The Washington times., 1903-10-25
A Review Reviewed
"Du Barry" in the New Light
of a Second VioW-A
Vice" Play After All.
Twelfth Night" as an
Answer.


everyone else often this is
a consequence Of the critics mental
condition: for similar theatrical condi-
tions frequently appeal 20 the same mind
in different ways. But more often the
apparent inconsistency depends upon the
hard limitations OF space. auditory and
the other conditions which govern every
critique. wherever printed.
These observations are suggested by
comment on The Times Review last
Tuesday Of the Belasco-Carter per-
formance OF "Du Barry" Various critics
of the critic made this point: that The
Times had scored Iris" vigorously for
the immortality Of its substance. that
''Du Barry dealt almost exactly with
the same subject. and that the only diff
ference between the two lay in the fact
that "Du Barry" portrayed gilded VICE
while Iris presented vice almost en-
tirely without gilt. The Times is today
In unaffected doubt whether to plead
Guilty or Not guilty" Perhaps a
review OF the ground win clear the air,
so to speak.
Du Barry was distinguished locally for
two things-a sumptuous investiture and
the acting OF Mrs. Carter. The patron
age was unquestionahly notable for
numbers. and both mounting and IN
depreciation were manifestly Endorsed:
but. with comparatively equal certainty.
Mr.. Belascos play made distinctly
lesser impression.
Brevity Is the S. o. W.
These points were all considered in
The Times. except that n review al
ready too long was not continued 10
include a discussion of the subject mat
ter with which Mr.. Belasco dealt. The
scenery and costumes were described as
rich and accurate. Mrs. Carter was
designated as linQuestlonably foremost
figure on the stage 70 the great body of
her patrons. Mr. Belasco's composition
was denoted fair employment OF the
dramatic opportunities afforded by a
wonderful period and a remarkably
dramatic life. With this and a sugges-
ton that for the thoughtful spectator
the moral pointed TO pure lives and
earnest purposes the review closed
Two considerations. therefore, prohib-
tied a full discussion Of the moral prob
lens involved in Du Barry. The one
was that the review was already long
enough lsnd The Times is not noted for
the brevity OF it's reviews); the other
was that. whereas Iris" depended al
most entirely on the morals or imnor-
ais involved in it's plot. the morals or
smmorals of '-Du Barry were subordi-
nate.
In two or three respects The Times
Is glad 10 revise its review. A second
view of Mrs. Carter makes It impera-
tive to retract the estimate that she
IL a good produ9t of talented teaching
rather than the talented pupil Of a good
teacher. A second view lifted the play
into a greater prominence And, finally.
this second view aroused anew in the
mind OF the critic ali the opposition
which followed the local performance Of
Iris
In Doubtful Company.
Competent judges have insisted that
Mrs Carriers enactment of Zaza estab-
iished her with Mrs. Campbell and Olga
NethersOIe. This may or may not be
true; but it is certain this performance
Of '.Du Barry merits no such claim.
Yet Il is still true the enactment in
dicated a power entirely beyond the
limits Of any acting by rote. Those
who have given Mr.. Belasco all the
credit are undoubtedly mistaken. The
long speech in which La Du Barry ar
raigns her own weakness and explains
TO her sweetheart her apprehension
that. being once his wife, she must still
wander on in search of novelty, was
marked by a fire which belongs alone TO
talent. Personality, perception. and
sensibuity to the qualities of art are
ell necessary supplements TO good
teaching before such a speech can thrill
the audiences which heard Mrs. Carter
last week.
1t still remains for her to prove. how
ever that she ranks with Mrs. Campbell
in these very qualities. II is TO be
doubted whether any OF the competent
critics mentioned would say calmly that
she does. Yet IL this were not true. IL
she were as attractive, as intellectual,
and as artistic as Mrs. Campbell. she
would still lack a role worthy OF rank
with that Of Beata in THE JOY OF Liv-
ing"
As for Miss Nethersole, her plays are
so bad and her art so questionable that
10 surpass her should occasion no beat
ing Of cymbals in the Carter camp.
Some interest may still Turk, however.
in the judgment of The Times. that in
Mrs. Carriers chosen neld-the delinea-
ton Of strumpetry, by whatever name
such life may be caned-Miss Neither
sole still acts with an effect which
Mrs. Carter only part way attains.
The delineation Of strumDetry. by
whatever name such life may be call
ed" This is a fair appraisement of
such plays as Iris and "Du Barry"
Whatever period they concern, whether
their characters are historical or fanci-
fui. in their last resolve these studies OF
women with a past"-to use Mrs. Car
ter's phrase-are only sketches in
strumpetry.
"vice" Plays and Art.
The Times has covered this ground so
often that a refteration OF the brief"
against the vice play seems unfair. But
the criticism outlined at the head OF
this article is sufficient justification. The
question. stripped Of all the pretensions
given II by such moralists as Mrs. Car
ter. Mrs. Campbell. and Miss Neither
sole Is this:
is there a sufficient field for the en-
Dioyment OF great histrionic talent with
our the portrayal Of indecent lives?"
II anyone thinks this a mssstatement
OF the case let him read the article
Mrs. Carter wrote for last Sundays
Times. the interviews Mrs. Campbell
published recently in the New York
Herald and the argument set forth