Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-04
"A TYRANNY OF TEARS"
WAS WORDS, WORDS, WORDS
Paul Gilmore and Associate Players
Failed to Make the Most Of
''TaIky'' Drama.

When Haddon Chambers penned "The
Tyranny OF Tears" he constructed a play
that for real literary merit has seldom
been equalled in the regime of twentieth
century dress suit drama. It runs the
gamut of whimsicality and cynicism. 1t
pictures the jealous wife in all her vary
Ing moods. It illustrates the impetuOus
husband in many different phases. 1t
places suspicion upon an unsteady pedes-
tai, and bowls it down with far greater
ease. 1t is warning lesson to newly
married couples whose natures and tenn
peraments have not become thoroughly
assimilated. 1t points out the path, and
shows the rock upon which the matri-
monial bark has often been wrecked. It
is moralistic. as we'll as pessimistic. It
is incongruous in places, and compatible
in others. 1t is in verify seeming para
doX.
This gives an insight into Mr.. Cham
was the play that Paul Gilmore and fine
associate players attempted to essay at
the Academy last night. In more capable
hands ii might have been success. In
Mr.. Giimore's hands it did not achieve
such a result.
John Drew. Isabel Irving. and Ida Con-
quest made the most of it at the En-
pire Theatre In New York, but it was
due to the personality and popularity of
these players that enabled the play to
enjoy a run In Broadway.
PLAY NOT POPULAR.
"A Tyranny of Tears is not destined
i
talky to begin with. and is utterly lack
ing in situation. It reminds one all the
way through of Hamlet's quick retort to
Polonious, when the latter discovered
thou. my Lord" queried the old man
Words, words, words" calculated the
melancholy Dane And SO it was with
Haddon Chambers, Tyranny of Tears:
tedious acts; acts without single climax
to relieve their monotOny.
GILMORE FOUND WANTING.
The burden of the play, of course, fell
sadly wanting. He lacked magnetism. and
was too self-opinionated and consequent
tial in the part to gain the sympathy of
his audience He struck attitudes and
ly unnatural. and element Parbury" in
his hands failed to achieve the authors
conception of the character.
Miss Grace Hobart Hanson as the sus-
picious tear-bedtmmed tyranical wife took
what honor there was away from the
star. In some few of her scenes she was
IrvingeSque. but on the whole failed to
realize the character.
THE BEST SCENE.
Perhaps the best scene in the play oc-
Cured in the last act, when George Cum
ming (Charles Bertram) and Miss Clara
Woodward tMiss Dorothy GilberD. Par
some action into the play in an inter
esting love scene. They managed to get
out of the dialogue and situation all
there was in 1t. The other characters
were of no Importance.
Taken altogether "a Tyranny of Tears
might be a go with the proper people to
interpret it. bat as a play with Paul Gill
more and his associate actors-never.
Charles B. EIanford. with Miss Marie
Drofnah and what is reported to be an
exceptionally strong company, will be at
the Academy to-day in sumptuous re-
vivals of 1.-The Tanning of the Shrew"
and much Ado About Nothing" The
former will be the bill at the matinee
and the latter at a night performance. It
is said of these productions that they
are by far the most elaborate of all the
REVEALS made by Mr.. Hanford. The
company, too. has been praised by the
critics. and 1t looks as though the per-
formances were to be not only rare
treat for the lovers of Shakespeare and
the classic drama. but that the engage
ment would be looked upon with the ut
most pleasure as one of the elaborate
and beautiful things of the season.
The Fawcett Stock Company Will pre-
sent THE Liars at both the matinee
and evening performances to-day at the
Bijou.