The San Francisco call., 1907-06-28
BY James Crawford

Most OF the curious dramatic tricks
and manners which constitute Barrie
ism gre amply invested in Quality
Street" The comedy in which Maude
Adams and her associates assumed new
semblance last evening at the Van
Ness theater.
This delicious play is even more en-
gaging than Peter Pan" TO the adult
spectator. inasnuch a il levies lighter
tax on his lima gination. Its characters
are flesh and blood people who say and
do ordinary things in an ordinary way,
but in all they say and do is the in
defnable charm OF qualntness in both
pathos and humor that distinguishes
Barrie.
But child life is not omitted from
Quality Street" We are given much
OF it in the second act. and these chill
dren Of the Barrie fancy are no less
truly drawn than the Darling young
sters. And throughout the play we
are constantly conscious of the Barrie
touch.
The four acts mostly have to do with
Phoebe ThrosseI Miss Adams) and her
sister Susan Miss Hammer). They
dwell in quiet street in a small Eng
lish town. aud the time is the time OF
the NapoieOnic wars. DR.. Valentine
Brown CMr. Lawfordl is the only male
person admitted to the prim household
and Phoebe fails in love with him He
enlists IS a common soldier and goes to
fight the Corsican. leaving Phoebe to
survive her appointment in impe-
curiosity. for by following his advice
the sisters have invested and lost their
savings. They decide to establish a
private school for young children.
When the second act opens nine years
have elapsed. and Dr. Brown returns
from the wars with 4 captains commits
81 IL
20 find the sisters in reduced circum-
stances, and Phoebe is piqued by his
lack o. cordiality. There is a military
ball on the tapis and she decides TO at
tend il. garbed in the gown she had
saved for the wedding that did not
eventuate. So rejuvenated is she by
the costume that the captain fails to
recognize her. and as her own niece,
Miss Livvy. she goes to the ball.
In the third act. set in a marquee
adjoining the ballroom. she outdoes
fne captains widest notions OF sprf glt-
II feminine conduct and he tremendous
~ exerts himself 70 make a conqGes.
his head being turned by her beauty
and cOquetry. All the men there are
at her feet. and the curtain finds him
rIadly infatuated.
Act four finds Miss Livvy" i'll and
Or Brown is called and discovers her
identity Then he hears about the un-
fortunate investment and the stern
necessity which Obliged the sisters TO
become school teachers. and like a
soldier and a gentleman he fulflls the
year old dream Of Phoebe
The comedy is rapid alienation of
tears and smiles. When you are prop
erlv sobered by dainty bit of pathos
YOU are abruptly relieved by q fash
Of humOr. clean cut and subtly drawn.
The effectiveness Of the situations is
largely dependent upon military blunt
ness in contact with the prudishness
recruiting sergeant elate Miss Phoebe
bv bossting Of British prowess in the
field and then make her indignant by
telling her OF the loot that is to be
got in the sacked towns.
British soldiers never sack" she
proudly declares. And then. ma am,
think OF the girls" he says. What
sIrls2" she inquiries. The girls-the
girls In the towns that we don't sack,
he fumbles.
This win be a great year for fe-
males" the maid servant informs Miss
Phoebe after the soldiers have re-
turned Think OF how many men who
marched away came back limping.
Who's TO unfasten their wooden legs
at night2"
Those are pure Barrieisms. So is the
sewing party of old maids in the first
act. although it is somewhat remindful
OF Crawford" SO is the little boy who
was unable to tell his chest from his
stomach until Miss Phoebe chalked
..Cv on the former and IS" on the lat
ter So is the children's cheering of
the returned hero's vacant sleeve. ex-
hfhited 10 them. as Miss Susan explains,
.-becsuse they have so few pleasures"
So is the boy who was ashamed Of Miss
phoebe because she could not whip to
burt So is the dismay of the two
tutors when an advanced pupil demands
70 be instructed in algebra and so Is
their heroic struggle to learn it them
selves.
Miss Adams as Miss Phoebe is-Miss
Adams. Her winning personality and
fantastic, sprightly comedy style are at
their very best in this character. When
she expects the doctor to propose mar
rage and he tells her instead that he
has enlisted, her endeavor to hide her
disappointnnent is great acting When
he has departed and she sobs, II could
hear aii the rest. but / let him kiss
me" the shame Of a pure soul is vividly
revealed. In the schoolroom and at the
bah she personiies art that clutches.
Miss Hammers portrayal OF Miss