New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-23
~ and efficiency OF this Shakes.

ss for the seauty and efficiency OF this sba,,s.-
pearian revival
There is large London public for inane farce
with an unpleasant theme. and managers NAV
vrights and actors submissively cater To n IN
the assumption that business is business ana
that I: does not matter whether the laughter ho
thoughtful thoughtless so long as plavgoars
come in swarms to be amused by a buzz oP t5Io
chatter the stage, with a wasp sting now and
then Mr.. R. c. Carton proved years ago IN
Liberty Hall" that he could write comedy WIFI
wholesome domestic sentiment: but after ba
coming more cynical in Lord and Lady AIev"
and more trivial in Mr.. Hopkinson," he seems
20 have settled down to frank farce. written
around disagreeable subject Public Opinion -.
ST Wyndhams Theatre, is farcical play. with
blackmaiI is pivot. A variety actress has
received compromising letters from a number ~
suitors who. after series of consultations ,-,+b
solicitor unite in a burglarian conspiracy TO
regain possession Of them. The expedien+s arA
sill trite-the slowing away Of people in adjacent
rooms being employed in each of the three eo+s.
and there is continuous repetition of phasa snd
Incident. Yet the audience is convulsed with
delight from beginning TO end, and the dramatic
critics record their approval in eulogies like this
The play recalls the mirthful DAYS of M
Pineros farces at the court and It ought 70
earn for Mr.. Carton. at Wyndham's the lasting
gratitude OF the laughter loving public" The
acting certainly Is extremely good the perforno-
ance Of Mr.. Frederick Kerr being remark. bl,,
brilliant in technique. with a rough vigorous
vitality in the representation The PLAYWRIGHT
has his royalties; the box office profits bv heavy
booking: the public gets what it wants and &c
willing 10 pay for and various dry questions of
art morality and decency are not discussed ex-
cent by a few old fashioned peopleI
-rhosa accommodated actors M or5 A., ~,
daL are also reverting to farces at the st.
Jsmes's; and it is pity, for genuine comedy
Of a high class is alone worthy of their fine
talents 7'Dick Hope has been followed by
The Housekeeper," a farce by Metcalfe Wood
and Beatrice Heron Maxwell in which there is
scarcely enough material for three acts It is
q clean play, with Mrs. Kendall as a middle-aged
Kate Hardcastle and with Mr.. Kendall as
bashful soldier, who begins by mistaking Lady
Audrey for the housekeeper. and continues his
career Of laundering with a series of farcical
exnedients in love making, until he is at the
mercy OF a silly girl in her teens. a designing
widow and an old woman with ear trumpet.
The subordinate characters have hardly enough
10 do to justify their presence on the boards.
and the play is utterly lacking in brilliancy and
distinction; yet the Kendals are most delightful
when they are playing together. for their humor
In DELICATE and refined. their vivacity is unceas-
ing and their touch it is light They
act with such sincerity and masterful resource
that in his delight over their stage art the
spectator forgets how f1imsy is the farcical
story. and is grateful for an old fashioned exhi-
bition OF comedy style. When he has leisure
TO reflect over the performance he wonders why
they DO not find better plays, which will fully
employ their brilliant talents. With all the
vagaries of current taste in amusements there
must always be large public for clean. mirth-
ful comedy. which helps audiences to think as
well as enables them 10 laugh; and artists like
the Kendals. embodying sympathetically the
true comic spirit ought to be always found on
their own level-not below il. I. N F.