10 teach a salurarv lesson,
would 5e ludcrous if it were not impudenr
i does not signify whether The Second Mrs.
Tsnuuerav'' is moral or immoral: the fact remains
thai SIS subject is nasty Furthermore no lesson
czn e derived from Il that is not absolutely trte-
10 lesson of which any human being. a complete
fool stands n The slightest need The situation Of
a well-meaning Hidower who has married a heIon.
when one OF his second wife's former paramours
turns Up the accepted lover Of his first wife's
daughter. may present a spectacle brimfuI Of
Morality bur II Is spectacle by no means agree
able 10 the sense 0f smell. Heaven stops the nose
q II, and the moon winks." The dramatic stua-
lions u Mr. Pineros piece have been 2droitIy com
trived. The language OF il Is often pquaHt and
generally terse. The persons arc phoJographcally
truthful But the fabric Is uncIean: 1t bIurs the
grace and blush CT mOdesry''s and its impairment
is thar Of unm!tlgared and oppressive shame and
PAIN. Art should be devoted 70 beauty. and the
message OF il 70 the world should be refinement
Eentleness nobility. majesty, grandeur Of thought
and feeing.-WHeLher The form be gay OF sad-and
II should difuse every influence 70 stimulate cheer
and hope The result of The Second Mrs. Tan
Qleray' is merely disgust
Mrs Patrick CsmpbeTs embodiment Of Mrs
IanQueTay is consistent and harmonious-a dis
Jnct lEeai clearly expressed out the ideal Is
commonplace and the expression of il did rot
except at one point the portrayal Of utter
wandering desolauon AT the Iast-rise above the
level Of hySJeria- Her tail and opuIent figure
IS gorgeous with fine ramert. and entering
sympa theticaly into the emotional perturbarions
of mind that wavers between passion and con
science she Is able 10 give free and effective scope
10 her impulsive. excitable temperament and her
nervous restless manner. The experimental Taruue-
ray astoundingly frank explanation Of his rea son
Tor choosing such woman for the vacant position
q he-pmare II his household "a woman who has
Kept house 1cr several Of his acquaiutances) is
mace tuly i1teliigtSe by her aspect and derneanor
Mrs. Campbell Is an ecczntricity. but in her wild
way. she possesses charm Her denoternent Of a
WayTard- passionate nature. bitterly resentful Of
az adverse fate as well Of domestic restric-
lcEs and in cynical revolt against social couven-
lola-ltE : easurablT effective, manifesting q true
Instinct or that Iavless freedom which whether in
humanity OF nature. when combined with beauty
Is always agreeable Her utterances Of velvet
nockery and il-bred insoence are particularly neat
ara prIgent and al the dreadful climax when Mrs
Ia-Guerays old lover has come back and her step
oaHghters happiness with that other reformed
pfongare). IS ar stake. and the relentless Nemesis
q SD calls aloud for its prey. she momentarily
rises - the pitch Of dramatic abandonment II is
ls c4rfe reE eiai4on Of something that ought never
20 have been revealed. As acting il il neither
great nor n any way exceptional but as persona.
manifestation If peculiar actress il possesses OBJ
FSus Ta-ue-especta..y for those Observers who
mink that The person Is more important than the
messaEe- Mrs Campbell has neither depth subtle
r. power.
among the auxiliary players who are a.sociat ted
VI " Mrs Campbell The most conspicuous are Nj
hesbeTt Naring and Mrs Theodore Wrfght-the
~tlrf capital representative Of old women" the
-of1ae- JuGicious and discreet comedian M War
-E made l-s first appearance here the sngularly
--S-sr-4E ana contemplate character Of DR.. Won
Ae4ff. IN the play Of "dagdaH. II was a heavy
weight 70 carry. but the actor signaized his per
Torrance by specially truthful makeup and by
safIpuoUs fidelity 10 many details OF German per-
thought, design thoroughness and truth were visi-
4e IN MS performance last night The one bright
feature in the waste Of Tanqueray gloom and muck
u'F al things considered this play is dreary as well
as dirty rubbish), the acting OF Mr. George
Arilss, as Cayley DrunmIe- II is a good part and
ooes something for itself but Mr Arliss is an &C.
centric comedian OF true humor and broad and
|--.-@nt style ". ".
GIFT or $1,000 TO ALBION COLLEGE.