The San Francisco call., 1905-05-21
BOOK
ON THE STAGE
"The Masquerader" Draws
Big Houses, but Is Said to
Be Not Much of a Play
GREETING FOR IRVING
Veteran Accorded a Splendid
Reception Upon His Return
to the Boards in London
GREETING FOR IRVING
Special Dispatch to The Call.

Special Dispatch to The Call.
LONDON. May 2o.-The most important
event OF an uncommonly interesting the
atrlcal week has been the production of
Temple Ihurstons dramatization Of his
wires famous novel, 'The Masquerad-
er. Ihis stage version of the romance
is not entirely satisfactory, but then it
was foregone conclusion that no stage
version or The Masquerader' would be
entirely satisfactory. The chief difficult
ty, OF course, is the double Double,
oounle' toll and trouble" might very well
be the plant of George Alexander. who
produces Thurston's play.
1t Is one thing for an authoress to as
sert that her two leading characters are
80 much alike that not even the wife of
one can tell them apart, but it Is quite
another for popular actor to find some
BODY who resembles him sufficiently to
make the thing convincing on the stage
In The Masquerader." of course, Chill
cote and Loder meet frequently. Ameri-
can readers have been told already Of
Alexander's long hunt for his alter ego
and of his final discovery Of w. F. Tho
rold, London editor of the Smart Set.
1t is to be hoped, though it is not like
ly, that whoever produces 1.-THE Mas
querader" in the United States may be
more fortunate. for although Thorold
does resemble Alexander decidedly, once
the two men are seen together differ
ences in height and in feature become ap-
parent instantly, and SO at the st. James
the illusion Is seriously impaired at the
outset
HOW THE PLAY MOVES.
However, the day is saved to a great
extent by the exceptional acting of Alex
ander, who doubles the part of Loder and
Chllcote throughout, except, of course,
when the action brings both men on the
stage. This is at the beginning. when
the deception is arranged between the
two. and at the end, when Chilcote dies
in the presence Of his wife and Loder.
In his adaptation Temple Thurston
who already has successful stage work
to his credit, follows his wife's story
closely. The action opens in Loders
chambers, where 1t Is planned that he
shall take Chilcote's place. Then the
scene changes to the home of the member
of Parliament, and we see first the ha-
rassed, drug-maddened statesman, and
then his clear-headed Substitute impos-
ing on Chilcote's servants, his secretary
and finally upon his wife.
The third act brings us to the great
reception, where the masquerading Loder
meets the woman who has known him in
Italy and exposes the scar on his finger
to her while acting as her subject at
crystal gazing" Because of Loder hav-
ing been behind a screen she does not
know who it is that she has read and
it is not until the next scene, when the
double calls upon her, as Chilcote, and
she discovers that the statesman sud-
denly has taken to wearing rings that
she realizes what is going on. AS in the
novel, too, Loder is betrayed to Chilcotes s
wife by the woman's discovery of a tele-
gram addressed to the substitute by her
husband.
Truth to tell, it is not especially thrill
ing as a play, but the London produc-
ton is being well patroniZed by folk who
have "read the book
PLAUDITS FOR IRVING.
1t was one of the great nights of stage
history-the night of the temperance of
Sir Henry Irving at old Drury Lane
Theater. No one present is likely to for
get the greatAroar from stalls, pit balco-
MES and gallery when the fine, dignified
figure of Beckett appeared in the opening
scene. 1t was welcome home after
travels abroad and after a dangerous ILL
ness, such as no other actor could COM
mand in London. 1t seemed to last ten
minutes, but it really was less than two.
At the close of each act the roar went
up again, and at the final curtain 1t be-
came deafening.
1t was not the grave, gracious and elo-
quent presentation of "Becket" that
aroused so much enthusiasm and it GER
tainly was not the play, for Beckett
scarcely could be called play at all, but
1t was the veteran actor himself for
whom all these thunders were raised.
''The very blood in my veins speaks for
me-, he told the audience.
The part of Fair Rosamund was given
to Maud Fealy, the very young American
GIRL who was first introduced to London
audiences by Gillette in Sherlock Holmes.
She was a sweet and pretty Rosamund.
She gives but the promise Of dramatic
power without the fulfillment
OPERA SEASON A SUCCESS.
One great advantage the London opera
and that is Hans Richter who never can
Atlantic. His is the final word of author
ity on Wagner, and it is thanks largely
to his conducting that Wagner has be-
come the chief feature of the season at
Covent Garden. 1t began this year with
THE Ring" and practically every seat
for the whole cycle was sold out before
the first performance was given. The
cycle is to be repeated soon, and already
1t Is practically impossible to get a seat
for 1t. The company this year is scarce
ly as brilliant as that of the Metropoli-
tan season, but 1T is already certain that
the Covent Garden management is to reap
a golden harvest
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