New-York tribune., 1905-04-20
LONDON NOTES.
Trio Aesc BGvies-Miss Ellen TERN
as Alice-WOter COIors.

'Nt'i l0lseI al me Duke OF GOrk's Theatre fully
meets both requirements. "Pantaloon' while
new variant OF the old theme of holiday nanto-
mime. IS nlumined with wit and swee:ened with
tender pathos- When Mr.. Gilbert. returning 10
stage work after long period OF inactivity
huriesqued pantomime in The Fairv's Di-
lemn1a' he seemed like "A veteran toying with
old fashions which the public had outgrown
MT Barrie lifts the wand OF sentiment in a few
sanciful passes and the old figures OF panto-
mime come 70 life again. and there is rapturous
applause from stalls and galleries There they
are again in The familiar costumes. Columbine
dancing about the stage. Harlequin playing
GOOD natured tricks. the clown leering and Pam
ialoon hungering after sausages: but. while they
have come out OF fairyland they are in touch
with human hearts and are no longer puppets OF
the property room wired by stage tradition.
Pantaloon Is the veteran player in dread of los
Ing his public and clinging tenaciously TO his
reputation OF being one OF the funniest of men
IN his poverty and failing strength he consents
20 marriage between his daughter Columbine
and the Clown and this expedient proves un-
aNailing. for when the wedding bells are ring
ms Harlequin carries of the girl on his shoul-
Ter and marries her After the lapse Of wears
Pantaioon is again seen in his lonely garrett.
where the Clown is taunting him with his
downfall and misery. and With the misfortunes
81 Harlequin and COlumbine and their child
horn 70 starvation and obscurity The truants
return 10 receive cold welcome and the child
saves the situation by popping out underneath
The table a promising young clown to play
with the aged PantalOon and 10 remind him of
his professional successes. ana down comes the
curtain while the four are dancing and prank
ing
II is a sentimental triie. but II has vivacity
of style brightness OF color and movement and
an underglaze Of pathos. The rusty player
whose tricks and jests no longer amuse the
public, YET whose eyes still caught by the
glamour and fascination OF the stage. appeals TO
the syTnpathies OF the audience AIr Gerald
du Maurier. affecting senility and a ereaking
voice though he were not one OF the most
agile and frolicsonle actors OF the London stage
presents what Mr. Barrie calls "a plea for an
ancient family with the eloquence OF quiet
realism; and when the fantasia on the joys and
souows Of public entertainers is ended lie hob
0les about hand in hand with the child clown
Miss Ella May. the quaint little one who was
posing not long ago with pretty innocence as
The author Of Peter Pan Some keen eyed
critics make pretence OF Interpreting symbol
ism st the fal Of the curtain and Of reading
into the play the death and renaissance of hu-
NOR; but reconcile explanation overloads
The dainty little gossamer web. AIr. Baskcomb,
with a face and figure designed for light COM
sages; and Miss Pauline Chase as Columbine
dances like a fairy. Two OF the characters,
Harlequin and COumbine, dumb. while the
other three talk, and whether there is panto-
mime or dialogue there is a tinkling accompani-
ment of soft music The double method of pres
entation involves inconsistency; but Mr.. Barrie.
having the reputation Of being unconventional,
does what he likes and IS not held accountable
FOR anomalies OF form The piece Is a little
icaii VII oF he sta nd sin
softened with sympathetic touch. the laughter
IS not thoughtless.
The second Barrie produced at the same the
atre. Alice, Sit by the Fire is al fantasy
II domestic life and a burIesque on problem
plays. While the incidents are compressed into
f single day and night, there is a tangled skein
II Anglo-Indian life in the three acts centred
about the homecoming: and there IS excellent
fOoling from beginning TO end, to keep the audi
ence in rollicking spirits. Alice Grey who has
been he husbands companion in India and the
belle of every hill station. returns with him at
forty 10 make the acquaintance Of her children
and 10 settle down middle aged woman.
She finds her children thoroughly ernancipa ted
from parental tradition and influence. The boy
81 twenty has his own ideas of propriety in the
home circle. has a precOcious dislike for senti-
nIent and is bent upon teaching his parents how
they ought 10 treat any one so dignhed him
self The girl Of seventeen, who has read many
novels. seen a few plays and has a passionate
friendship for an artistic friend. Leonora fancies
that her experience has given her a broader
outlook upon life than her mother could possibly
have had in india. While the mother has been
airting with uu3hated ardor and buOyancy Of
spirits with officers in India. and needs year
Al home fo~ a few final filings. the daughter has
become sufficiently advanced. with the help of
literature and the stage. 10 accept what she calls
the triangle of lfe''-the husband, the wife
and the lover Mrs. Grey discovers at once that
instead OF mothering her own children she must
allow them 10 instruct. guide and protect her
When she has slapped the boys face for his i'm
per1inence and chilled the beautiful girl by her
reserve, she adapts herself TO their afTectations
and wins their love 10y a series Of droll Iuses
which lead them 70 believe that they are rescu-
ing her from highly compromising indiscretions
and protecting her against her husbands re-
sentiment single days experience. when sac
has been witness Of her daughters precocous
foiIy. couvinces her that she ought 10 accept
without years delay the responsibilities Of
middle life and 10 be content 70 SIT by the FIRE
A bright play of Wit there must be when an
artist ike Mr.. Barrie is making up with fine
sronv a travesty OF modern tendencies Of educa-
ton. by which boys get their ideas Of personal
dignity from the divorce courts and girls regu-
late their morals by theatrical standards and
draw inspiration for their romances from sensa-
tional novels II is a most amusing little farce.
well saIted with satire at the expense of the
Younger generation, which considers parents
frIehtfuIly ola fashioned and narrow and seeks
10 do something for them by p6tronizng them
and keeping them out Of mischief Mr. Barrie
d}ero~ts himself with increased ardor as he ap-