New-York tribune., 1908-01-16
THE DRAMA.
MISS ADAMS IN "THE TESTERS"
Empire Theatre.

Prosperity continues to attend the professional
ventures of Miss Maude Adams. In the play OF
The Jesters."-adapted. by John Raphael from
French play by Miguel Zamaeois. called Les
Bourons."- which produced last night at the
Empire Theatre. and heartily enjoyed and Warmly
welcomed by a multitude of pleased spectators.
that popular actress has found another part fna7'
to some extent suits her personality and enables
her to exercise the charm of a gay spirit ana a
piquant winning behavior. The piece Is dehcate
fabric of romantic fancy-the display OF an epi-
sode Of youth and love. in the somewhat grim
environment of a medieval castle the wizard
of the North might have told such story Inc
fine old novelist G. P. r James would have
revelled in it. All the adjuncts OF the oid-time
romance are presenter suggested: the frown-
ing bastion: the donjonkeep; the feudal iord WIN
more rank than wealth; the bewitching daughter
Of the house; the seneschal; the men-at-arns' the
Dragging trooper: ard then the lover. coming, III
his homely disguise, to disconft all competitors
and bear away the beauteous damsel. in triumph
In substance. the play is simplicity itself The
treatment. however. which Is skilful. invests that
simplicity with Importance and commends IT equal
iy to the Imagination and the heart.
This is the story: SoIange. the daughter OF the
Baron de Mautpre, prefer ds to be depressed and
H. for lack OF congenia1 companionship and want
of occupation, suitable TO her which Is seven
teen. Through the counsel and connivance or Oiver
trusted friend and servtor OF de Maufpre, Two
youths. Rene de Chancenac and Robert de Belfonte.
who assume, respectively, the names OF ChlcOt ana
Narcisse, to the castle of de Mautpre' as
testers. Both are attracted by the youth and
beauty Of Solange. Both endeavor to win her af-
fection. The one, Narcsse, is self-assertiFe ana
grandiloquent: the other, Chicot, who pretends 10
be a hunchback. Is modest and gentle Those
two competitors are shown III sequence OF
verbal conflicts, in the endeavor TO win the
affection OF Solenge At last Chicot. whom the
girl believes TO be per and lowly and whom
she sees to be deformed. wins her love- because or
the beauty, nobility and spiritual loveliness OF MS
mind and soul Then his disguise Is penetratedi he
is discovered TO be straight and handsome, as wen
as noble and happy future is indicated for So
lange and her chosen swain. Minor details OF the
story would be trite It is in effect. fairy tale
The fact that Miss Adams should choose to ap-
pear continuously in male semblance Is somewhat
TO be regretted No female ever has thoroughly
and successfully assumed the literal likeness OF
male upon the stage. In this fabric of fancy
however that Is not Of much Importance The au-
thentic attraction of this actress consists IN tne
attribute of singular. lawless, elfn wonannood'-
sprightly delicate. and piquant- She has gained
in authority. but otherwise she is but little
changed since the day OF her signal success IN
The Little Minister. Her method of acting II
II can be called method, has the virtue or SIM
pIicitv ard also it presents the radical defect OF
obviousness: It shows the wheels She does the
same things and over again.-not only the
same things that she has done In other plays put
in every plav the same things that she has done
n few moments before. Her gestures are orten
spasmodic and constructed anu she 4n5uieS -
vocaHsn by the habit of speaking with her hps
p1rsed I'D and her teeth almost closed.-so tnat'
as Lady Teazle says, her words seem to side OUT
edsewise as IL from the aperture OF poors oox-
But of the esteem in which Miss Adams Is ned
by a numerous public Of playgoers (persons VINO
resemble Dr. Fell with difference. for they ike
and like full well, though, probably, the reason
why they cannot telD, there can be no oouot-
Miss Adars's performance of Chicot IS. on tne
whole a charming and it is doubly welcome
at this time, when so many of the local theatres
are devoted to plays which are ohenslVe 70 5000
taste and right feeling. In all probanillty Inc
Jese~s' will take it's pla, among the most sue
cessful plays in Miss Adans's repertory- Inc
auxfliar performers, for the most part. gave MISS
Adams Jealous and intelligent support MI Gustav
,,or savrertitz furnished Tuicano.- FlorentIne
Lr..r+ with a fine Lew Fields German accent.
Artkr each act Miss Adams was called and re-
caIIad until the "danna5ls iteration became ao-