New-York tribune., 1909-12-17
THE DRAMA
"The School for Scandal" at
The Nee Theatre.

FACTORY test. In the present year Of grace
would be difficult. might be. indeed. imz
possible, 10 find anywhere a better presen-
talon OF this play. IL is a consolation to
KNOW mat once more in the land there is
company capable of acting the old come
dies.
Many spectators. took Their memories 10
the playhouse and settled down TO the en-
Joyment OF comparisons. This Is inevitable
"hen an old comedy. or a piece by Shake
speare, comes up for reproduction At other
uhes freqt'epters OF theatres are likely 10
ieaNe their memories al home and to take
drama or performance according to the
"hlm or the hour or the popularity of a
star Standards are ignored or forgotten as
Deiig troublesome things which have no
vital connection with the pursuit of enter
tAihment. and anything is acceptable that
VIII MI house Crowds aock TO crowds
ana any garish, vulgar thing that has the
luck OF drawing may be set down in the
oliis as a refined comedy" or any packet
Oh hitalutin heroics and sensations as THE.
greatest play OF the age. But everybody
VIII wish 20 see The School for Scandal"
because il is one of the things which no
piaygoer's experience should be without.
And this play is one which should find
itself most comfortably at home i'm The
New Theatre.
III Is unnecessary TO be superstitious about
sheridan In order 10 appreciate his play
One is not compelled TO worship before the
affairs of the palmy days as a prepara-
tloh for enjoying a comedy that delighted
MS great-grandfather a comedy which has
as much life i'm 1909 as il had i'm III. This
play of Sheridan's is good not because It is
OLD, but because II is as faithful a reflection
or human nature now as ever il was, and
because its viii for the most part fits the
present as well as IL fitted the past: because
IL tells an interesting story in an interest
ing way. and is filled with parts which good
actors can handle with satisfaction TO them
selves and TO intelligent audiences The
School for Scandal" is not a model OF dra-
matte construction. and for that reason
managers have more than once been justI-
fed in certain rearrangements of scene.
The play as written is in five acts and
fourteen scenes The play as performed
last night ignored all divisions into acts,
and combined, not condensed the fourteen
scenes into eight There is no sacrilege In
this. no PROCLAMATION. The play is not
altered by such proceeding, nor is any loss
of art or interest sustained.
1t Is not in accordance with the formal
intention Of The New Theatre that interest
should be centred upon the performers of
the principal parts in the plays of that
1 house. but so long as the practice of en-
gaging stars for the chief impersonations is
continued IL will be idle TO expect a discOn-
tinuance of thu public curiosity concerning
the appearance Of those prominent lights.
Thus far The New Theatre has encouraged
the star system. For its experiment with
Shakespeare two stars We're employed, and
with results that left much TO be desired.
or its first American play two stars were
engaged. although IL would seem that
repertory theatre might have on its perma-
nent stan players OF their capacity. For
lis first old comedy The New Theatre has
brought IN another star the NTH in two
months And yet il cannot be presumptu-
Gus TO hope that repertory theatre may
attach 10 its permanent group an actress
capable OF impersonating Lady Teazle
whenever she is called upon TO do 80.
In Air Calvert The New Theatre had
Sir Peter already at hand. new. however.
10 this public. but believed to be as capa-
bic a player Of this part as any now avail
able. All the famous Sir Peters are dead.
All the best Lady Teazles are dead. re-
tired or beyond tile years which limit the
casting Of the character. In the quest for
new one the choice fell and fell hap
PLY, upon Miss Grace George who in
charm OF person. spirit and gift Of styIe
and experience OF the stage seemed 10
combine the qualities essential TO the por-
Tayal. Expectation, therefore was high.
The coming OF Miss George was awaited
with more than common interest. This eX-
pectatiOn was not disappointed, for Miss
George proved to be good Lady Teazle
as the most eXacting playgoer could ask
for.
one hundred and thirty-three years have
passed since the first performance Of The
School for Scandal" at the Theatre ROYAL,
Drury Lane. Thomas King. whose acting
as Charles Lamb said. left a taste on the
palate sharp and sweet like a ounce" was
the original Sir Peter Teazle Mrs Abing-
ton was the original Lady Teazle and
from all accounts there have been better
ones-Elizabeth Farren, for instance. who
succeeded her. There have been. as the
phrase goes, great Sir Peters" but neither
history nor memory recalls great Lady
Teazle although many actresses Of re-
nown have played the part Horace Wal
pole called Lady Teazle "a second-rate
character" Perhaps he was not far
wrong. or the impersOnators Of it would
have left a deeper impression. And vet
Of some modern actresses in this part
there are most pleasing recOllectiOns Who
that saw them will forget Adelaide Neil
son. Rose COghlan (who was last nights
Mrs. CandOurD, Ada Rehan and Ada Cav
endish? II is difficult 10 believe that any
Of the performers of an older time ex-
celled any of these artists In this part. And
the present writer. who well remembers
tkese four Lady Teazles. not TO mention
others, has seen no better Lady Teazle
than Grace George.
Since the play first came TO the foot
lights there have been no better Sir Peters
in this country than Placide, John Gilbert
and William Warren. nor In England
William Farren the first and William Far
rem the second The second, third and
fifth of these actors come we'll within the
active recollections of many thousands of
contemporary playgOers as do those adj
mrable representatives Of Charles Sur
face-Sir Charles Wyndham. Charles
Coghlan, Henry Neville. and. Of course
Kyrle Bellew. And there was never a
better Joseph Surface than Forbes Rob
ertson. who revived the play at the I.y-
ceum in London not mauY years ago
Mr. CalveTt's Sir Peter last night proved
10 be a good stock performance Il cannot
rank with that OF Gilbert. Warren or the
second Farren. Last nights Sir Peter
lacked distinction. lie had not the breed
his manner scarcely that Of the OH