The sun., 1909-12-19


for comment that "A lhe New Theatre one
or two OF them have been restored -nand
TO no apparent good purpose. In 1880 the
comedy was produced In Paris under the
title -L'Ecole du Scandale,' with Nine
Dorval announced as .Milady Tixl4.' at
tne Porte st. Martin. And It Is a curious
commentary on the whirligig OF time
that Paris declared itself much shocked
at the comedy. When one reflects upon
the sort OF thing that Paris not only
tolerates but actually demands upon its
stage at the present time good deal Of
philosophical scratching OF the head
appears in order.
Take for example LANE du Buridan.-
This Is the piece In which John Drew has
been lately appearing here under the name
OF "lnconstant George" In its Anglicized
version the thing is harmless enough.
but in the original French it was so
frightfully indecent that no decent
American newspaper could possibly pub
lish its plot. Also. sad to relate. 1t was
much funnier.
Charles Lamb was another celebrity
who was also probably a first nighter
at the production Of The School for
Scandal ON May 8. 1777. At all events
he is on record as declaring: mo piece
was ever so completely cast as this
managers comedy The famous Mrs.
Abingdon was the Lddy TeGxIe, King
was the Sir Peter. Smith the Charles
Surface. And despite the hard and fast
traditions Of the various parts which
in these latter days make the imperson-
alton OF these characters so trying. the
early records make it clear that even
In the days when Sheridan was alive
and directing rehearsals there was plenty
Of room for differences OF opinion re-
garding characterization. The original
Lady TeazLe. Mrs. Abingdon. was over
10 years old when the comedy was first
produced. and Mr.. sichel tells US that
she made the character finished lady
OF fashion. though Mrs. Jordan. who
eassyed the part only a few years later,
made her a girl fresh from the country
whose really fine instincts were only
temporarily overshadowed by the mass
OF fashionable falsehood and hypocrisy
by which she was surrounded. This
note, it is interesting to note. is the one
struck by Miss Grace George. who showed
US such an acceptable Lady Teaxie last
Thursday night.
Enthusiastic as Carlyle was. he but
fairly represented the contemporary es-
innate OF this comedy's success. Indeed
there was only one note OF disagreement
OF consequence, and that was sounded by
Cumberland. then Sheridan's chief rival
as theatrical manager. And we ought
| to be grateful for his dissent, for it gave
US one Of Sheridan's most famous and
gracefully savage epigrams. When
Sheridan heard Of Cumberland's unfav-
orable criticism he responded that Cum
berland's envy was gross ingratitude.
since he had heard Cumberland's tragedy
and laughed ct It heartily from beginning
to end. Mr.. Sichel learns that The School
for Scandal played to s45 600 in the three
seasons following its first production.
II is interesting to note that this comedy
was first played in a theatre that held
800 less than the New Theatre. The
Garrick Drury Lane seated 1000. The
New Theatre seats few more than $500.
But in the days of Sheridan much OF the
action took place on the large apron OF
the stage. which extended beyond the
line Of the proscenium arch far into the
auditorium.
Of that ssSOOc. Sheridan. with all his
merits. was not devoid Of faults. He had
an aversion TO paying bills which was
little less than invincible, and Trustworthy
writer's assert that he was continually
embroiled with actors, mechanics and
other employees who were unreasonable
enough TO want to be paid. In this respect
the brilliant Irishman In ne way differed
from hundreds OF his managerial sue
cessors. and il is pleasant TO think that in
this direction the English speaking stage
was never in such good condition as it
ID at the present day.