The Washington times., 1903-05-12
Miss GlIland and Her Com
pany Greeted Enthusias-
ticaIly at the Columbia by
a Brilliant Audience

A company organized especially for an
engagement OF four weeks in this city
appeared at the Columbia Theater yes
terday evening in Sheridan's brilliant
comedy. The School for Scandal" The
organization was headed by Bertha Gal
land, sterling young actress who has
arisen in three years to position Of
distinction on the American stage, and
included about half q score others of
similarly exceptional talents and rare
aptitude. Such company, cast in the
roles of such a play, offers local the
atergoers an opportunity which it is at
once pleasing and profitable to accept
1t is gratifying, therefore, to note that
the opening OF this engagement assem-
bled an audience of much brilliance and
evoked an overwhelming outburst of ap-
prevail.
The performance gave pleasure and
inspired enthusiasm for many things
The costuming was elaborate and rich
/ he stage pictures were admirably ar
ranged bright with color, and entirely
consonant with the text Of the play.
The elocution of the chief characters
was sufficiently clear and intelligent to
express in full measure the rich cadence
of Sheridans lines-even those of the
lightest badinage and easiest CONVERSE
tion. These qualities are in them
selves enough TO support the engage
ment and enlist for it the hearty APP
proval of playgoers long weary CT an
achronistic investitures mufied and
confused speech, and the perversion of
fine scenes TO crafty the vanity and
impudence of machine turned stars. But
the most notable attribute of this per-
Torrance was still more worthy-an in
depreciation of roles and delineation of
characters which emphasized and height
ened the text by force of proper de-
meanor, consistent superfcialties and
simulated depth of feeling appropriate
to the circumstances and events of the
play
A Recreation Of Picturesque Life
From the session of the school. with
which the play opens. to the vigorous
deelination OF it's diploma, with which
1t ends, the life which Sheridan drew
with so much skill was thus re-created.
An old husband and a young wife;
circle of scandal mongers centered on 4
heart and ignoble life surrounded by
chosen companions of the same quail
ties; progress OF events which served
10 shame hypocrisy and sustain sincerity
these ingredients were admirably unit
ed 10 epitomize one of the most pictur-
esque eras in English history and to in
dicate that then, as now, happiness was
homely commodity and a product always
OF homely virtues.
AT the elimination OF the story-the
discovery of Lady Teazle, the heroine, In
the library of Sir Joseph Surface. fine
example of assumed virtue and unassum-
ed hypoerisy-the audience awoke from
its characteristic attitude of critical
judgment and poured out to Miss Galland
and her associates measure OF approval
rarely extended by Washington play
goers to any actor, however distinguish
ed. There were numerous calls for q
speech and some manifest disappoint-
nent that Miss Galland did not respond.
but the star, with fine restraint, declined
10 interrupt the events of the play or
= disturb the sequence Of its scenes
Exacting Roles Finely Acted.
Few plays serve so readily to ap-
praise the quality of actors as this mas
terpiece of Sheridan. It abounds in de-
sirable roles. 1t provides for most at
tractiye costumes. It unites the most
primitive lessons of life with the most
affected qualities OF manner. Most of
ali il deals with the deepest human emo
lions and restrains them by mask OF
the most absurd and ridiculous social
conventions. 1t is thus incumbent on
every actor in the cast TO suggest what
he seems to hide and to betray sincere
and genuine purpose in spite of an air
OF hypocriticaI nonchalance. The very
names of the characters suggest this
Charles Surface" Careless. Snake,
Mrs Candor." Sir Benjamin Back
bite..' Lady sueerweIl," and Sir Harry
Bumper" Most Of these folk. moreover,
are of an ostensible gentle breeding. and
the actors who assume their characters
must thus also assume their gentility.
II would be too much TO say that this
company at the Columbia realizes all
this No cast which has presented this
play in Washington has ever done so
much There are invariably some actors
who mistake noise for force, and ridicu-
Ious hllip of hand and foot for the nice
bearing Of sherldan's subject This was
' true OF the DAILY company. and it is true
also OF this company at the Columbia
But il is not too much TO say that with
in the limitations OF stage probabilities
this company surrounding Miss Galland
realizes the spirit and life Of The
school for Scandal" as fully as the most
exacting critic could demand.
A Refreshing Lady Teazle.
a growing interest attached TO the
stars impersonation of Lady Teazle. AS
this embodiment unfolded from scene 10
scene it excited more and more approval.
The role has been much studied and
varIousIy understood. Miss Rehan, who
Is the most prominent Lady Teazle Of
the present-day stage. presented her as
remarkable for her pride and distin
guished for her inherent elegance. This
Interpretation served TO illuminate the
play, and did not apparently oppose any
purpose OF its author. But IL did not
seem, and probably it vas not fulfill