The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-12
AT THE THEATERS
Metropolitan William Favsrsham
"Lord and Lady '.AIgy.,'

"Lord and Lady AIgy.n
William Faversham, whom the New
York matinee girl is said to idolize, proves
upon his first stellar visit to Minneapolis
to be not as dazzlingly handsome as one
would expect of the man who has set
the feminine Gotham heart a-hutter. But
he is really very English, and can say
''old; chap" stunningly and rattle off the
horsey talk of the English nobility in
famous style. He is a bit of an actor
too, which is a consideration of some
weight. don't you know?
The play in which he comes, Lord and
Lady Algy,'' is revival of r. G. Car
toms success OF former days-a comedy
of English high life of rather clever con-
struction. The dialogue tho bright
enough, is so full of insular color as to
be somewhat reconcile for an American
audience. Lord Algy, however turns out
to be good sort when you get@a1nder his
stoical English crust-and in the revealing
of the really fine character that hides be-
meath are engaged the craft Of the play
wright and the art of the actor The
unsmooth course Of misund ndings
along which runs the love of this lord1ing
and his lady is thoroly unconventional,
and the rapprochement Of the odd pair
Is accomplished ingeniously. The story
drags, however, and in the costume ball
OF the second act degenerates into sheer
farce comedy. For another thing, one
would think Lord Algy would promptly
discharge a valet who had so little sense
as to admit various persons to his fiat
SO malappropriately. But these rencontres
are, OF course, necessary to the develop
ment OF the plot, and so the valet must
be forgiven -
Mr.. Faversham's comedy is natural and
enforced. There is no conscious striving
after laughter, no direct appeal to the
lI6janPa hfc - - :
for dramatic effect. He is always thorplv
at his ease and shows himself a charming
II not great actor.
Miss Julie Opp, who plays the Lady
Algy, Is rather disappointing While there
Is nothing to offendein her impersonation,
neither is there anything to impress.
1nere is no lack of opportunity in the
role put Miss Opp seems content with
colorless effect. She is tall and English
looking, but lacks the grace of carriage
and charm Of expression with which an
american actress might be- expected to
invest even an English noblewoman
quite the best representation offered is
that given by Percy Lyndal of Algy's elder
pfother. In unctuous hypocrisy he is a
nooern Joseph Surface. One regrets that
the man is not unmasked in the DIay. even
If it is the conventional thing to do hut
one cannot fail to enjoy to the utmost
the emollient smoothness of Mr.. LyndaPs
chafacterlzation.a Mabel Roebuck is eff
1ectlVe as the romantic and misguided
WIFE, and E. Y. Backus as the Jealous
husband is funny but farcical. The other
PLAYERS are for the most part we'll cast
and the performance is a finished and
artistic one. = -
There. is sad lack of realism in the
second act, due to the failure to provide
enough people to make the costume hall
seem 1a1rly Well attended. All the guests
are supposed to pass thru the corridor in
which the action takes place on their way
to supper, but, all told there are only a
beggary few in sight. The same meager-
ness Is seen in the furnishing of Lord
Algy's bachelor quarters. This is not like
Charles Frohman, who usually sets his
plays Well. w. B. Chamberlain