Los Angeles herald., 1907-07-30
HOPE COMEDY
is A DELIGHT
RELAsco PLAYERS AT THEIR
BEST
ADVENTURES OF LADY URSULA"
FINELY DONE
Lillian AIbertson and Hobart Bosworth
Score Personal Trlumphs in Play
of Eighteenth Century
England

Anthony Hopes costume comedy, "The
Adventures of Lady Ursula" was given a
thoroughly enjoyable presentation at the
Belasco theater last night with Lillian
Albertson in the name role and Hobart
Bosworth as Sir George Sylvester. The
play was first presented in this country
by Virginia Harmed.
THE Adventures of Lady Ursula is
comedy in three acts and prologue
though the program does not so specify
1t. The first act is merely preparatory
and the action of the play proper does
not begin until the second rise of the
curtain. Once under way, however, 1t
proceeds swiftly to a conclusion. The
action is brisk, the situations admirably
contrived and the humor is spontaneous
and unaffected.
Lady Ursula herself, as interpreted by
Miss Albertson, Is a bewitching young
woman, whether in the habiliments of
her sex or in the braver apparel which,
in this case, doth falsely proclaim the
man. The comedy has but two roles
of Importance Therefore It's success or
failure depends largely upon the manner
in which these roles are handled. Both
Miss Albertson and Mr.. Bosworth scored
personal triumphs last night, triumphs
that were we'll earned by artistic work.
The Plays Philosophy
The lesson of the comedy, some per-
sons always are looking for a moral, is
summed up in the philosophy of Castle
ton: Make as many vows to women as
you like" he says "but none about
them Sir George had violated this
prohibition before it had been expressed
The result is a lively evening for all
concerned, including himself.
Embroiled in duel over a woman and
escaping from the encounter unscathed,
though his antagonist was not so fortu-
nate Sir George vows never to admit a
woman to his house. Lady Ursula hears
of this oath and in a spirit of banter
wagers with a friend that she will gain
access to the Bluebeard's chamber. She
Stimulates a faint upon his doorstep and
requests permission to enter the house
and lie down for a minute. Sir George
promptly extends to her the hospitality
of the porter's lodge.
Lady Ursula's brother, hearing of this
insult, challenges the knight to a duel,
and with that challenge the action Of
the play begins. Ursula, dismayed at
her brothers peril, dons the garb of
her younger brother, Walter, and goes
to Sir Georges house in the role of
peacemaker, gaining access without diff
ficulty. She succeeds in smoothing over
the quarrel. but in leaving drops a hand
kerchief which reveals her identity to
the man who had entertained her.
Her charm, however, had so captivated
him that he follows her to London, bent
upon seeing the adventure to a more
satisfactory conclusion. There he arrives
just in time to prevent the masquerading
young woman from being forced into
duel in defense of her own good looks
and himself assumes the role of her an
tagonist, refusing to fight at the last
minute because of his declared love for
Ursula, the supposed sister of the young
man before him.
The fourth act again carries the dra-
mats personae back to Sir Georges
house, where the difficulties are smoothed
away and where a gallant gentleman
wins the hand of a no less gallant lady,
Mr.. Bosworth's Triumph
Mr. Bosworth's portrayal of Sir George
is a finished piece of acting, artistic
throughout. 1t is one of the best charac-
terzations the actor-director has given in
Los Angeles; verile, graceful, satisfying.
Always a finished actor, MIR. Bosworth
last night entered thoroughly into the
spirit of the part. He was the English
man of the period portrayed The courtly
graces of the age, the exaggerated cour..
tesy which today would be affected, the
quickness in quarrel and the quickness in
love, all were depicted with accuracy and
ease. And above and beyond all that was
the beauty of the Bosworth reading.
1t is to be doubted whether Miss Albert