New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-05-25

NezU Plays at Wyndham's s, the Roy.
attn and OTHER Theatres.
London. May IL

( \ new playwright ought TO be gTatefui whe1
he succeeds IN enlistisg the support OF Sir
Charles wyndhaa- Ills work will be sympa-
tkesicaIIy interpreted and the popularity OF tbs
! actor viii command for it most tolerant re-
| ception; and even when there are dissenting
voices from the galleries Sir Charles Wynd-
/ ham. with his sparkling hurnor and resourcefGi
/ tact. easily silencss opposition Mr.. Hubert
Henry Dsviss's drawing room melodrana. Mrs.
I Gorringe's Necklace" produced this week at
/ wyndham's Theatre is a crude bit Of work with
/ theatrical incidents and characters which fail
| to explain themselves: but it mas the merit oG
| interesting audience with the adventurous
| aid Of Exceptionally good acting 1t relates tia
| theft Of necklace from a lady while visit
| ing at a country house, ana It's concealuent
| in a vase. or flower pot. on the library mantel-
piece. in order that the repentant thief may re-
/ store It to the owners room The thief IL
weak young lieutenant with gambling debts.
who is In love with the daughter Of the hostess
| and his secret is revealed 20 a middle aged
| bachelor. Captain Mowbray, who sees him
! handle the necklace, but seeks to protect hin
| because he himself Is fond OF the GIRL and Is
| willing to sacrifice his own interests A de-
| tectivs Of the Old fashioned type attempts 20
unravel the mystery. and the circumstantial
/ evidence points to Captain Mowbray. VINO has
/ taken the necklace out OF the flower pot and
]
and the play f. wound Up when the real thief.
who has married the girl. meanwhile. commits
/ suicide after writing penitsatiaI letter and
leaving the way open for another marriage be
| tween his generous protector and the hostess's
daughter. It is a trite story not too well tod,
but it contains amusing passages. a fairly good
part for Sir Charles Wyndham and at Least
one pair of strongly centTastsd characters.
Miss Mary Moore IS Mrs. Gorringe. the owner
Of the necklace. a vain and irresponsible chat
tarbox. and the part is played with delightful
| skill and Iightness Of touch. The contrasted
character Is the hostess. donineertng, oosti~
| nate and shreWish woman. irnpersonated BY Mss
Marie Ellington with remarkable power and
realism Mr.. Alfred Bishop. who never fails 70
! develop the latent resources Of minor part
| successfully portrays the hostsss's stupid and
vacilIating husband and Mr.. Leslie Faber and
Miss Mabel Terry-Lewis make an acceptahls
pair OF young lovers Sir Charles Wyndham as
Captain Mowbray has his favorits part o. draw
ing room dipIonarist and everyoody's friend:
and, while it is beyond his power TO render tbs
conduct OF the self-sacrihcing bachelor raa~
scnable or ineligible. he plays with oldtiEs
charm and power alike in che serious passages
and in the comic relief. He gives fresh IL
lustration Of complete mastery Of byplay and
| effective use OF voice OF moderate quality and
narrow range. He has not good voice for the
theatre, but so carefully has he trained IL and
so perfect is his knowledge Of its limitations
that only those who have critically observed rs
restricted register and lack OF purity OF
aware Of the difficulties which he either
ceels or overcomes. Miss Ellington shared with
him the honorS OF the first night OF this artificial
but interesting play Critics from constant at
tendance upon theatres may become Hstless
spectators. but the public taste for the good old
I
sonaton was strong and VITAL and excited the
enthusiasm OF a crowded house.
The new Napoleon play at the Royalty Thea
ire is the joint production Of Mr. Lloyd Osborne,
a stepson OF Robert Louis Stevenson and Mr.
Austin Strong. The Exile is staged for Long
wood with extreme simplicity, but In the second
act there Is picturesque vista Of the ocean
Historical characters are reproduced In Count
bertrand and his wife. Count Monthoion. Dr..
Antonnnarehi and Las Casas: and the environ
ment Of Napoleon's last days IN St Helena IS
portrayed with effective realism. There Is a
pathetic character study by Mr.. Martin Harvey.
but artificial play with little action There
are secret intrigues for effscting the Ezile's
lease and these temporarily suspended
taken up anew and finally relinquishsd There
is also love affair between one or the British
officers and niece Of Sir Hudson Love- Gov
ernoF OF the lSI2n0s DuL Il = only slender.
bright colored thread IN loose and ineffective
tangIe OF intrigue The conspiracy comes to
nothing because the Imperial Exile is IN I'M
paired health. and has taken VOW that no more
French blood shall be shed for the lost cause.
and the chief object OF the love affair Is the
conventional one OF allowing the aUdtencs 20
have glimpse OF romance. tbs curtain analIy
falls upon the enfeshled and detected Exile sit
ting alone and gazing with dreamy eyes upon
the portrait OF his son. The pIaywrtghts have
constructed a play for the library rather than
the theatre. II has sornbre motive The action
IS sluggish. and. while there are some good
moments. 1t is neither happily inspired nor an
effectively constructed drama.
Mr.. Martin Harvey made up well as the Ma
poison OF the Artillery School. not only short IN
stature. but also spare In figure. and II be did
not simulate the increased weight OF the St
Helena period he portrayed in anxious face and
bent form the burdens OF overwrought years.
the indrrnities Of disease and the shadows CT
failure and baffled ambition. II was not the
Of action swayed by vast ideas and lacking
In sensibility TO human suffering. II the
thwarted and helpless dreamer whose sword
had been sheatt.ed ana whose heart was broken
IN the three corn4red black hat, long green
overcoat and high boots he looked Ike Ms
poleon, and it melancholy and pathetic
figure upon which the curtain descended. and
1t made direct appeal 70 the sympaChlss OF
the spectators. with the dying fathers love for
the son as the final note There was an earlier
sentimental passage in which the lovers guar
relied over the British officers devotion to
Napoleon. and the hayward. Jealous girl told
him that he must choose between the Exile and