The Washington times., 1904-03-22
FAVERSHAM ACTS
IN FAMILIAR ROLE
Popular Actor ReYives
Lord and Lady Algy."
RECEIVED WITH MUCH FAVOR
Early Success Repeated-COmedy JUS
titles It's ReapPearance-WeI
Acted by Good Company.

Lord and Lady Algy." one Of the
best comedies. produced by the modern
stage was performed at the National
Theater last night by William Faver-
sham. Julie OPP. and a company espe-
cially organized for this revival This is
the play which is said 10 move Charles
Frohman, entrepreneur OF the enterprise,
70 tears as often as he views Il on ac-
count of the fact that il stands alone
among the comedies written for the
present generation. Last nights audi
ence was affected diffe emily however,
and followed the development of Mr..
Cartons ingenious plot with the keenest
appreciation of the satire, Wit and laugh
able complications in which il aoounds.
Mr.. Faversham first played Lord AIgy
when leading man of the old Lyceum
Theater stock company. He was assoc
ciated, at that time with ". Fl. Comp
ton. Guy Standing .SgJoseph Wheelock.
il. Ferdinand Gottschalk, Hilda Spong.
and Jessie AIillward. and all Of those
actors appeared in the cast Mr.. Car
tons comedy was. naturally, extremely
well performed. and il was received with
great popular favor. but the prodiGal
management of Mr.. Frohman discon-
tinued the play after the usual season
in New York and a supplementary sea-
son outside.
A Happy Return.
1t is not bad sign at all that the
actor and his manager have now re-
turned TO this play. On the contrary
It speaks volumes for the Intelligence
OF theatrical managers who have here
tofore been somewhat inconspicuous in
that regard. If the English-sDeaking
stage Of today can justify its existence
at all IL must have produced half a
dozen plays worth keeping. The sur
vival OF Lord and Lady Algy" Is a
sign that this truth has at last dawned
on a busy management
1t has been suggested elsewhere that
OF sheridan matchless School for
SCANDAL This is true: but il does
not by any means reach the same high
plane. In the older play the cOnStruc-
ton, although hidden with much clever
ness is so true and compact that hard
y = line can be omitted. and every
Lord and Lady Algy" is abundantly
clever but the construction beneath that /
cleVerness IS neither so well hidden nor
SO well designed.
But It IS captious TO dwell on this
comparison Irrespective Of The /
School for Scandal" Mr. Cartons COM
edy Is distinctly one of the best PLAYS :
70 DC seen on our stage-a COMEDY OF /
bright interest. picturesque though IN
organizations scenes. and true humor I
q the sort which IS never far separated (
from true pathOs. It's revival is a yalr-
aDIe contribution to the current season (
and the financial success which has at /
tended It's performance by Mr. FaVer-
sham ana his company is q fair return /
Tor what the tradesman might caU /
good value.
Lord Algy Unchanged.
MIR. Faversham's impersonation con-
tinues 10 be that of a kind. high-spir /
tied. noble-hearted gentleman. expressed 4
Will the resources Of broad theatrical /
training and quiet art Lady Algy, as F.
played by Miss OPP. obtains distinctly
q refinement which the character lacked 4
al the hands of her predecessors. The |
role IS, at her hands brisk without
beng gay, and deep without being mel
&HChOiy- Yet after all. il has never
displayed any actress To advantage. and /
II does not any the more become Miss
opp.
or the subordinate roles il is enough
10 say they are acceptably done. They
" ere created by experienced and ~Gpable
actors; when acted today the impersOn-
SuOuS are inevitably subjected 70 Sc
we're comparison with those creations (
In one respect or another each Of the
company. except Mr.. Faversham and
Mss opp. rails 70 observe the even bal
ance or the older actors But the com
Iouy, on the whole contributes desir-
able atmosphere to the scenes of which
LORD and Lady Algy are the figures OF
greatest interest
The Capital welcomes the return TO
TIA stage Of Lord and Lady AIgy"
Bus u Is not the only comedy which 4
might be seen more than once with
Pre- fit. A y. A.