New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-05-08

ably realistic and artistic II was a remarka BILE
biz OF stagecraft on the opening night, but after
weeks Of practice il has been refined in motive
and enriched in bypiay. until It is a brilliant ex-
ample OF the noble art OF acting. Mr.. Bourcher
has become Frenchman in this representation
OF the magistrate who alternately wheedled and
intimidate5 the witnesses in the Basque murder
case and convinced himself OF what he was anx-
ious to believe. In carriage, gesticulation shrug
OF the shoulders. quickness OF movement and
mobility OF expression. he is French as the
most characteristics master OF the PGrisian stage
Miss Violet VanbrugH IN Rejane's pat of the
PEASANTS Wife has also been most powerful As
an exhibition Of the modera art OF acting there
has been nothi1S equal 10 The Arm OF the
Law I'm London for twelve months
Mrs. Patrick Campbell has not been satisfied
with making arrangement with Nine. Bern
hardt for appearing with her in "Peeas and
Melisande" during the London season. She has
also decided 10 bring out on her own account a
play written by Mrs. Lytteton the Colonial
Secretarys wife. whose literary aspirations are
directed by reformatory zeal This play deals
with the thoughtIessness Of smart society in its
relations with working people. and Is described
as comedy, with costumes as a special feature.
Mrs Campbell will have powerful social patron
age for this experiment. Mrs Lyttelton is not
an amateur in literature. but has proved that
she has talent for dramatic writing.
The historic Strand has lost nearly all its
landmarks the street II playhouses and the
natural centre OF the modern drama. hut for two
centuries the great figures OF the English stage
have known and loved il. and have associated It
With their joys and sorrows. their successes and
failures. their ronances. their comic byplsy. and
even their tragedies. beyond the glare Of the
footlights. Honest John Coleman. who knew
every turn IN the old Strand. is now one Of the
benignant ghosts vita which the STORED quar-
ter is haunted. AS he began acting as a small
boy and lived 10 great age. after writing slngly
or in collaboration rs many a hundred plays.
he was one OF the familiar figures and famous
characters Of the Strand. He had been with
Macready Charles Kean. Charles Mathews.
ne had introduced salviHi 10 London. and sunk
fortune in few disastrous weeks: he had
worked with Charles Reade. Tom Taylor and
Robert Buchanan. and he had adapted Monte
Cristo' and Jean Vatican" for the English
stage. To the end he a stalwart. breezy
figure in the Strand. and he had a smile and u
good word for every veteran Of the stage. He
was Charles Reade's intimate friend and a con-
slant visitor AT 40. 10 Albert Gate aboth's
Vineyard. as they were wont 10 name it-where
battles We're fought with critics. theatre man
ayers and wicked publishers. and high contro-
versies waged over copyright. Warehouses and
trade unions. Honest John knew the history
Of the Strand as no other veteran did. and could
identify the scenes OF Nell Gwynne's yagaries
Mrs. Braceglrd!e's nirtations. Garricks tri-
umphs. Mrs. Siddons's adventures. and the liter
airy byplay OF the famous coffee houses where
Dryden. Or. johnson and Goldsmith wrote prof.
ogues for opening nights. N. F.