New-York tribune., 1909-10-20
THE DRAMA
NELL is A CHARMING SUCCESS IN
'SPRINGTIME.
The New Play by Booth Harrington and
HI. Leon Wilson.

II. Leon Wilson
Neil' VINO has on previous seasons and under her
own name Mabel Taliaferro won a liberal measure
of public favor. appeared last night at the Liberty
rheatre In a new play and under her new name.
The play is called 'Springtime" play with that
name must be play of charm and prettiness and
nave happy ending Nothing else could possibly
be expected of Nell in 'Sprngtime" And moth
ing else comes but charm and daintiness and sue
cess The play is the pretty story of pretty child
the awakening of her love- the passing of drear
black cloud above her life. and then the return of
the sun. and the coming of the blossoms and the
hooding of the chd-woman's world with happi-
ness IL is the simplest of Stories simply told but
IT is just the kind OF simple story that grips the
public heart when it is we'll told Booth Tark-
iigton and Harry Leon Wilson tell it. presented
Frederic Thompson presents It, and acted Nell
and her companion players act this unpretentious.
winsome, straightforward play.
IL is Louisiana in the spring Of the year and the
sprlngtime of a lovely young life. In the mansion
of NJ de Valette the head of ancient, aristo-
cratic and poor French family, the old customs. Of
old France and of the prosperous times of elder
generations are kept up. This is Louisiana in 1876
when Andrew Jackson and his sOldiery gather
Ing for the battle of New Orleans.
NJ de Valettes pride, OF course, is ampler than
the content of his purse. He despises the bar
barian American. certain barbarian American
wishes to buy what is left of the estate of De
Nalette and sends his effect the treaty.
This son, Gilbert Steele, falls in love with Made
French house, and Madeleine follows him to the
war; is discarded by her family hears of her
lovers DEATH loses her mind recovers when
Gilbert returns, unharmed. from the battle and is
restored to the fOrgiving and parent who
had driven her from his aristocradc but shabby
roof. AS old story was told But all
stories are old. There isn't new one under the
sun. Everything depends the telling and here
in authors. actors and producers work with
single spirit and obtain delightful result
one remember.
Nell is Madeleine, the girl who, until she sees
young Gilbert, the very day that she is be-
trothed to her fathers middle aged cousin. has
never set eyes upon a man of her own rank in life
She him first as she wakes from nap of a
drowsy afternoon. She thinks he Is a dream man.
this gallant young Gilbert, and she stretches out
her arms and touches him TO make that he
is real There follows OF the prettiest love
scenes ever played between a young girl and
youth of twenty-one. OF course barbarian Gilbert
who is a gentlemanly youth, is driven out by the
indignant Frenchman. Then. with the most de-
lcious art which is the perfect imitation of nature
Neil-that is to say, Madeleine-steals after him.
She finds him in the woods at nightfall, on his
way to the And then another love scene,
delightfully."- delicate in it's artistry, all youth all
innocence. and pretty bit of acting a long
memory of acting recall.
This play is worth seeing. II tells story as the
public likes to have story told. The breath of
spring, the spirit of young love and innocence run
through it, It will hold the stage for long time.
Nell Madeleine Is one OF the most captivating
young personalities on the stage. 1t is she who
gives the play its interest How sure a touch that
IS when. I'm the last act. dawns again in
her troubled mind she steals of the old priests
garden. precisely as she had away from her
fathers home days before Slight that touch is
delcatey it is given it is almost an inspiration.
Without a spoken word the audience has the ex-
PLANTATION, the assurance OF what is to come. This
is almost a fairy play; at any rate Nelrs Made
leine is almost fairylike. Great work? No But
exquisite, radiant, innocently witchng. Every one
will wish to see this play.
As a production it has not been surpassed this
season. and in this respect II is equalIed only
by the production which Forbes Robertson has
placed on the New York stage. other words 1t
shows everywhere the guidance OF a directing
mind All things are in accord. all properties and
persons And happily, happily. the actors
are forbidden to take calls. The curtain rising to
the applause Of the spectators reveals tabeaus
which continue the story of the play. The Illusion
is never disturbed. Mr.. Howard Pyle designed the
costumes and accessories Mr.. H. r. Shelley COM
posed the incidental music which is appropriately
performed and Mr. Thompson directed the entire
production with result which as near per
fection anything the public is likely to see this
year. II is revelation of good taste and trained
judgment. All the characters are so we'll por-
trayed by the players that it is unnecessary to
any of the latter special mention, save only Nell
herself And, though II may not be generally sup
posed it Is quite difficult undertaking TO
give this convincing touch of simplicity and idyc
charm TO every detail of unpretentious play like
this it is bring perfection to the more ambi-
tous stage spectacles OF the hour. There is all
the difference in the world between the sympa-
thetic touch Of the who knows and the sup
erintendence of the half-traned 'producers' who
large a scope for art as in writing and acting
But most producers blunder at it. No blum
dered in 'Sprngtime" \. w
CAST OF "SPRINGTIME"