New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-04-09
LONDON NOTES.
nmerican Water COlOrs-DecOratiUe
Stage Pictures-AIdrych Opera.
London. Manor p.

an Gallery is a bold challenge. Englishmen
- taste and intelligence are not I'm the habit OF
-Desting either confidently or boastfully OF their
.cssernie art, their sculpture or their archi-
lecture; but they have supreme faith IN the ira
s,,ions of their water color school. Turner. Cop
,.v Fielding, David Cox. De Whit and Samuel
77rout set the style in this medium. and Il has
,,euenced all their English followers. even when
.echuique has declined and breadth OF treat
,,ent has been lost The English have had
,beir masters in water color painting. and their
standards have been securely established: and
hence # IS venturesome for the New-York Water
,,olor club 10 open an exhibition here
There are subject pictures in this American
ooDection much stronger IN modelling and finer
n technique than are ordinarily seen in English
-ster color shows OF the day. Among these are
Ar. Albert Herter's "Sorrow'' and Mr.. Arthur
EzoIles Finishing Touches and Study
relied face with white plumes. The flower
rieces are most delicately painted. notably the
-rbite roses by Miss Z. NJ Scott In England the
sasbion is to paint flowers in fields or gardens as
ar Parsons usually does; but the American
PAINTERS follow the French method. There are
GOOD snow pictures by Mr.. Walter L. Palmer
subjects not often attempted in England, al
slough Mr.. Boughton used 20 handle them well;
there are dog and sheep pictures by Mr.. Alden
Weir. some sketches by Mr.. John La Fargo, and
softlv toned landscapes by Mr.. Shurtlen, Mr..
Eaton Mr. Smell Mr.. Franzen and other paint
ers The colors are sometimes crude. as in Miss
Constance Curtis's blue Joan and Mr.. Albert
Herter's spirit Of the Renaissance" but, ordi-
,arily. the pictures are pleasing IN color. The
collection is fairly representative. and is a cred
liable one in the interest Of American art
Richepin's .Du BarrI" may be dramatic in the
original form, but in the English adaptation
presented al the Savoy Theatre it is mainly
decorative ike French art Of the eighteenth CEN
Jury The stage pictures are splendid spectacles
Of high artistic quality. Boucher might have
arranged The girls and flowers in the milliner's
shop; Watteau might have designed the outdoor
fete of Louveciennes. with its blends of color
and its troupes of dancers; Greuze or Fragonard
might have painted the Pavilion at Versailles
OF the Louis Quinze bedroom. with the stately
furniture and the magnificent coverlet. Decora-
tive art is not drama and, although something
unexpected or theatrical happens at the end OF
every act. there is no real movement until the
final scene. when the frenzy OF the revolutionary
mob IS effectively enacted as the tumbrils go by
with the condemned victims OF the guiIlotine. A
series Of spectacles may be lovely in color and
brilliant in vivacity. as these certainly are, and
both history may be obscured and drama neg
lected. The stage is filled with figures but they
do not stand out from the exquisitely orna-
snented wall. but in their picturesque costumes
run in with the general color scheme and are
without the breath Of life There is indeed, only
one actor who seems thoroughly alive ard a
characteristic Frenchman in pose voice and
gesture. This IS Mr.. William Devereux, the
Kings valet. The others talk. shipper and cackle,
but It has hollow sound like the squeaking Of
the parroquet eating crumbs in her mistress's
room.
Mrs Brown Potter is beautiful alike in the
Ehopgirl's gown. the magnificent bedroom dress
the fate costume and the tumbril frock. Decora-
tive art in the stage setting does not overwhelm
her but brings out the sDlendors OF her hair,
the radiance Of her smile and the grace Of her
figure. Never has she been seen to greater phys
Seal advantage than in this costume play; and,
since the playwright and adapter have not
given her much 10 do except TO smile and TO
fascnate everybody on the stage. she succeeds
fairly well IN her denotement Of the hayward
Ehopgir behind the throne, who was pining for
admiration and not so bad as she might have
been. II the playgoer can get a clearer idea Of
the last mistress Of Louis Ky by reading
dozen lurid lines OF Carlyle than by spending
several hours in watching the beautiful doll at
the Savoy Theatre. the fault may not be hers
50 much the playwTights. Mr.. Gilbert Hare
who has stage managed the spectacle with ex-
ceptonal skill. has taught her to vary her poses
and 10 moduate her voice: and she is capable
Of doing something better than a dolls part.
Indeed. with her beauty and Vaccinations, she
might be actress. If she could only learn to
use her voice naturally. An actress is hardly
called for in this costume play Of decorative
Fpendor; and actors are equally superiuOus.
Mr.. Gilbert Hare has firm grip upon the char
acter a Louis Ky. but the playwright scarcely
ali rfvr, Go s17o eyfvra I'D
representation Of pleasure loving royalty. Mr..
W L. Abingdon's TneIodrarnatic art rises high
above the environment Of a voluptuous and
luxurious court, and is unfettered by his
masquerade Jean du Barri The gloved
hands may be the French courtier's. but the
voice IS that Of an OLD friend-Professor Moriarty
plotting underground against Sherlock Holmes.
novelty by an unknown author has been
presented al the Court Theatre. This is the
unfortunately named comedy THE Little More"
based on Robert Brownings line. "Oh. the lit
lie more. and how much it Isl" It is a prob
lem play. with a new idea. In place OF the
notorious trio-husband, wife and lover-are
father. mother and scapegrace son. and what
Is wanted 10 make the marriage complete is
closer touch Of sympathy between the taciturn
husband and the sentimental wife 1t is
comedy from she relief offered by subordinate
characters. disciplined baronet with a crushed
spirit and two gushing lovers; but It incloses
The tragedy Of a home clouded and broken up
by the wrongdoing Of a headstrong. Tesentful
son. The father, a narrow minded country
squire. preoccupied with the pleasures Of hunt
ING and fishing fails 10 understand the mother.
He is devoted 10 a frivolous daughter, is re-
PEELED by his vicious son, and finally orders
him out OF the house. The mother loves the
son and IS estranged from the father because