The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-07
MISS ELLIS JEFFREYS'S DEBUT.
iVI RECEIVED IN THE DEL
HTTT -"TRfNrT CUYSDR1',-'

fiarhuclcd Stary Rather GeNcrly Told
Henry =. DlNey ImpcrsOnateS the
DcpOscd ScrNian klng-Ben Webster
and W ~. Thompson Scorc-Kate
Philips Makes the Illt OF pay.
N. Ellis JeTrcys Of the Haymarket
Theatre London, who made her American
bat last night at the New Amsterdam
ais rr quocnly heroine of The Prince
tan-ort disclosed a form Of regal altitude
and maIesty and an artistry at once sym
PATHETIC and refined. She was amiably
received 10y an obviously friendly house
and bids fair TO enjoy her visit here. But
f,lunot be said that she reused any deep
orabiding emotion.
A. for the slender fantastic comedy in
,,hsh she appears il l. only justice Though
is,HJfs justice untcmpered by mercy.
fn r-crle It by hkening 1t To the many
-mHr though far better. plays which
suggests or. properly speaking, which
ra.d.'iit Suggested il. In its meagreness
.t motive. and IT, atmosphere OF amiable
.r. .m and light and agreeable world
a~- t is the truly bcgotten daughter
tn' delicate operate pieces of Melhac
o,i Mueyy.
off, ric,urng Of the life Of petty
European kingdom with its picturesque
eIoNns Of royal pomp and i's absurd /
uucit oi punClilous etiquette 1t ia /
,'n brother OF the long line of plays that |
l.' been brought upon US by Stevensons |
prr"' Oto' and Anthony Hopes The |
oHor ~ Icuda lis closest analogue
-Hars Capt Marshall's Royal Family.
iH' story OF the play was probably sug-
Ff7i y the family jars that arc said to
followed upon the love match of
tu..u Nihelmiua of Holland with her
pity German Prince. According to the
..-.uluu of 'orcouia. the Prince Con-
-. destined 20 a purely private function.
I'- Prince Cyrii Is a serious minded youth
utn ha. made a special study of govern
Dr. .f and has enlisted the loyalty of his
r Wif'S subjects Loving spouse
though he is. he chafeS ~ hi constant
e.lF ton 10 the discipline OF petty ETH
re draws up n special report on the bud
81 and q -nubOed for II by the Council
t.. SpHG herself Joins them in rigid
e.h"rcncc 10 the letter Of the law; and
whom he rebels. has him publicly arrested
end brought before her 10y "a squad Of the
ra-a guard Ructons follow and CVrii
f 1gr ont in hun soma mounts her
C. tnuonal and Queenly high horse as
B. d4"~ u, but when he has gone at the
curtain Of the act goycls in renor-e for
what She has done
In tho third and last act she owns her
error TO him for. fearing popular uprising,
he has remained 10 guard her. He sticks {
- ms manly resolve. however and so she
forced TO tender her abdication as an
escape from divorce The next in the
royal succession, however il her silly !
"idlw aunt, Ac8ofG who having survived /
three husbands and thrown herself in ,
vain al the neck of a handsome guards ,
ran, has accepted the mercenary suit Of =
tg1gs rnke 7t father the deposed King I
Of Ingra. "
Confronted with this dire alternative
constitution giving Crii a more dignihed
etHtus. IL l. high time. for the Theatre !
situation IA running rather dry. and AZ {
691a announces NJ the final curtain an s
hoir II TO lie born TO the Kingdom OF Corconia :
me hetl Oh an this Is lt- simplicity clean :
iue-s and wholeSomcne1s. IT, as is not !
unlikely. there was any Partisan indcliCacy I
IN the original Of Nlrnof and Chancel, il
did not pass the English adapers. William /
Poo'ey and Co-mD Gordon Lennon Tho
thrna scenes are ample and luxurious, and i
there is q pretty parHdlng Of court function .
Hup pagpautrv Considerable light and :,
harmless amu-em'uf j. caused by the petty !,
foi.l@- ana agreeable Cvi iCism Of the sub :;
s.disry characters. But never for a mo- :,
mont does the play reach the altitude OF
me familiar pieces Of the kind by Meilhac and =,
IialeNv Aufnony Hope or Capt Marshall y
Particularly unfortunate is the size Of the 4
F'l2r and the auditorium Of thu New AM o
s''rcam. Delicate nuancing Of character a
fuo sentiment, light and accurate strokes
~ yortal pIay, count for most in a small r
rnt intimate playhouse Much Of the value n
, 'le performance last night was caught s
~ Enc sweeping tails OF the prOSCenIum "
ieacpcks. and what was left must have k
been strangely suhdued by contact with the T
1z1ni1ed capers Of art nouveau beyond Il
Miss JeNreys looked every inch the n
u"ea and wore her splendid costumes u
2 i'H PROFESSIONALLY dignity and grace
She wis light and girlish in her denote Il
'"r' ~ Affection and caprice. Under the It
'0-i favorable circumstances, however Il
or ant must lack Spontaneity and con "
lril1n. 20 saw nothing of the color and ri
"rcn VI emotion necessary 20 carry the r
vcghfiest scenes. Mr.. Ben Webster, who T.
'Iavod Prince curl. was handsome ~
'rr" y masculine lightness and humor. to
also fell short Of emotional con-
aonors Of the evening went to the
oI- Henry +. DiHey played CvYifs
ylmlcai and sinfu'lv Partisan father with W
Hiah.o ghtness and precision and in a X
v se-Ip recalling Milan, the opposed King tn
81 "a Even more delightful was Miss pr
nate PHILLIPS who played the often co
0oved aunt full Of worldly WEAKNESS IL
a WISDOM who wooed the big and dull pl
'H'enaut Of the guard in vain, and finally NJ
armed the eX-King OF lngra, for the sake dt
d honeymoon in Paris. To her fell the Er
''' lines AZ the play, and she delivered ar
''n with dry and spHghtly sense OF pa
larao'er that please d the house nightly.
Nl!irld North played the handsome and
'o17 gnardsman with slow and ludicrous
ton. William II. Thompson lent
'A0h Of grotesque character 10 the Presi- III
'ui VI the Corcouian Council The pro- Of
l.iiln was well staged by Arnold DAILY he
W Miss .ehreys succeeds IL will be be- in
'u'e Of the lightness and good taste OF de
@r performance and heIvehicle, not because In
] d" mol ma g.. -, g.ttt