New-York tribune., 1908-12-31
THE DRAMA.
MAXINE EILIoTr's THEATRE,
1.-The Chapefon.

Maxfne rcilotf's Theatre, situated in Seth street
little east of Broadway was opened last night and
a play called "The Chaperon." written by MISS
Marion Fairfax was performed there, with gener-
ally an agreeable effect in the presence Of fash
ionable attentive. sppreciative and manl1estV
friendly audience. New York is already abundanty
supplied with theatres, and the opening OF ne"
one can scarcely be regarded suspicious oc-
currence unless, indeed the new one Is to be con-
Quoted with respect for the art OF acting ana
less consideration for the obtatnment OF mere
pecunia-y profit than perceptible in the policy
theatrical management now supreme IN TINS
CITY and indeed throughout the country,-a
policy which. avowedly, is that OF the
DepaTtrent Store. There Is, OF course, oe-
cieive reason why thestrs should be conducted
in a practical manner: that is to say In such
manner as will insure the payment of its running
expenses and the acquisition Of g reasonable sur
plus OF gain the other hand. there is no reason
why the public mind should be Interested IN any
PERSONS peaceful pursuit Of lucre. The community
has heard and II still hears, far too much ABOUT
the enterprisng proceedings OF theatrical man
.eers-who .<import" and who present and VINO
run up and down the earth, in quest OF mover
ties" and whose horns are continually blown
and II sees far too little of valuable, Impressive
trnortant dramatic achievement the stage Miss
Maxine Elliott who has had a long career in the
dramatic profession, may. perhaps ntend 10 pursue
q more Intellectual and artistic, and therefore
more interesting policy in the conduct OF her thearFe
than is usual with contemporary theatrlcai MOI
ayers She appears to have the opportunity she
knows what management is-for she was
trained and taught by that great stage-r11ahaser
Augustin DAILY; and although as an actress she mas
made imposing and decisive marx she AaS
shown a worthy ambition and her various achieNe-
ments proved that she possesses oreido''
ability Her personal beauty was always remark
able; but the time has passed for complimentary
newspaper comments that suhJect'-conln1eits
indeed which, II she reads them, must
have become tiresonle to herself as they
are insipid to the public Victory now iS
dependent not on a fine figure and a handsome
face and the efusive homage OF foohSh
admiration, but on sterling performance and solid
merit The beginning that was made last night
(under the unpropItious circumstances of haste
and furry should be recorded as creditabie ana
cheering with promise Miss Marion tairta1 5
play is EporadicaIly clever and occasionally anus
ing. and Miss Maxine Elliott's assumption OF the
principal part in it invested with the attlontes
of authority rnirth and grace. The character that
she represented. by name, Madge, Countess van
TuyIe is that Of rich young woman whose
complete personality is summarized in the state
that she is impulsive. proud, generous, inJu-
dicious and sweet Strength of womanhood is not
Indicated Madge. thinking that she has been Tilted
by the man whom she loves has made unfortu
nate marriage. from which she wishes to obtain
release She leaves her uutaithful and ridiculous
foreign husband in Paris and returns TO her
friends and her American home The scene Is
laid in the Adirondack region Nadge, casual
ly and under comic circumstances, becomes
chsperon for a bevy Of girls in rural resi-
company with her former lover The unwelcome
husband fs q hand, seeking some pretext for a
counter-suit TO the that his wife has brought,
and she hastily rows away. in a canoe, with her
suitor and they cast upon desert island
where presently the husband finds them The situa-
ton is both farcical and compromising. Much Is
made OF the facetious incidents OF their enforced
embargo but ultimately the lady obtains her free
dom and the intination is afforded Of happy
close The play suggests reminiscenoe of The
Fascinating Mr. Vanderbilt hut it is not nearly
so compact or brilliant that comedy nor Is II IN
any sense an imitation Miss Eliett's acting is to
be commended FOR avoidance of realism. She
strives to obtain the effect of reality by means
of art and she often succeeds in concealins
the wires Her level speaking is excellent
but in moments OF excitement she becomes wildly
vouble and insrticulate-as in the speech Of sup
plication to insoent- cynical. grasshopper Of
husband The play cannot be seriously regarded
as a comedy, meaning picture of manners, for
ticuar farcical situation is grievously marred
by the face-sIapping incident on the island There
should be no edmixture of belligerency In cpl
sode of mingled mirth and sentiment. The play con
tains much frfbbIe. much millinery clowuish
behavior, slang. and calloW and cammy
sentimsntalty The pretty girls numerous IN
It. but they not characters-only types
of feminine immaturtty. Such things have often
pleased. in the farcecomedies Of time and they
seemed this occasion. please again; for Miss
ElIiott's audience welcomed everything with
plaudits of delight. The sum OF the whole matter
IS that the theatre is interesting than
the play: indeed in its dignity. its simplicity.
its briiancy, its coziness and its lack of excessive
ornament it is exceptionally beautiful. Such tenn
pie should have been dedicated with a really noble
drama ". W