New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-26
THE DRAMA.
ana REHAN As LADY TEAZLE.
LYRIC THEATRE.

go held the stage for ~ years.-sGordE de-
eve proof OF its potential vitality and Inherent
"a permanent worth. As idealized picture
,srklirg satir!cal uiquaat bountifuI IN wit and
ssfhfuIy representative n character-of fashion
able English life and manners IN the latter half
q the eighteenth century. II has no dramatic rival.
I'D 81 the dramatic field. even ~ approximate
eornpetitcr. D:ECdisition on its merits has long
seea needless. It's defects car be named IN a sen
,esce its persons without distinction of character
c- rank speak n language Of almost uniform
rouanCy and polish: its movement is halted. IN
he second act, in order 10 admit OF many verbal
fireworks OF wit: ita satire cuts both ways heck-
,ng sober rectltude almost as tartly as It does
hsud hypocrisy: and its collouUy is occasionally
,adecorous openly vulgar. All the same Il
stands a. the head OF English comedy. It's sym
fnetry Q; construction its prodigality OF wit its
lustre q dalogue. its riJicule OF hypocrisy gossip
,ud SANDER. its honest. abundant 2airth. and its
breezy maintenance OF sensible thought and right
conduct, have commended Il 10 universal GdInira-
don and confirmed IL, finally and forever. in intel
lsctusl esteem. As often it recurs. accordingly
Il Is welcome-even II It be rot any longer In
ysriably acted IN The spirit OF its tins.
The version Of The SchcoI for Scandal" that IS
presented by Miss Rehan is the that WAS made
By the late AUgUstin DAILY, first produced by him.
at his Fifth avenue Theatre. September y, 1874.
AID revived at Days Theatre, January 20 1901.
Il omts ildelicate speeches, slightly changes the
sequence OF q few passages, and restricts each
act 70 single stage picture; but. IN conconsin6
and modifying the original it preserves every
essential dramatic effect. The cOlloquies Of tho
scandalnongers lose nothing but their cosrseness,
snd much 81 the old play IS saved as spec
Tstor needs 20 see. The setting IS handsome. \
stately minuet dance to close the frs act, inton-
Fines effect o. oPulence, elegant incidence. ana
eocial luxury. Miss Rehan's embodiment OF Lady
Teazla. clear IN ideal and expert in execution, is
6Uoyant with animal happiness and careless joy.
Unlike the tradt!onary T-Odel,-1rs. Abingdon. the
original. who was the lne lady throUgho"'.--diss
Fehans acting shows an occasional glimpse OF
the country glri. through the transparency Of the
ARTIFICIAL woman OF the fashionable world. In this
size fellows the legend OF Dora Jordan. whom It IS
probable she much resembles The image presented
IS that OF 4 sweet. rural English girl who is made
temporarily frivolous. but is not radically injured,
by the vicious influences 81 q glddy town life. An
Involuntary artlessness % demeanor. a sudden
careless freedom Of gesture, a TicE vibration OF
Voice-Iho rustic touch Of Dature-this it is that
inparts a peculiar piquancy and bewitchment to
Miss RehAu's portrayal OF the headlong, dashins.
merry lirt. Arch, Joyous mischievous. capricious.
she Is set capable Of sincerity, dignity. and ten
dsruess. The true heart shines, at last through
the gauze OF cOQuettish artdce. and so tAis imper
sonation IS passing delight TO the sense and a
permanent treasure in the memory.
English comedy Of the seventeenth and egh-
teenth centUries.-tle comedy Of intrigue and OF
manners, that is represented by CIbber FaTquhar
Cougreve Vanbrush. Murphy, Reynolds. Gold
smith and She-idan-Eas. n a great degree. van
with II has disappeared ATTEST entirely NJ Otis
Skinner who acted Charles Surface possesses
acquaintance with the tradition. but his comedy
style IS essentially that OF the present day, and
ne e. 4 serious. romantic. tragical actor and not
q Hight comedian. BY reason Of mental poise,
personal authority. and professional weight, lie
would be more effective as Joseph Surface than he
IS as Charles To the embodiment OF this latter
character. however. he brings Kindness. exuberant
good humor animal spirits. and A copious, gay
voiubility. TThe contemporary actor best qualied
FOR Charles Surface is Mr. Frank Worthing-a
light comedian Of rare talent and grace and one
whose eitte-ing pleasantly sparklcs over 4 depth
az sincere. unobtrusive feelingI The part OF Jo-
Feph Surface WAS assumed by Mr.. Walter Hale.
who knows nothing about It and cannot play It.
JoFsph Surface should possess mind. distinction,
taste elegance. perfect manners; should be per-
EoasLy alluriaE; and should manifest genuine pas
Fion-for though hypocrite and "a man Of senti-
Tnsnt" Re Is q Formidable person. and no has be
cor-e seriously ersrnoured Of Lady TeaZle; whereby
st happens that the lady IS temporarily attracted
BY him. And Joseph should have the art OF speak
ing Conventional acting creates no illusion Mr.
George Clarke embodied sir Oliver Surface show
:-E remembrance and nothing more o. me Old
time model as handed down by such actors as
Burton Coui6ock Broughan. and the elder Mark
Smith. No zest.-bus plenty Of senile chatter
was Impaired by Mr.. Ringgoid 70 the malicious IN
nuenco tie exube-ant mcanuess, and the eXultant
malice OF the acrid Crabtree. Mr.. Joseph Weaver
made nothing Of the vapid fnical. futlng Sir Ben
sarnin Backbite-With his neat r!vulet OF text
Wandering through meadow Of margin These
two PARTS indeed, have not been fully and thor
euehly acted since tho DAYS Of John Z. Owens
ana W R. Floyd. who were superb in them Mrs.
Can6our and Moses were present only IN name.
Nj Edwin Vsrrey. in the character Of Sir Peter
Teazle Is by turns. testy and petUlant simple and
sincere humorous and tender: but he is somewhat
rural IN manner he lacks the bored air Of the
elderly wearied man OF fashion and his demeanor
Is IN M -esre-t that OF article which has become
natural through years OF invariable custom. The
embodiment IS that OF sober, sedate country gen
te-aan q the present day. whose wife has grieved
him BY her volatile, capTfcious. Eighty, and tan
TALKING behavior who feels that he is dis
edysntaEe In the domestic state and who purposes
20 act with uagnanim.ty. under painful circum-
stances. Mr. Varrey's performances Of Sir Peter
Teaze therefore. never has been, and is not nos"
strictly Ecco-dant with sheridan's eighteenth CEN
tuTy ideel-Sr Peter being & refined. delicate, eIe-
CANT fasusious member Of an artificial society.
Eather tired. bgL unconventional and never AT
taut: but this proficient actor expresses perfectly
Wen Sir Peters uXorious temperament. petulant
tenPer, resentment Of rdicule and rueful sense OF
oeieaf in contest with his gay. spTightly. mis-
elleVous young wife: and he shows reserve Of
ceep feeling al the heart of the character, which
As very potent in winning sympathy. In brief the
pO-Uays IS that Of sDlenetic. eccentric. anec-
lohate' generous. lyvabe old nan-suf1ctently
harmonious perhaps. with the Bath OF to-day. but
essentially remote from the Bath Of 5heridans
coH-ooy- NJ Farrey struck & note OF pathos, IN
we coaAosn;iai talk with Joseph ard did Miss
2aehsn. N the speech Of coEtrition Tie customary
Ae4Fo- o. pIoAc satisfaction was expressed, in CO.
pous applause, at the meeting OF bluff Sir Oliver
ana peTturoed Sir Peter after their long separa-
uon' a. the hearty behavior Of Charles Surface in
.e-oSlAs 10 sell his uncles portrait: and at Str
refers ecstatlc merTlnent tust before the fail OF
the Ecreena catastrophe which discusses tho whole
pont o. the comedy. and creates a dramatic situa-
a0A oi Such exceptional value. The talents OF Miss