The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-18
AT THE THEATERS
MISUNDERSTANDING julia.

.
Quite the cleyerest comedy. Of the season
thur Jones' embarrassing Julia Again
has the English playwright demonstrated
not only how well he understands human
nature and English human nature at that,
but how thoro q master he is of play con-
struction. Choosing for his field OF action
a little English village and for his char
acters the small cOterie of society folk
therein, he develops in this microcosm a
story that is satirical without being cyni-
cal, story that lays bare the pettiness
Of the social hypocrisy which lies at the
root OF much social persecution. The play
Is modern 'tSchool for Scandal" in
which the. characters, without resort to
caricature, are made to reveal their true
| selves. In "a manner worthy Of Sheridan
| himself. Mercuess as these revelations are,
there Is no bitterness in them. This clair
voyant playwright sees the truth clearly
enough and tells it. with, an apt -humor
that its always sane and wholesome
A triumph of artistry is the way in
which Mr.. Jones, keeps us ever on the
threshold Of the Mystery Of Julia without
| in the end throwing open the door. In the
light Of its blaze his true Englishman
finally stands revealed, the stole mask he
is wont to wear thru life having been torn
away at last. The Mystery has thus served
its artistic purpose and any solution OF
It, however clever, would strike a false
note =: ~ -! ..::,.:ss
It is noteworthy that the hunaor OF
embarrassing Julia" lies, not so much
In the dialogue-which is bright enough
butt the unexpected situations and most
| OF all In the character drawing. The .por-
traits are all from life and drawn with
that clever differentiation which makes
them real men and women. Obviously, the
best OF acting is essential to the success
Of: such a play and this happily is supplied
by Mr.. Frohman',s wonderfully good COM
spany. Miss Fay Davis invests the char
acter Of Julia with a sweet :naturalness
that enlists and holds the sympathies from
the outset. She Is ever the well bred Eng.
llishwoman, endowed With the saving sense
of hunor. It is an even characterization
never rising to great heights of emotion
but always genuine and always convinc.
ing. Miss Davis Is tall and spirituelle sug.
costing the Gibson girl in face and figure
She; has an expressive face and g. speak.
ing voice that is penetrating yet pleasant
Quite the most interesting simpersona.
tion Is that furnished by Guy Standing
of, billy" the dehonair man Of the world
EWho has passed 40 without having 'set.
Etled down." and who becomes Julia's
champion in the little world where she ].
so cruelty prosecuted. Mr. Standing, will
his odd mannerisms, gives. the character
i a distinct individuality, and contrives tt
conceal the real man beneathna a. cynically
good-humored, but quite impenetrable, ex
terror until the moment, when he defie!
the worlds opinion as personif1ed in hi
lhypocritical nephew. It is open to cues
ton whether the unpleasant impressio,
Mr.. Standing gives us Of Billy's insincer
lity and lack Of serious purpose is quit,
dissipated by this undeniably, strong eli
max. Even when he proposes to Julia tn,
. note Of insincerity is sounded We d,
not know the true man under the crus
until the denouement. But it is grea
acting. .,.r.. -. ...... -..,e
!, W. H. Crompton furnishes keenly rel
p 1Shable Characterization of the old fanlil,
!, lawyer, who, bears the burden OF man;
secrets and gives advice with dry Gym
, tcism that Is most effective. One Of tn
, best comedy bits is furnished by r. New
Fton Undo as the family black sheep, VIII
? stands in such frequent need of .'huma,
: Esympathy." It is refreshingly funn
and thoroly unconscious degenerate of tn
noble English type that Mr.. Lindo give
> us. The younger brother. the hypoctit
/. who comes to grief in the end and i
: forced to WELD the whitewash brush, ]
!. well done by Herbert Mckenzie. despit
his distressing habit Of dropping his '.g's
, and his unpleasant voice-both Of whic
! are, no doubt, in character. ! The Lad
: Pinkney Of Ida Vernon is the well-bre
/. Edowager to the life-a woman who Is am
OAIioos LOT ner 1dnlly, VINO mas whole
some fear Of the socially impossible per
!. son and who betrays an inordinate an
: thoroly feminine curiosity. Louise Drew
who, by the way, is the daughter of job
Drew-contributes an excellent inner
!. sonatioh Of the mpulsive young girl, VIII
. does wrong things with great ardor an
a repents them. quickly. The other char
Iacters are all quite as well done in the
! way as those that have been mentioned
even those Of slight moment being care
fully and artistically executed.
: After passing thru endless and ari
9 deserts OF musical comedy, one finds pur
d pleasure in embarrassing julia
u f w. B. Chamberlain.