The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-26


 An suspicious srevival of Sheridan's old but delightful comedy. The School Tor Scandal" at the New theatre last Thurs day evening, not only marked the pre- sentation of the second standard drama at this playhouse and he first appear ance of Grace George as a member or the permanent stock company ou- proved the most important dramatic event of the week.
 It has been many years since New Workers have witnessed presentation of this comedy, which furnished amuse- ment for our forefathers, under sucn favorable circumstances ard with sucn competent cast.
 All the. ludicrous situations were ex- cellently portrayed, and while the size of the theatre prevented the necessary intimacy to thorough appreciation or this drama, the performance was an ex- ceptional one.
 The cast was headed by Grace George who gave an admirable interpretation of the dignified Lady Teaze, and she was ably assisted by Louis Calvert as SIT Peter.
 Others members of the cast included Rose Coghlan as Mrs. Candor, ihais Lawton as Lady Snearweu, Olive Wyno- ham as Maria, E. M. Holland as Sir ol- iver, A. E. Anson as Joseph Surface, Matheson Lang, who recently arrived from London to join the company, as Charles Surface Albert Brunning as Crabtree, Ferdinand Gottschalk as Sir DAr44 4o. .lx. ,1-l Careless, Oswald Yorke as Trip, Cecil Yapp as Snake, Lee Baker as Moses, Charles Balsar as Sir Harry Bomper, Pedro de Cadoba as William.
 The costuming was a decided 1nnoVa- tion Hitherto instead of using the cos tunes of the date of the piece-lfn-t has been the custom to employ those or some 20 years earlier. But the costumes in this presentation were much nearer Sheridan's period Authority for this departure has been sought in the por- traits of Gainsborough, Sir Joshua Key holds and in the abundant caricatures of the time.
 In the stage settings an ttempt was made to make the architecture of the rooms represent a more correct portray al of the period.
 The style of Sir Peters house and that of Charles Surface were taken from the
  Joseph's was somewhat more modern in treatment.
 Miss Marie Tempest blew ip from Lon don and offered at the l.yceum theatre on Monday night in W. somersets com edy, Penelope" which ran for year at the Comedy theatre In London
 The play is decided English and it Is the intention of Charles Frohman to star Miss Tempest in nothing else during her stay on this side of the water
 The comedy is in three acts and while the plot is unique and tho production was unusually brilliant, 1t is doubtful if 1t will appeal to American audiences as strongly as 1t did to our cousin on tho other side of the water.
 The story goes like this: Penelope OFarrell (darie TempesO is young married woman of exquisite charm. who has spoiled her husband by too much affection. Dr.. OFarrell discovers an attraction in Ada Ferguson, the young wife of a naval officer whose hus- band is in Malta. Mrs. Ferguson Is not nearly as attractive as Penelope.
 When Penelope discovers this she sum- mons her family and prepares for great scene, but her father. Professor Golightly, says s.No." His advice Is to throw O'Farrell and Mrs. Ferguson con stantly together At the same time he counsels his daughter to withdraw all manifestations of affection from the philandering husband. Dr. O'Farrell has ingeniously invented rich patient, Mrs. Mack, who exists only In his mind. Whenever he arranges to take Mrs. Fer guson to the races Mrs. Mack Is at deaths door and needs his professional services. Penelope finally discovers Mrs. Mack and thereafter whenever she has one of her spells Mrs. OFarrell orders a new and expensive gown. The doctors protests are weak because the bills are always dated on the same days as his excursions. Conscience makes him a coward At last he discovers that his wife knows of his unfaithfulness and in- stead of being repentant he Is mortified that she should take 1t 50 calmly.
 An innovation in charity performances was given at the Hackett theatre on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, when Kate Jordans new four act play, Mrs. Dalxon," was produced for the first time in New York under the auspices of the Association for the Aid of Crippled Children.
 The play is strong one, but it was rather a poor selection for a charity per formance, as the plot Is sombre one.