The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-10-01
Sweet Kitty BeIlairs.

"Sweet Kitty Bellairs,' David
BelascO's sparkling comedy adapted
from Agnes and Egerton Castles
book, "The Bath Comedy" "a play |
with which the name of Henrietta |
CrOsman is associated as creator of
the title role, opened it's first en-
gagement at the Opera House last
evening, bringing to very auspi-
cious notice Miss Fanchon Camp
bell, IA former understudy of Miss
Crosman, who assumes the part of
the brilliant Irish beauty with great
distinction.
Few plays of recent date are so
lively, picturesque or genuinely
witty at the same instance with
combination of wholesome and
hearty romance as this vivaciOns
comedy, which unfolds a pretty tale
with elegance and humor. The
Georgian days of England, with
Bath, the officers of crack regi-
meht and the social warfare of the
grandes danes of British society
for place and character, these create
that always pleasant atmosphere,
high hammered and witty, with
which are recalled some of the finest
novels of our literature, and GER
tainly the most mastery of our
comedy of manners, the works of
Sheridan and Goldsmith.
"Sweet Kitty Belairsr is a play
in this good old mold. 1t is truly a
comedy of manners, it proceeds
from start to finish with that extra
dry snap and go in the lines which
suits the gay period to nicely and,
like the scintillating ring of cOun-
tesses who offset the supreme brill
fancy of Lady Kitty, the general
vigOr of the piece contributes al.
ways to the dominating attraction
of the heroine herself. The story
which is scarcely altered at all from
the original book, relates the whole.
hearted innocent blunder of Lady
Kitty in going to the barracks of
Sir Verney at night to explain away
the cause OF his impending duel with
Sir Jasper, an accident which has
come of her needless FRANKS, and
ends with her regaining the dis
tinctiOn of the "Queen of Bath y
latter the stirring scene in the pump
room where the backbiting ladies
had snubbed her.
The story is simple, but the Incl,
dents that contribute to the main
thread come thick and fast, and
Through it all the irresistible Kitty
an Irish aristOcrat, who dominates
by beauty and overwhelms by wit,
is a most engaging figure.
Miss Campbell, who has beauty,
commanding presence and most
unusually fine carriage, does the
Irish Countess irresistibly. Her
brogue is worth hearing first as a
lesson in how pretty and genteel it
can be; and the quite remarkable
feature of her success is the con.
slant verve and variety of her ac-
ton, which never departs from I'll .
impression of the aristocrat and
selfcOntained, as lady of that for
NAL period had to be by instinct and
fashion. This means simply that
Miss Campbell is conscientious
and gifted coincidence, who under
stands the character and depicts it
with spirit and refinement.
The company is well balanced,
particularly as to Harold Mead in
the part of the Hon. Henry Williers
Miss Evans as Lady Standish and
Mr.. II. ii. Taylor as Capt. Spicer.
Miss Lynn, as the "late belle of
Bath was colnmendable, and men
ton should be made of Mr.. Harti-
gan, Mr.. Burke and Mr.. Roberts,
who among the rest of the company
were very successful.
"Sweet Kitty Bellairs is hand
sOmely staged and costumed, with
the elegance of the Belasco produc.
tons in general. 1t is a refreshing
play and one which all lovers of In
fictitious and pretty comedy will re.
member gratefully.
Tickets mt box Office morrow
morning at 1890 o'clock.