New-York tribune., 1905-02-02
THE DRAMA.
FARCE AT THE MADISON SQUARE.
Mrs. Temples Telegram"

gay and propitious audience filled the Madison
Square Theatre last night, to greet it's new man
ager, Mr.. W. n. Lawrence. and to cheer the pro-
ceedings incident to the reopening of cosey
pleasant resort. The house has been renovated
anc its auditorium is at once comfortable and
handsome Mr.. Lawrence, who has long been
customed to theatrical business and who possesses
taste as well as experience. begins the management
OF the Square under conditions of more than usual
promise His purpose seems to be the provision
or nome for cheerful plays. of refined and ele-
CANT character, and 1t is earnestly wished that
socA laudable design will be fulfilled. The first
ana most essential steps toward its accomplish
ment have been taken. in the organization of an
! eInclent stocz-company and the choice of win
nlhg play. The company Is led by Mr.. Frank
"ortnlng' the most accomplished light comedian
IN this country and by Miss Grace Kimbal and 1t
lncluues other players Of talent and skill. The
opening play, Mrs. Temples Telegram" written
oy Dir. Frank Wyatt is sprightly farce in which
thefe Is an abundance of fun without any taint of
improperly or any element of offence. AS noticed
! "S ST water Scott, 20. what tangled web
weave when first we practise to deceive" Mrs
temple IN this play, is little jealous to her
husbands proceedings. and not altogether credu-
| lous as to his explanations OF them. so that,
| one occasion. this exemplary gentleman. thinking
that she would believe the truth accounts for
his protracted absence from home by telling lie
ABOUT II comic tangle ensues and the exposi-
ton OF it makes the farce. Fabrics of this sort.
When they are really we'll made seem to be very
| easy or manufacture and a dramatic display of
them appears TO be the most faciIe of artistic
observation-disclosures nothing is more difficult
thaH the teat of extracting fun out of feathers.
Mr. Worthing possesses. under absolute control
the rare and charming faculty OF giving emphasis
TO a mirthful situation or merry thought by
| perfect gravity of demeanor by most comically
oelnufe aspect OF innocence, and. when he speaks,
by delicious drollery of infection. Like that
great comedian Lester WaIlack. whose method he
in some particulars. brings to memory he pos
sesses wonderfully sustained flow OF whimsical
Vivacity and blithe animal spirits combined with
spontaneous elegance of demeanor, and he i'm
part piquant significance to a half line an
| interjected word. Furthermore. he can express
sentiment and tenderness of feeling. without ef-
| fusive display, and in n way to excite sympathy
and promote gravity of thought In this play his
| cue is to be blandy humorous and he fulhs every
demand OF the occasion. With Mr.. Worthing, In the
representation of this farce-which sparkled from
the first word to the last kept its audience In
continuous ripple of merrment.-is associated
! Mr.. William Norris a comedian of more robust
! nDre and more obvious, though less elegant and
delicate method, whose province in the action and
dialogue is prompt. ingenious and fluent mendacty
! and whose fine sense and faculty of humor, show
| ing through demeanor Of bland innocence and
sounding in voice of singular felicity for droll in
hection, animated the whole scene with froic. and
seemed to leave wake of laughter upon his every
| exit The two characters, Jack Temple (Nlr.
| Worthing), and Frank Fuller (Mr. Morris) under
take to carry on the innocent ie and thus. the
complications increase, they are either momentarily
perplexed or instantaneously triumphant. To
srecify the details OF the farce would be to name
| the colors butterflys wings. It is enough to
say that Mr.. Temple finding that his wife will not
believe the truth,-that he has been kept all night
| up in a Ferris wheel because of arrangement Of
the machinery,-declares that he has been at the
| house of friend in the suburbs Of London and
| gives q and address which. by chance, prove
to be actual: that when Mrs. Temple sends a
| telegram to the friend she brings confusion to
herself and everybody concerned. Miss Grace Kim
ball made the jealous wife sufficiently to
! give emphasis to the mirth and Mr.. Thomas A.
| Wise aided the sport garrulous butler The
set is particularly handsome, in white and gold.
There should be doubt of the success of Mrs.
| Temples Telegram w. W.