New-York tribune., 1905-02-14
CAST OF THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL"
MR.. WILLARD AS BLENKARN.
Knickerbocker Theatre.

NJ willard at the Knickerbocker Theatre, yes
+aroav. revived Mr. Henry Arthur Jones's excellent
MAY Of THE MiddIeman and again lFnpeIsohateo
cyrus Blenkarn. 1t was IN TINS pay ana 'NlS
character that Mr.. Willard made his first appear
- ., A,,er4ca Iat the present Wallacks Theatre,
tbe- onerated as Palmers Theatre). on november
10 1880 and the decisive success "hlch ne thei'
achieved has ben ratified, over and over again. IN
many triumphant repetitions OF this spiehulu per
orrance IN many of the greater cities OF America
,-t f-,,,e-eonafIo1 remains potential as ever.
In the ulay Of The Middleran MI "lilaro nus
"a iu,personate an absorbed. enthusiastic sei-Ie-
gardIesg fanaticaI inventor cyrus blellAa1" -
= 80 = no1ter His genius and toll have en-
- - 1ersons named Chandler. father ana
soo vbo own and conduct a china factory. In an
English town OF the present dsy'-saoh Uo"n
as ancient Worcester which IS the cnlet seat VI
this delightful industry. in England. BienAaFH mas
- - 4.eh, .,d one Of them is taken from him
~, .ba Younger Chandler. The circumstances OF
mis- deprivation point al disgrace. ana 'he ih'eNI
couceives himself 10 have SUFFERED an OO 90
bIe injury Young Chandler has Departed
and so has Mary Blenkarn. ana theS are eseHIU
ally 70 return as husband ana WHe' O1t O3Iu9
E,lsnkarn has been aroused from his reVerles over
the crucibIe and furnace. wherein ne = 80 e -, -
discover A lost invention Of the pot'e' "a ne
,,,iu make him both rich ana famous " Az
,-ayer for vengeance or these Chandlers. ana ne
Z -, tnern time OF desdtutien and OF pitt
- -sle with necessity, sleepless grief and tHe
v,addening impulse of Vense'AllcS NV 80 -,
-. ca 4bat he Is wasted almost TO oeAth fie WIZ
-. lever abandon his quest for the secret OF
- ne NAV die of hunger and wretchednessi
IN ,,ot Weld At the last moment OF his trial
- ,,,tserv-aIone-at night-En the alternate 4urid
- .vs rnur4v gloom of his firing honse.-success
=, ,,area and the device is found. This climax,
=. ,,bicb the preliminaries gradually and artfuIly
,d aegords a great opportunity To the actor. and
NJ willard greatly fills il. The old inventor has
t.an bowed almost to despair Grief penury the
s,ebt Of his remaining daughters suffering. and
,te conflict of agonized feelings, have made him
so.,. rsrt his will remains firm. 1t is not. how
e- ,,n+iI his last hope has been abandoned that
rfs success suddenly comes;-and the result OF this
g . deliriurn This situation is one OF the best in
,,odsrn drama. and IT has been treated by the
4ramatist in such manner as to sustain Tor long
+j,nc the feeling of suspense. and TO put an enor
c,s strain upon the emotion and the resources OF
an actor. Mr. WIard's presentment Of the gaunt.
attenuated figure Of Cyrus Bsnkarn'-hat crazed
,,,b grief and toy-is the incarnation Of dramatic
sazt and this incarnation being sympathetic and
trnneIifng 10 goodness and not to evil. captures
e,srv heart It is a magnificent exhibition, not
orlv Of that physical force which sometimes is so
essential in acting but Of that fervor Of the soul
without which acting is mockery-
The contemporary generation Of playgoers is new.
and reiteration Of former views to Mr. WIZARDS
acting will not. perhaps, seem tedious At the
ooening Ct the play the poor inventors blind tg-
,orance Of impending calamity IS chiefly trusted
10 create the essential sympathy. Throughout the
moments OF approaching sorrow the sweet uncon-
siotsness Of the loving father is expressed by Mr.
willard with absolute and touching truth HIS
ideal Of gIenkarn is sweet. noble simple nature