Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-20
WORE PRETTY GOWNS
Mrs Patrick Campbell Given
 Numerous Curtain Calls.

at Polls last evening in "The Second
 Mrs Tanqueray" and was greetf I by a large and fashionable aud nee.
 Much has been heard of this pr plem
 play which is from the pen of 4 thur w. Pinero and which is regarded as among the foremost of modern Eng fish playwriting. Still this vehicle of Mrs Campbell's has been looked upon with so much disfavor in some places that the engagement was cancelled, and even in New York the play was too much for some of the critics. Au- brey Tanqueray (Ben Webster) a man of three and forty is about to marry again. While giving dinner to three of his friends one evening he shocks them by intimating that he is about to wed notorious woman. He marries her and by doing so ostra- cizes himself from society and en- deavors with his wife to forget the past. She tries her best to endure the quiet and easy life so much differ- ent from the times" that she was accustomed to have in by gone days.
 But at length she begins to tire, when none of her husbands friends have called upon her, and he refuses to al- low her to entertain those who were formerly of her own class" More over Ellean (Stella Patrick Camp belD Aubrey's daughter by his first returned from a convent, does not take liking to her step-mother de- spite the latter's efforts to win her over. When it looks as though there would be much trouble over Ellean her father allows her to take trip to Paris and while away she falls in love with Captain Hugh Ardale
 (Allen Pollock). Although at one time rather wild and reckless fellow Ardale is now hero because of his bravery in the English army. Ellean with her chaperone immediately re- turns home. Her father and step- mother are informed of what has happened and the former is bewilder- ed to think that his Saint" Ellean has fallen in love. But he is deter- mined to make the best of it but something happens. The second Mrs Tanqueray, or Paula, is introduced to Ardale by Ellean and is greatly sur prised for she recognizes him as one of her intimate friends when she was leading the gay" life in London. She declares she will tell all to her hus- band and notwithstanding his threats she does tell all. Aubrey rages when he hears it. Ellean when told that she must have nothing further to do with Ardale seeks the reason but her father is reluctant to tell her. Finally she realizes that it is Paula her step- mother who must know something about Ardale. Then follows one of the most stirring scenes of the play
 Ellean again asks Paula what she knows about Ardale. "I knew him in London" was the reply, but Ellean now readily sees. She endeavors to run from the room mortified at the thought of what Paula once was. But Paula is enraged because Ellean &C., knowledges that she is aware of what her step-mother really is. She goes into a frenzy when Ellean further more declares that she knew all the time, her instinct telling her that was the reason why she always shun- ned her. Ellean resolves to have nothing more to do with Ardale and the relations between Paula and Au- brey grow more strained. Paula de- cides and finally ends it all by suiicde (off the stage). The story which the English think is so true to life is at all times interesting. Mrs Campbell woman of the life that follows not the straight and narrow path. Although at no. time called upon to ascend to any great dramatic height, she throughout the play has role which gives her plenty of opportunity to dis ] play her ability One critic remark ! ed day or two ago that since she came to this country she has simply walked through her part. But such was not the case last evening. At times she made the character SO re- pugnant that it was almost hideous, while at others she made it fascinat- ing. Most natural in every move, with well nigh perfect cnunciation  ! portraying her very thought with facial expression seldom equalled, she would be entertaining in any eharac- ter. Although surrounded by a good company often during the evening the dialogue was lost to those in the rear of the house. Even the lines of Mir Webster were often very indis- tinct and were heard with difficulty by the people in the front of the i house. Otherwise Mir Webster played the part of Aubrey Tanqueray well. Miss Stella Patrick Campbell as El- lean read her lines well. but now and again she was uncOnvincing. Charles Garry as Sir George Orreyed made a very favorable impression, his por-
 trayaI as one of the type of q certain set being most commendable. On the whole the performance was delight full. During the latter part of the
 play several in the theater were eom-
 pelled to don their wraps. This was caused no doubt because of the steam
 being off the stage. Mrs Campbell re-
 fusing to allow any stage on which
 she plays to be heated.