New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-05

!. ..e library since its production IN the se'eH-
..<ntt century
ora interesting and profitable experiment
= b.en tried by Mr.. George Alexander o. -
=. xares's Theatre. This is the revival Oh oS.A'
s,,,x.,s Lady windermere's Fam" Win al "a
..,,toraIly strong company, including seNeia4 y
-. talented players Of the first prooocuO,
.~.,ve years ago. This was The play VIM
.,rvsnced the critics of that day that as oii4i
-. oeni,s as Sheridan had arisen to deliver
IS. stage from mediocrity; and now that !"
b.en reproduced after interval long
enough TO enable playgcers to separate 'he "olA
.-or, its author and to judge of it on its own
s-I. SIS superiority TO the drama of the day
.,.s-lv revealed. The first night audience
I.,,,vrss If with an intensity of interest seldom
-, ar q London theatre: and after every
.s,n there were rounds OF applause. with
g., scene OF tunuItuous enthusiasm, when MISS
,s.-son Terry was rewarded for most subtle
"a ,ovarful inlpersonation Of Mrs. Erlynne Al
.h,ugh not a few Of the jokes had passed INTO
,rrrent conversation. the wit was fresh anu
s,s-kIing; and while the curtains were theatrl-
,oI fhe characters unconvincing as though not
,lstched from life and the situations so SUI
.renely clever as TO seem artificial, the play
Fully yindicated its reputation as the closest
,roach to THE School for Scandal" which
Aa5 been made by an English playwright in TINS
Generation. It would indeed, be difficult 20
name a recent play which could rival Lady
5giuderrnere's Fan" in brilliancy Of wit ana
sleyerness of construction. The best PROOF OF
she wit is the fact that veteran playgoers were
oonvulsed with merriment on the opening night'
and when they attempted to analyze the para
doxes and salles Of worldly society they found
1-fsaor TTT7nn
sciousIy 10 reset or initiate them at dinner
parties and In smoking rooms Among them
we're Lord Dariington's confession that he could
resist everything except temptation; the de1ni-
ton Of cynic as a man who knows the price
OF evervthing and the value of nothing; Mr..
Charles Dun1ty's declaration that there only
Two tragedies in life-not getting what you want
and getting what you want; and Mrs. Erlynnes
Identification Of reform with bad dressmaking,
and her description of London full OF fogs
and serious people; whether the fogs produce
the serious people or the serious people produce
the fogs. It is impossible to say" That is the
style which smart people have been seeking to
make their own ever since it was set in Lady
Windermere's Fam
The mastery construction of this play may
be illustrated by the skill with which secrets
shared with the audience are not understood by
the figures on the stage. The mystery of the
play is the fact that Mrs Erlynne who is black
mailing Lord Windermere and striving to force
her way back into society. IS Lady Windermere's
mother It is disclosed to the audience in an
exclamation from Lord Windermere at the end
Of the first act, but on the stage only he and
Mrs Erlynne know the truth even when the
curtain falls fer the last time. The second Sc
cret is the flight Of Lady Windermere TO Lord
Darlington's house, with her subsequent rescue
by Mrs Erlynne. This also is known only to
them and the audience. The curtain comes
down at the end with the wife ignorant of her
mothers shame and with the husband uncon-
scious of his Puritan wife's narrow escape from
disgrace; and the tattlers and scandal mongers,
who have been whispering and intriguing dur
ing the four acts have missed the best bits
of gossip The spectators in front of the foot
lights are taken into the authors confidence,
and their interest in the resentment and jeal-
ousy Of the daughter and In the mothers plead
ing with and sacrifice for her is intensified. If
the disclosure Of the mothers identity had been
Kept from the audience and blurted out to
everybody on the stage at the close of the play
the construction would have lost clearness and
charm Lady Windermere's Fan" with all its
ingenuity and cleverness. is unconvincing in its
treatment Of palpable inprobabilities. Lord
Windernerss conduct in forcing the black
mailer upon his wife at the party and In dancing
attendance upon her is inexplicable; and Lady
Windermeres retreat to Lord Darlington's
house Immediately after repulsing his advances
is not reasonable invention. With all the de-
fects Of artihciality. the play grips the atten-
ton Of the audience from beginning to end and
offers fine opportunities for acting. Miss Braith-
waite Mr.. Ben Webster Miss Coleman. Mr..
Aubrey Smith. Mr.. Vane Tempest. Mr.. Sydney
Brough and the other members of the company
DO their work admirably; and the performance
Of Miss Marian Terry stands out by itself as
one Of the most brilliant and resourceful ex-
hibitions Of the noble old art OF acting which
London has witnessed for long time. I. n. F.