New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-04
THE DRAMA.
KniekerbOcker Theatre-Miss Ellis Jeffreys.
Revival Of london Assurance"

After much blowing OF horns and much pubca-
,ion 81 hox-oice twaddle. the frivolous comedy OF
- ondon Assurance was resuscitated. last night.
q, tbe Knickerboc1er Theatre This play which
s.s encountered the stage for more than sixty
lars IS familiar 70 the local public and particular
domination 81 its story would be superfluous here.
I. relates 10 an attempt at seduction by anti
otes rake and thoughtful observers OF II are
ware that il is gross misrepresentation OF so
so,v ana that with the single exception Of Max
47.rkayyav every person IN il is. in way
cher false or disreputable. II is comedy OF the
-s,-sr.rnatic order II partially preserves. in a
,se-n earb the tradition of Wycherly and Far
t,r It's persons are mostly vivacious and Il is
1000 with animal spirits. audaCity and sensuOus
80. II has not suffered for lack OF celebration.
a. Boucicault himself, in the course of his busy
..sr occasionally found time TO allude 10 II. and
.,sous other persons have been known 10 mention
=, 81 that its propulsive course does not require
.,sleratton The author youth when Il was
-5,,e, and he knew but little OF English society
"a less OF human nature. but he had read some of
re comedies Of the period Of the Restoration, to-
-.tba- with the later comedies of Sheridan. and
=. wrote an imitation OF them. London Assur-
80 p, however no more resembles its model than
. coal resembles diamond. The spirit is artificial.
r. feeling is tainted. The incidents mostly
fs~.ical There are. unQuestionably. prohgate men
ors v,.lcar women, in English society. but you do
-, ,oroe upon houses fUll OF them. everywhere and
all
t4s-RaWavs Oak Hall is either dissolute venaL
There is touch % feeling in the attitude Of Hark
ov-sv toward Grace and. In a general way. the
souire is human and hearty; but the rest OF the
,,sorle are iguoble unlovely, unsympathetc. shall
iov and hard No woman OF refinement could be-
have as Lady Cay Spanker is made 10 behave and
,bs only method in which an actress can deduce
any pieasing effect from the situations in which
that character is placed Is thai Of transhguraton,-
70 invest the part with attributes which it does not
rossess and make il something else. Miss Ellis
Iegrevs q woman Of personal beauty. natural re-
saeuent and polished manner Inappropriate 10
1asv CAV spanker who is a vulgarian). adopts
,tis method and as far possible,-eveTywhere
vtncing her expert proficiency and cultivated style
IGNORES the vulgar traits Of the character. wells
she indelicacy OF tie scheme to entray and bam-
,oozis the vain inflated. absurd, contemplate Sir
Harsourt Ccurtly and trusts for her effect to the
suggestion Of innate decency and the virtue or con-
tinence reinforced by the glitter Of personal ami
nation
The representative Of Lady Gay spanker is
rected 10 deliver with exceeding vOlubty and
ecstatic exhiaraton. rhapsody descriptive Of
rteeplechase and when she has successfully ac-
complished that feat Of memory and wind, she is
commonly supposed TO have reached the awful
summit Of theatrical achievement,-ac cOrdingy,
The fact that Miss Jereys prevailed in this stupen-
dous crisis, Of course. becomes a momentous part
Of the passing record. The exploit IS not diff
10 q
IN ne theatrical mind. The lively spirit and
vitality OF this actress could hardly be wasted in
more artificial character than Lady Gay Spanker-
Mr. Thompson has rep0se humor. authority. and
precision, and ne acted Max Harkaway might
have been expected. perfectly well. Mr.. Pymp-
TONS embodiment Of Sir Harcourt Courtly Is cor
rect but colorless and totally lacking in distinc.
ton OF manner. The tradition Of this part goes
hack 20 Henry Placide, who indeed. did make II
extraordinary, by infusing into il a tone OF such
old comedy parts Lord Ogleby and Sir Peter
Teazle. The withdrawal Of Mr.. DiXey. who was 20
have attempted Dazzle, left a blank. Mr. James
Neil. vino appeared in the part. could be viewed
Webster. who emerged Charles Courty. Mr..
Murray Carson gave good performance OF NEEDLE
the pusilanimOus pettifogger who is willing 10
he kicked.-a bad part and in fact caricature
Mr Joseph Wheelock. the younger, acted the
sheep-faced and ignominious Dolly Spanker In such
a way 10 amuse and crafty his auditors. The
'iesson" OF this revival-since lessons are in
fashions briefly this, an assurance-which IS
New-York as well as London-that managers must
Re exceedingly hard up for attraction The
public gain from such representation is nothing
save opportunity TO inspect a brittle theatrical
curiosity better left unseen. The theatre Is for
other purposes besides amusement and the exhibi.
Ion Of personal technical dexterlty. But the suck
ling Of fools and the chronicling Of small beer in
this world will presumably. continue 10 the end OF
time