New-York tribune., 1907-09-29
LONDON NOTES.
ReyiuaI of "The School for ScandaP
at the st. Jdn1eS's.


The revival Of 1.-The School for Scandal at the
ST James's Theatre IS of the most inter
esting events Of the autumn season. Only one
Of the individual performances is exceptionally
strong and vivid-that of Mr.. Charles Groves
as Sir Oliver SurfaCe--a full bloOded rich i'm
personation of character, which carries con-
vction. even with all the variations OF mood and
temper: but the cast is excellent. and although
traditions are not always followed there is
thoughtful treatment disclosing painstaking
study. Mr. Eric Lewis, instead of making Sir
Peter Teazle bombastic garrulOus and senile,
as is usually done is courtly gentleman Of
fifty, with fine manners and keen sense of
humor. He is never out OF the picture OF the
ceremonous eighteenth century circle OF gal
lants and gossips; nor is either of the younger
Surfaces-Chares impersonated by Mr..
Compton. lacking buoyant gayety yet retain
ing dignity and force. and Joseph. portrayed
by Mr.. Henry Ainley not being hurlesqued as
sanctfmonious hypocnte. but represented
with effective realism accomplished man
Of the world thoroughly unscrupulous in carry
ing his points by fair means foul Miss
Braithwaite has surprised all her admirers by
her vivacity sprightIiness and fine variety of
play Lady Teazle-the best impers9nation
~ rhe whimsical character which has been wit
messed here for a long time. Her acting seems
more spontaneous than II usually is and leaves
impression
than prolonged. methodcal working up Of the
bypay. and this may account for its briliancy
and vividness. The actors. we'll as they do their
work and novel as are some OF the readings of
the familiar text have not thrown the play out
OF balance nor sacrificed It's dramatic force. Its
superiority in construction. satire, Wit and
knowledge OF human nature to any comedy Of
manners recently written is disclosed COM
ple,ely: and that is a decisive test OF the quail
ity Of the performance.
Mr. Laurence Binyon's "Attila." at His
Naiesty's is better literature than drama and
better spectacle than TRAGEDY. It contains pas
saees OF sonorous blank verse. beautiful imag
cry and mpassioned declamations. but much OF
II is dull labored and thin. Few people go 10
the theatre merely for the pleasure OF listening
10 the music of poetic tragedy. even though the
text may be admirably rected by artists so
capable as Mr. oscar Asche, Miss Lily Brayton
and Mr. Hlgnett. They want dramatic action.
and while they get ii in the last act, they have
to wait a long time for It in this play, for the
episodes preceding the chief situation do not
open the way for a genuine climax. If 'Attila'
be a library tragedy put together without In
stinctive sense of the theatre il has been CON
verted by the stage managers art into mag
nifcent spectacle. with dreamy and sensuouS
Oriental effects. AS a melodrama with so hne a
subject as the devastating Attlla's murder on his
wedding night, and with the cross-p play or his
conflicting relations with three women. II would
not be attracting crowded audiences II there
uare not all the accessories of a spendidly
staged costume play The costumers and scenic
artists have saved the situation. and the play'
a<,er r,,nnine until Christmas will delight the
provinces for many a day
Aft.r the cool 6t of detestation of everything
noade I'm Germany has come hot fit OF imita-
,ion Of everything done there Mr. HaIdane
went 10 Berlin when he was trying TO work out
administrative reforms for the army MT burns
Is now in Germany studying the detaiis OF poor
law and workhouse. and scores OF writer's for
the daily press explaining how old age PEN
s,ons and other social questions have BEN
worked out in the Fatherland without reducing
the masses to thriftlessness and pauperism
The door for the school doctor has also been
opened. II he has not already appeared. In Eng
land and Wales, and that is a German idea
Every primary school in progressive German
towns is under constant medical inspection. and
promotions cannot be made from one grade to
another without the school doctors certificate.
School hygiene has been broadened out from the
survey of buildings, drains and grounds to a
critical examination Of the pupils themselves.
and as the Germans have genius for doing
everything laboriously and thoroughly 1t has be-
come practical science which has already ef
fected a marked Improvement in health and
mental efficiency. The formation of medical
department for the Board Of Education is be-
lated attempt to apply the German system TO
England and the reform Is introduced cautious
ly and tentatively The experts will need to
make many journeys to Germany before they
can master the administrative details. but the
school doctor has future before him, and he
may do much to improve national physique be-
fore his work is done.
Under law recently enacted medical inspec-
tion of pupils Is made compulsory. That is a
great gain, even If the minimum required is
the examination of scholars on admission to the
schools. An advisory department has been or
ganized, with DR.. George Newman as chief
medical officer for the Board OF Education. and
a small professional staff has been recruited.
1t is modest beginning but mechanism is pro-
vided for a large measure of administrative re-
form on the broad basis of public health. The
inertia OF British conservatism is never easily