New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-20
THE DRAMA.
THE SECRET OF PoLcHINELLE.n
Madison Square Theatre.

PIesentment OF the comedy o, 'The Secret
q Fohehinelle." which was made last night at
rrL son square Theatre. with Mr.. W. n.
thompson IN principal character puts within the
Pu'Hc reach source OF refined and Innocent pleas
uie. out not OF any substantial benefit An ex-
$3.50" Is made Of sentimental whimsical hu-
ana possibly touching phases of domestic
- 'epU'aoie French family. and an appeal is
Ill - natura sympathy with parental feelings;
incidentally. picture ST character Is revealed
that mas an effect OF mingled tenderness rntrtb and
=. - ere "eiH and long current at the Cynnase
" ans altoros motive for such little fable and
s oii as tne play eontails.-Henry and Marie its
IIteHAe participants. being lovers and PARENTS
without the sanction of a recarnizsd Iag,, nc ii
notS' Inc English adaptation made BIZ Miss Mil
usu A4arlch loses the value of this exps1iA,+ the
- -. Ois ioF sur audience. definitely married
50 IndI there seems 20 be no tnperativa rsason
80 -Hs eiesr Joavenals the father and mother OF
y seould distress themselves ahout ,b.,- go,
N0'' OF should restrain their philoproSentive
.1 s ior ms offspring. their grandchild Be-
themselves however. they do. when in COM
paS OF one another; but each secretIv visits Henrv
ana Marie. comforting and eonsotnr this Iac[ "a
'!n househoid. and each fondles and caressss the
ali-lasclnatns grandchild little Robert Mr. Tra
vouN' ancient friend and cou,rade Of NJ Jou,enal
their babe $3.50 H'e'
Inc point Of the story is that Mr. Jouvenal .rro
HeouSiy snpposes that his adored wife will act like
IN view o. her sons unauthorized nup-
"uiIe MTs' Jouvenai mistakenly fancies that
% ,uo~so husband will behave like martinez
fharisee' on the same occas sion The sitpat,on
o'''usiS enough. is rnomsntarily comical But
'here Is nothing Enthusiastically IMPRESSIVE ard cs,
AMY nothing dramatic. IN the customary eYu-
'e teheaher OF elderly persons toward children
ana this Is the substance of the p,av Mr.
AHohSSons way with babes and stockings seems
% oe nearly and genial and doubtless they would
ma MIN capital companion His ideal Of Mr.
1eaVenaI though.-looking at the acting Of the
palL-was bourgeois and tsrcicaI. The note Of
1seilIg was never touched There wes no hint of
possible austerity OF mood. no suggestion of
'orna1ity OF manner. Comic testiness and hurly
explosive Vehernenee. alternating with bland
pleasantly. made up the fabric OF the character.
Miss Harriet DeIlenbaugh al Mrs Iouvenal
though following much the same course while she
gave no indication Of the possibly stern parent did
contrive. in the stolen interview with the daughter
anc child. to simulate woranliks tenderness
MUCH the best performance Of the night was
that OF Marie. by Miss Fiorencs Conron The
trernilous apprehension was overdone. indeed and
there was far too much gasping in Marie's recital
TO Old Jouvenal. Of the particulars of his first
visit TO her home The gurgle may affect the
female bosom In which II occurs but il never
aHects the auditor The part of Marie is thin and
colerless. but such as II Is. Miss Conron made It
sincere Mr.. ". ]. Ferguson pleased his admirers
with bit OF extravaganza. fantastic buriesque-
loud ford. and eocentric.-as VI. Trevoux a part
that should be made a delicate. elegant. tasteful
tareeuT. Miss Grace Kimbal In a hard STYLE I'M
parted some slight glitter to the part OF Nine SAN
teray. Old Jouvenal would have had a spIendi,
effect, IN the person of such actor as William
Rufus Blake John Gilbert It exacts a finer
touch. deeper feeling. less robust manner. than
Mr. Thompson has been pleased 10 employ upon IL.
He vas nevertheless. often and heartily appNuded.
and the brisk. crisp pratle OF the dialogue seemed
to impart much satisfaction. ". W.