New-York tribune., 1905-11-06
LONDON DRAMA.
Il NezC Actor Manager-Another
Tariant of the Triangle.
London. October %

London October %
The Irving cheer has been heard at the Wal.
dorf Theatre this week from sympathetic
audience in touch with the son. who was re-
suming his stage work few nights after HI,
fathers burial. II was Mr.. H. B. Irving's frs.
appearance as actor manager. and he deserved
encouragement. for he had chosen strong pIsy
and. while undertaking himself allowed hi, as
sociates to make as much as they could Of their
own parts. As everybody on the stage co-ens-
ated heartily with him. the first night was fur
of brilliant promise for the handsome intellect
ual young actor. who. after serving his appren-
ticeship at the ST. James's and the Duke a,
York's as villain and hero and enacting Hamlet
with breadth of style at the Adelphi has now
entered the lists actor manager with a
company of his own. The play was Light,
Out" an English version of Beryerleins Zap
fenstreich.' which has been produced success
/ fully in America and France. as we'll as in Ger
man garrison towns, where its mordant satire Is
fully understood and keenly appreciated If he
had been easily frightened. Mr. Irving would not
have undertaken this military play. for the Ger.
man uniform is not popular in London, and an
analogous drama. "Rosenmontag," had been re-
ceived with extreme GOODNESS not long ago. Hs
did not lack courage, and he was rewarded with
outburst of enthusiasm after the final fall Of
the curtain. Beyerleins realistic study OF bar
rack life and social distinctions gripped tho
audience because it had dramatic force and
definite purpose. The color of the uniforms was
of slight Importance. The lack of atmosphere
was not felt The court martial scene with the
sergeant's daughter burtng out her shame with
quiet sincerity when her two lovers were the
point of perjuring themselves. was earnest
drama; and when the infuriated father turned
from the pleasure loving lieutenant, who could
not fight with a on-commissoned officer, AMI
shot the girl TN a frenzy of passion the cold
brutality of the ending was as logical and COM
plete as a demonstration of Euclid "A mans
a. man for a. that on the lips of many OF
the spectators they pushed their way into
Aldwych. When the murderer turned to his
daughters seducer with the ironical question:
Now lieutenant. can you summon the guard
once more?" the truth had been vindicated that
all men are free and equal
The acting in this play lacked decacy OF
shading The distinctions of class upon which
it turned not indicated with subtle In
telligence. The sergeant, as played by Mr..
Fulton was as polished and we'll bred a gentle
man as the lieutenant of Mr.. Irving. or as any
member of the court martial. Corporal Helbg,
in the person of Mr.. Esmond, had as fine man
ners and as much distinction as any of the
ter. as impersonated by Miss Eva Moore, was
wnsome charming woman. without trace Of
underbreeding. Non-commissioned and COM
missioned officers were on level so far as bear
ing and habits of speech were concerned; and
one class was not differentiated from another.
would have been done if company OF Ger
man players were enacting the play in gar
rison town of the Fatherand. There was. in
deed. only one unmistakable German on the
stage. the Corporal Queiss of Mr. Charles Weir.
Uhlan in face gesture and voice. The others
were Englishmen masquerading in German uni
forms and not taking pains to disguise their own
nationality. Perhaps this lack of local color
was carefully calculated With the current
feeling as it is. it would hardly have been ju-
dicious to remind audiences too strongly that
the characters were Germans. 1t safer to
present Lights Out not a study of Ger
man social life. but as a military drama OF
intense force and human interest and TO leave
every part in competent hands. With Klara as
a type of passionate sincerity and simple self
devotion; with Sergeant Volkhardt as stern.
soldierlike martinez of the underclass, with
Lieutenant Won Lauffen and Corporal Helbig as
rival lovers, each with lifelike touches of in
dividuality, good humored and superficial
and the other gloomy and self-absorbed and
with barrack companions and attendants and
court martial magnates of unwonted vivacity
and force, the play direct, powerful and
moving Mr.. Irving's own performance in a con-
temptible and unsympatheti part was particu-
1arly good He is actor with a notceabIy
fine technique. like Mr. Gerald Du Maurier, and
he is most subtle and effective when acting with
self-restraint.
The everlasting theatrical problem of two men
and one woman is taken up simultaneously at
three playhouses. At the Waldorf the woman
is killed off by her father: at the Imperial she
deserts her husband and runs away with her
lover. who provides for her suitable ehaperon
his own aunt and her godmother; and az the
New Theatre she is reconcfIed to her stupid un-
romantic husL md and allowed to settle down
at home. a wiser and less fighty person. Mr.
Davies's cannot be called the strongest. yet it Is
certainly the most agreeable of the three plays.
Charm is his best gift. as he has previously
shown in Mrs. Gorringes Necklace" and
Cousin Kate" Captain Drew on Leave" at Sir
Charles Wyndham's theatre is mildly interest
ing for two acts. becomes intensely dramatic In
the third act, and finally fattens out into moral
tableau. with everybody in the same position as
at the outset and nobody much the worse for
romance more or less impassioned. With
fourth act quiet and prosaic as TO have the
effect of anti-climax after the thrill of excite
ment caused by the midnight Irritation. its in
terruption by blackmailer and the wife's be-
lated return to her husband. the play has charm
from Mr.. Davies's Iightness of touch, cleverness
in dialogue and sense of character The people
in his dramas talk brightly and are invariably
vivacious and entertaining. and they have the
breath of life. and tie spectator is sorry to part
from them and eager to meet them again.
The charm OF the play is enhanced by per-
feet comedy performance. with every actor suit
ed to the part and drawing inspiration from the
good work of associates. Sir Charles Wyndhafnr