The Washington herald., 1907-04-24
The New NHtiOnai-OIga SethersOie
in "The second Mrs. THnqueray."

The New NHtiOnal-OIga NethersOie
in "The second Mrs. TnnquerRy."
The best play that Arthur Wing Pinero
ever wrote is The Second Mrs.
Tanqueray." which, in spite Of the bad
weather last night. drew a large audience
to the New National TheateT. Pinero's
play had some drawing power, but Miss
NetheTsole's acting had, perhaps, more;
for she has seldom been seen in this play
IN Washington. and she has shown her
genius and ability in so many directions
that there must have been more than
ordinary curiosity to see her in this. a
play lie some ways different from those
with which her fame has been associated.
There have been many women who have
essayed the part Of poor Paula Tanque-
ray. but II is doubtful whether any one
has ever so portrayed the real, inner,
hidden meaning of this woman's char
ecter as Miss Nethersole pUTtrays It. The
play is life, real llfe-the emotions that
are depicted not every one has expert
enced. but those who really know have
experienced them. ana can appreciate
| the verify and the fine art Of Miss Meth
| ersole's impersonation. Poor Paula Tan
que-ey. 50 misunderstood How deity
/ Miss Nethersole brings out the fact that
/ it is not the past sins OF the woman that
stand In the way Of her perfect happi-
ness.
! What she has done she has done: STILL
/ she stands Paula Tanqueray. What pre-
/ vents happiness is the fear that some one
shall know IL Is not Tor her own sake
/ this dread, but for the sake OF the man
/ who has h0nOTed her with his name in
! spite Of everything. She is more careful
/ Of his honor than he is himself And
! even al the last. when from the dead
past the specter-taking the form OF her
/ stepddughteTs l0yer-rises to greet her
/ it Is only the effect that this ghost may
/ have on her husband that troubles her.
! There, too, how poignantly Miss Neither
/ sole pictures the ache that such il
/ woman as Paula T2nqueray has for the
/ pure love Of a y7lng girl. Who, under
/ ordinary circumstances. could care for the
/ love OF respect Of such a slip Of a girl as
/ Tauqueray's daughter? Il Is the doubt in
/ the woman herself that causes the pain.
/ She feels. and Miss NetheTsOle makes the
I audience feel that the sins OF Paula have
/ set her apart from her kind; that the
/ happiness that lies waiting for a purely
/ good woman can never-in this world-be
1 hers.
/ The art required to interpret this char
acter. the most subtle. the best drawn,
the most elusive IN the whole PinerO re-
I pertory. Miss Eethers0le possesses 10 a
1 high degree, and there is probably no play
in her whole repertory in which she ex-
I GELS TO SO grea. "a degree. The part does
not call for those tempests Of ranting
I - rrrfF h-taff T~ef.1af g
name is so often associated, but II de-
/ mands q high intelligence, a wonderful
command Of feeling intense sympathy.
and brave fight toward high ideals; and
in absolutely no respect is Miss Neither
1 sole lacking. The play. as SIZE presents
it. is a striking moral lesson, q marvellous
/ study in emotion, and an entertainment
which any one who enjoys intellectual
pleasure might well be sorry TO miss.
Miss NethersOle's supporting company
Is markedly good. and most of the minor
parts were very well played. Mr. Frank
J Mills as Tauqueray was a bit Of "a disap-
poiutmeut. because, perhaps. he lacks the
manner; but his reading was very good
The Cayley Drummle of Mt Clark was
[ very well done. I'm spite Of the handicap
/ Of physique and Miss Rosalind Ivan was
/ satisfactory as Ellean, "a hard part ID
play. The Sir George Orreyed OF Mr
Eg.c Maturin was NOT bit up 10 the
/ mark; he was, on the stage. neither gen
tleman nor cad. neither drunk nor sober
II was simply a shot at the part. and il
/ missed very badly.
But on the whole the performance was
a most enjoyable one and IL is "a pits
that Miss Nethersole is not TO repeat II
at other performances during the week
II Is one of the parts that she does best
and she does so many we'll This after
noon she win present Camille" and at
to-night's performance she will present
/ "Adrienue LecOuvreur.