New-York tribune., 1909-04-20
LONDON DRAMA
Genre Pictures of the Eighteenth
Century.

London, April 10.
The revival of Sheridan's masterpiece at His
Majesty's is Of MIR. Trees most artistic
achievements. II the comedy is converted into
a picture play. with beauty Of color and ele-
gance Of setting. there is also star casS, every
member Of which wears wig, patch. powder and
finery with eighteenth century air, and walks
tiptoe. toys with worried cane or lace hand
kerchief and joins in the stately measures Of
the minUet with the gallantry and grace Of
Gainsborough's fops and bellies at Bath 1t is
an exquisite stage pageant. with costumes and
scenery designed by Mr.. Percy Macquoid. and
everything reproduced with such accuracy Of de-
tail and refinement of feeling that learned a
critic as Mr. Austin Dobson find nothing
amiss in the Georgian interiors the rustling
brocades. the Powered coats and the silken
breeches. The year 1865 is indicated by Sheri-
dan for the marriage OF Sir Peter TeazIe. and it
has been chosen for the furnishing and decora-
ton Of their house Lady Sneerwelrs boudoir
and drawing room. and the library and picture
room of the Surfaces Antique Chippendale is
not more characteristic OF the period than the
mouldings on the walls the Rose du Barri
tapestries; and while the coiors are soft and
delicate in mems coats and hreeches and woIn-
ems panniers and petticoats. wigs are powdered
and faces painted and patched The breath of
oldtime perfumes and cosmetics is waited from
Georgian
The novelties of this brilliant production Of
The School for Scandal" are the middle aged
Sir Peter and the girlis-I Lady Teazle. In place
Of the traditional dotard with senility and ex-
plosve irritability exaggerated in a farcical
spirit there is a well bred gentleman ot fifty,
deeply in love with his young wife and prepared
to live happily with her when his sentimental
illusions have been roughly dispelled and her
spirit has been chastened by humiliation. Mr..
Trees Interpretation of the part is and
agreeable, and involves the abandonment of the
traditions and gags which have corrupted the
text and distorted the character. He makes 1t
less of Il comedy part than it has ordinarily
been and is so serious and somore the quar-
rel and screen scenes that nobody in the audi
ence is inclined to laugh at Sir Peter. The in
nOvations in style are logical deductions from
the text. but old playgoers hardly recognize one
of their favorite comedy characters in this
quiet sedate. sentimental husband. whose man
ners are as perfect those Of the scandal
mongers of both sexes and whose heart is
sounder and truer than theirs. If the ending is
more natural and promising, there has been less
fun at the fair during a protracted evenings
entertainment
The only other striking novelty is the youthful
Lady Teazle The stage practice has been to
convert her into a heartless coquette and woman
of the world, who found elderly husband a
drag upon her high spirits and iirted from
sheer love of mischief and excitement Mr.
Tree has upset the stage traditions because he
has discovered that the text requires a young
country girl whose head is speedily turned by
the frivolities of fashion. In Miss Marie
Lohr he has in place of the conventional comedy
actress the rustic, inexperienced girl, whose in
nocence protects her against scandamongers
and intriguers. This Lady Teaze may never
rise to great heights during the evening, but
she is consistent and sincere. If she quarrels
with her husband it is because she is as i'm
pulsive and irresponsible as a bird singing in a
tree If she has lover it is because 1t is one of
the fashions of the world of fatterers and
gallants among whom she scarcely feels at
home, and not because she has a guilty passion
for him is disloyal to her husband The
screen scene. with the young. innocent wife
ceiving without consciousness of guilt the rake's