New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-03
A NEW PLAY AT DALY'S.
The World and His Wife. Z"

mat great actor and noble person Edwin Booth
often repeated with emphatic appreciation, moral
rhyme that he had somewhere read, declaring that
IF for tranquil mind you seek
These things observe with care:
And hoa. and toher, and rheTe.''
The play called The World And His Wife,"
which was presented last night at Days Theatre
by Mr.. William Faversham and his company. IL
illustrates and enforces the wisdom Of that precept
The custom OF tattle is widely prevalent Most per-
sons speak freely about Others and, we'll
known proverb asserts. the absent are always
wrong There is, probably. individual extant,
in any community. who would not be aston
isheo II suddenly supplied with accurate infor-
nation 10 the personal remarks of friends
and acquaintance. Women in particular, have
the habit Of using superlative epithets, in their
dissemination Of gossip, though there are Cos
sips slso OF the male SEX while detraction of the
absent is customary with men as with women.
In this play the principal characters ere hus
band. his wife, and one OF their friends. young
man TO whom both of them attached and who
enjoys an i-reproachable intimacy with them. I'M
I'll that friendship is by the evil tongues of
nleddlesome invidioue comment. The basis Of the
action is deftly laid in excellent opening act,
which the relations of the principals and their
insidious detrectors are clearly revealed and in
such way to awaken and inspire sympathy
and curiosity. Then comes episode in which
the husband is gradually made Jealous and at
length Is confirmed in his jealousy by common
and transparent expedents Up to the end Of
E
sustained action and dialogue being interblended
with fine effect. In the closing act the situation
becomes artificial to the extent of gross improba-
bility everybody acting at cross purposes
and nobody being allowed to explain any
Thing the end. the husband has been
r7lortaIly wounded in a duel with adversary
Of whom much is said and nothing shown.
while the wife and the friend literally driven
into each others arms by the bull-headed per
sistency of SANDER and a stupidity perverse wit
be0r
In the acting there Will be Improvement, after the
sectors have become habituated TO the parts, Last
night the chief performers. Nj William FavershaIn,
Mr.. H. Cooper life, and Miss Julie Opp, were re-
narkable far less for impersonation than for elo-
quence-an the speeches being delivered. not as If
then occurrent for the first time but II spoken
from memory. human beings. under strong emo
ton. are not readily and huently rhetorical. 1t is
related Of Edmund Kean that in one supreme
situation. wAen he was acting Lucius Brutus he
seemed 10 tear the words of his throat If
suffocating- Mr. Faversham is extremely inter
esting as Dor Ernesto, and he showed himself to
be better actor than he used to be He always
had esrnestness- he has not yet acquired elegance
ano he did not reveal innate superiority. Miss Opp
has attained &c huency, but not TO grace, and her
manifestation Of feeltng-by gasping and by paw
ing the airs ridiculous. Nj Charles Harbury, as
Don Severe Cthe part upon which the plot hinges)
gave an admirable performance, embodyng austere
family pride TO perfection Relief 10 the somhre
resentment Of domestic tribulation was abundant
Il afforded by Mr. Morton Selten. IN CHARACTER
c. He'd CAPTAIN Beaulieu, that has been introduced
ny the adapter Of Echegaray's drama The light.
heaIthfuI chirrupy spirit Of this performance COM
rended It to every heart The production is sue
cess and il should hold its place. 1t serves well
10 admonish listeners as 10 the Importance OF
guarded speech, and it Tates to the general under
standing shakespeare's emphatic words:
NO, it's Islander;
Whose edge is sharper than the sword; whose
CutvenoTns all the worms Of Nile: whose breath
F2fSes on the posting winds. and doth belize
N corners Of the world kings queens ana states
Maids rnatrons. nay the secrets or the grave
-TYe viDerous SANDER enters.
CAST OF THE WORLD AND HIS WIFE
7,,- JuIfsr .............-.....H Cooper Cltne
S,t0 ~
I'm Sever 49,
Ilens
Beaulieu- 9-S coll Ioel
Lionel Belnore