New-York tribune., 1906-06-10
THACKERAY STAGED.
., Tree as Colonel Nesrcome an Mr.
Mortop's Version.

as an affront to Thsckeray's memory
=. "a have witnessed IL before condemning Il |
-, has the actor been seen TO better ad-
.oge than in this part; and il is not because
.,s,loses any subtle sympathy for the char
= hut because lie makes q deliberate effort
| - simple and direct rather than complex
g,sa's chief talent as an actor is inventive
a. bvpiays. and he sometimes nultipnes the
m touches of illustration until the specta-
s.,eu1ion is diverted from the essential
~ character. The cumulative effect OF all
- .,,ls,- IS considerable. but the Impressions
- often be clearer and stronger if there
= lass Of & In approaching this new i'm
.,,ation AIr Tree has properly selected sim
II - IS Colonel Newcome's most conspicuous
- and in expressing IL he has dispensed
= b,rlsy and Inannerisms and has enacted
!" ,srs with quiet and restful dignity and with
-..ses self-restraint These are qualities which
-,som displays as an actor. and consequently
. ,srso,1nance is q most agreeable surprise.
- Newcomers unaffected modesty manli-
= snd sincerity are allowed to explain them
-. without overemphasis and devices Of il
..aon. Reticence becomes the special charm
noble. strong and notably sincere imper-
s,,.tion Il is a great part played simply, Yet
a.. cenuine power and pathos Mr.. Tree well
sd the enthusiastic greeting which he re-
s-,r.s after the final fall OF The curtain on the
.,,ng night Al His Majesty's Theatre
-,sre have been oUtcries from sentimental OBJ
- against the exhibition OF the ideal gen.
,.,sD ~ literature on the stage. These would
:. more ineligible If the theatres were not
.-.-s,ocked with trivial and ignoble themes
~souettful playgoers ought TO be grateful 10
.,.yv-rtght and actor-manager for providing a
-sckeray night illuminated by precious literary
-,riscences The Newcomes'' may not be a
.,.,fo story. but the men and women in il
= ,ssl creatures Of flesh and blood. and the
-,,ss NJ character is strong. So cleveriy has
A. Michael Morton's version been contrived
hst TIE atmosphere CO the book IS preserved
.ran when scenes are shifted or combined and
..iserts are altered. SO well are the parts
s-sc,ad that there is no sense of disiliusonment
,bsp the familiar characters make their en-
,-snoes and exits. What feeling but gratitude
!, The most sensitive library student have when
Mss Marion Terry inpersonates Nine. &c Florac
win tenderness and womanly charm? Miss
1nisn Braithwa1te has most arduous task in
suggesting the destinations and noble qualities
n Ffhel NewcOnle. the heroine OF a generation
r booklovers. and If she does not transport
-lavgoers into dreamland she plays brilliantly
srs with an air OF distinction and individuality.
Mss Rafenan Is a most energetic and realistic
Is6v Kew: and Mrs. Tree resisting the tempta-
.nn 10 overac-. makes Mrs. Mackenzie a most
oor,incing # absolutely detestable. character
M Lyr Harding may have caricatured on the
o,erine night the farcical Fred Bayham, and
certainly Mr. Sydney Brough developed all the
resources Of comic spirit in the Marques OF
Farintosh: but Mr.. Basil Gill was Give easily
enough out Of the book. Mr.. Norman Forbes was
rroperiy oaddish as Sir Barnes Neweome, ana
NJ Hubert Harden pleasantly suggested Arthur
psndernis Lovers Of Thackeray went away
v4rbout the impression Of witnessing a mas
uuersde in which Victorian costumes were
Displayed without a sympathetic sense of char
actsr
As the characters rather than the incidents OF
tghs Newcnnaes' are remembered, the changes
made by the dramstist are not resented ss-
-sssllv when the motive for every transfer is
q obvious one of COMPRISING the story into
e evenings coherent entertainment. Colonel
NEcome sings his last song in his own house
2 Bayswater, where IN his time of prosperity
vhen he is director OF the Bundelcund Bank, he
en;ert aiming Gives artist friends and few
relations and companions. The Campaigner is
o. The ground self-Willed and skittish, and Fred
Bsyharn IS eccentric in his proposal for carrying
me modest colonel into Parliament, and as the
ssvelry increases with the humors Of the artists
end the iutoxication of the MARQUES Of Farm
rsh the marriage OF Give and Ethel is in
nsuiouslv hinted at as though il were def
1tely arranged. Sir Barnes Newcone disguises
lis objections hypocritically as in the story, but
& is not in his face, but in Farintosh's that
Give firgs the glass of wine when the colohei
aE been inveigled into singing Wrapping Oid
sutrs" and making himself ridiculous Ihe
l'aogy follows the affront, the spirit OF The
Aadert being preserved while the letter mas
bsez CHANGED. witt the second act staged for
! BAL Z. Lazy FarehaE's. Ethel Newoome
lazy Kew ard Nine. De Florae appear and Colo
ls Newcome. with stiffness bEt old fashioned
E1teluess fo.ns n the Victorian dancing meas
1res. Tgaere is quaint talk between Coione!
NsWeoIns and his cherished Leonore, and Ethel
larvirees Give that his suit Is hopeless Lady
Kew 6iscorce~ts the straightforward warrior
and finally the engagement Of Ethel and Farm
iEa is brutally blurted cut by tie worldly Sir
Barnes NeWcorne. While ne her Cf these acts
esr be described as dramatic II movement, IN
sest IN the play steadily Increases Colonel
NeTconle giJh his old fashioned manners his
downright sincerity and his lovable traits dom
Rates the stage st every puFn
The marriage Of Give and Rosie MaekenZie
ila the wreck % the BaRaeicand Bank and
ns oooEels fortunes are brought into the CON-
pass o. The third act. which moves easily arld
isDiciy With The first scene OF the fourth act
cones the humiliation og the gentle. heart
broken Thomas NewcoRe, when he as subjected
. Mrs. Mackenzie's railing reproaches ana
as-s1less tyranny. and il the fna! scene the
'slT7ysr6 oi Greyfriars is reproduced with the
soEned boys ana the ageG pensioners passing
lato tae chapel. and when Ethel and GIVE have
Tought the glad tidings OF the legacy by which
As debt 70 the Campaigner can be paid the oio
aAh Is left alone 80 answer 'Adsun" TO the
Assters rolIcall." II there have seemed some
~asoessary departures from the story IN the
esrLer acts the closing scenes closely follow
ks Tbarl-c-s,y rs4ha-tc reeital-one OF the