New-York tribune., 1903-01-15
CRITERION.
"The Little Princess. -

It was a pleasant fancy which led Mrs Burnett
TO describe her drama, THE Little Princess made
from an earlier story of hers. a play 'for chill
dren and grown up children. but probably few of
the grown up children who attended the first per-
formance at the Criterion Theatre yesterday after
noon were prepared for the treat they received 1t
is merit of the play that it pleased all the chill
dren, who formed a numerous portion of the
audience. But the decacy Of the pathos cross shot
with humor. the insight into child nature. the
naturaness of the dialogue and the dramatic
ment of the play make ii OF equal appeal TO all
adults who love children. And isn't that another
way of saying that THE Little Princess will ap-
peal to almost every one? The play and the leading
player, Miss Millie James. were greeted yesterday
with great enthusiasm, and the author was called
for eagerly.
The play tells in three acts of Sara Crewe (the
little princess) who comes TO Miss Minchins fash
tonabe boarding school in London as the de-
sfrable pupil of all, for her father has gained I'm
India an enormous fortune. The first act shows her
among the other little girls in the schooroom.
dressed In silks and surrounded by expensive
presents from her father, but still the most kindly
and unspoiled little miss of them ALL She at once
displays that faculty of the childish imagination
known to children pretending She pretends
she is princess and by the freight she impro-
vses fairy story for the rest of the little girls.
who grouped around her in charming stage
picture. The act ends with the disclosure to Miss
Minchin that Sara's father has died and left his
daughter penness. and this female squeers at
Sara beggar on her hands, ordering
into old black frock much too short for her,
and sending her up to garnet bedroom, where,
horror of horrors TO girls little big. there are
ratsi
The last act takes place in the house of this
friend next door, who discovers in Sara the daugh-
ter of Captain Crewe whose fortune he had, so he
thought at first, unfortunately invested, but which
has been recovered, after all Miss Minchin is
deliciously discomforted, and the final curtain de-
scends while Sara, happy, radiant, surrounded by
laughing children and moist eyed grownups be-
gins a story: land upon time there was an
unfortunate little girl
Miss Mile James in the leading part brought
into use the skill of a trained actress. and yet
managed look the little girl of twelve. Her
small and the delicate. childish contour of
her limbs had much to do with this. But that she
fully entered into the child mind and never in
truded the note of adult sophisticaton into her
acting is wholly to the credit of her art. Her work
was childish and sweet yet sustained. skilful and
unfafling in its effect. Miss Beryl Morse, Miss
Louise Galloway, Miss Mabel Taliaferro and Mas
ter Donald Gallaher were conspicuous in the well
drilled cast of children and adults who supported
her.
The play will be repeated each afternoon except
Saturday during Miss Marlowe's engagement at
portunity of sharing the sweet and wholesome
emotions which yesterday appeared to affect the
entire audience.