New-York tribune., 1909-03-07

90 honor with pretty cOquetry and singing sentl-
mental ditties with purity of tone and elegance
OF manner. With Dragons and court 1uhcIIoA-
aries of the Louis Quinze period there are
varied effects of color. and with Mr.. Courtlce
Pounds Mr. Hayden Coffin and Miss Maud MIL
ton among the mnstrels, there are tuneIul iyr'cS
70 he sung with refinement and taste Ihere -
a definite. consistent story, with "a compHcati'n
Of intrigues. and there is busting action cui-
n,inating I'm pair of dues. Altogether II Is an
entertainment with few dull passages ana on d
higher level OF construction imam 'liT
musical comedies.
Mr. .Isxander-s revival OF '-The Prisoner OF
Zenda" at the 81 James's is a popular enterprise
Time is on the side of the adapter MI ftoSs Sll17
Mr. Anthony Hopes romance is no longerrernenl-
bered in detail and the play stands on us Own ''l
tom The story is romantic and stlrrlng- 'heIe :
fine variety Of incident with the picturesque u4el
IN the prologue the splendid costumes IN the coro-
nation scene. the humorous bypIay II the anna
tenn sovereign and his military mentor, the iONe-
Making at castle Tarlenheim and the rescue or
the imprisoned king at Zenda; and there Is a
feIcitous blending OF heroic deeds. gorgeous
ceremonial and whimsical pleasantly II the
drama does not wholly retain its grip upon ola
riavgoers who were fascinated by II during the
'gOs it appeals with potent charm TO younger
generation as is proved by the satisfaction ot
in looks and as agile in movement as when the
rIa,. was first produced enacts with remarkable
versatility the three parts of the prince IN the
prologue the intoxicated and imprisoned king
and the romantic English adventurer- 1t Is a
fine performance with true sense Of character
and with a delightful. natural method. singular
lv free from exa aggeratiOn Miss Stella Camp
bells youth and beauty triumph glor1ousiy over
a trying red wig and she acts with grace and
,r,aIS KANT has
a more resonant voice and less saturnine
humor than Mr.. Vernon. who originally played
the part and Mr. Frank Cooper is sufficiently
rnelodramatic as Black Michael. II is a sUmD-
tuous revival of the play in costume and scenic
decoration. and promises to be attractive as
ever.
Among these revivals Of old plays this week
one performance stands out an intellectual
recreation This is Mr.. Henry James's The
High Bid" as enacted with sympathetic appre-
citation by Mr. Forbes RobertsOn's company be
fore the Afternoon Theatre at His Majestys. II
has a slender plot with characteristic motif
American delight in English antiquity. traditions
and scenery. a Radical interested in East End
work in London has inherited splendid estate.
which is heavily mOrtgaged to rich merchant
with marriageable daughter. The mort tgages
will be burned and the debts paid II the recreant
aristocrat will marry the daughter and stand
airy who converts him to reverent love OF
tiquty is a rich American widow. Mrs Grace
dew. who has cultivated her taste for English
castles manor houses, hreplaces and lawns Her
ecstasies entertain tourists. who shown
about the baronial hall by loquacous servant
and eventually light up the passionate ardor OF
the owner of the old home. AS the widow is
prepared to make a high bid for the property
and the merchants daughter is planning an
eIopement with lover of her own the play is
easily brought a satisfactory ending In plot
il is almost as slight an affair as Guy Dom
VILE" which failure nearly twenty years
ago: but il is an intellectual treat for fecitous
phrasing and refined sentiment. Miss Gertrude
Elliott is perfectly delightful as the American
widow with charming presence. sparkling rail-
lery. breathless earnestness and sentimental
veneration for everything ''old English" Mr.
Forbes Robertson. as the Radical-C Conservative
supports her with artistic fexibility and perfect
elocution, and the comedy is indeed joy, at
least for a picked matinee audience.
L M