The Washington times., 1904-01-19
NOTED SONGSTRESS
SHINES IN comedy
Marie Tempest Triumphs in
Marriage of Kitty"
ONE or BEST NEW PLAYS
Vanity Fair" and "Pickwick Papers"
Sifted Together-Finely Acted
by Company of Six.

French play known as ''The Mar
rage of Kitty. and characterized by
vii. ingenuity. constant interest and
the most laughable comedy. was pre-
scented at the National Theater last
night by Marie Tempest and a London
company The performance began as
an event of fashion-the audience being
late. well dressed and converged upon
the parQuet rather than the gallery.
III ended. however. as happy and
hght-hearted tribute to Messrs Gresac
and de Croisset, who wrote the comedy.
10 CosmO Gordon Lennox-sometimes
facetiousiy called Mr. Tempest-who
adapted IL into English. and to every
one in the admirable company which
performed il as only a company OF art
lists could have performed it.
Miss Tempest last greeted Washing
tonians ten years ago. She was then
the Dresden China prima donna of light
opera. delightful songstress, and a
vibrant. sparkling figure in romantic
costume. Her temperance is made as
a woman Of rather more substantial
personal charm. stiIl a delightful song
stress. and an indisputable addition to
the number of successful condolences
now on our stage. She was diverting
then, and charming now she is infec-
tious and Irresistible.
No Commonplace of Plot.
BY nature. then. she is the center of
Interest Tie playwrights and adapter
have combined TO deepen this interest
They have made Kitty young girl of
country training. thrown unexpectedly
on her. own resources and relieved of
her embarrassment by a marriage OF
convenience. Their ingenuity is mani
fest in the fact that this ceremony is
a convenience to both groom and bride.
the former having been involved in per-
pleNity by the inevitable legacy Of our
modern plays An artful solicitor who
IS also Kitty's godfather. brings the
unfortunates together. arranges the
wedding. explains that the two must
separate Immediately. and CONSIDERABLY
persuades the groom 10 add a Swiss
villa TO the sum paid his god-daughter
for acting as link between the legatec
and the fortune.
With those materials what common
places might result But the firm Of
Gresac. de CrOisset. Lennox & Tempest
does not deal in cOmmonplaces on the
contrary those reliable WOrkmen have
produced a series Of opposing enter
prises which flow ike water down hill
into the most successful new comedy
presented here for long. long time.
Their character drawings suggest
Whistler. Their dialogue keeps the
eyes too constantly twinkled and the
brain too closely intent 10 suggest any
thing else, but it is like Vanity Fair
and the "Pickwick Papers" sifted
together. Events. drawings and dialogue
are assembled into rare stage Mosaic
Interesting at first, then spontaneously
laughable and then-to the critical
Judgment at least-beautiful
Clear Speaking Of Bright Lines.
Everyone IN THE Marriage Of Kitty
acts with capabiiity and intelligence.
What has already been said ought to
Indicate THAI Miss Tempest is fully as
worthy Of her wide popularity i'm comedy
IS she could possibly be I'm opera. Only
o.ae other woman's part compares with
hers, that Of the sweethe-9t to whom
the groom is at the outset unsalteringlv
devoted This latter role is taken with
fine effect by Ada Ferrar. Gilbert Hare
and Leonard Boyne are the solicitor and
groom and both, the latter especially.
are excellent. Thee are three minor
parts. those of servants. acted with
much more skill than are such parts
usually. by Lillian Wheeler. Ernest Main
Waring. and j. Lowther This is the
entire cast. Perhaps its superlative merit
depends on its size. But Miss Tempest
aad Mr.. BOyne would shine in any cast.
We have been making a great fuss
lately, we Americans. for what we call
a. native drama" We have protested
IL turn against farces imported from
France. comedies and poetic tragedies
Imported from England. and polite mol
ooramns struggled across the border
from boOkland Yet all the while our
stage has not produced one play as in
genious. expeditions. enforced. and
sparf ling as this comedy acted by Miss
Tempest. which was written in France.
adapted in England. and only Just
missed being book-play. for the play
as il stands would make a captivating
short novel
Let those OF our countrvmen who
think the native playwright has no
chance study "a play ike The Marriage
OF Kitty. They viii find much 10 In
terest them Meanwhile the rest OF rs
VIII go 20 see il In another spirit ap-
plaud Miss Tempest when she sings her
one little French song. laugh al each
alternate sentence ol the text and for
get The worries OF The native drama
as We forget all the others in SYM
pathy for doubtfuily married Kitty.
A. ID. A