New-York tribune., 1910-12-22
THE DRAMA
"0Id Heidelberg as Played at
The New Theatre.

II 9SiSCt1n& OlO rlSIO6lOSEE dS dii Goo'.
ton to its as yet small repertory The New
Theatre may have been moved by variety
OF motives. However that may be. the
choice. the production and the performance
are Characteristic Of the house The play
is pleasing. but in no way remarkable. and
its presentation Is no better than. and IN
some respects not go good as, earlier per-
formances elsewhere. The scenes In RIDERS
Garden at Heidelberg have been much bet
ter painted and much better performed than
they are here. ''Old Heidelberg" the man.
agenent believes, 'is probably unfamiliar
TO the majority of New York theatregoers-
Perhaps it Is. But the majority OF New
York theatregoers are unfamiliar with GER
tain other matters pertaining TO the stage.
It does not follow, though. that concerns
Of which they are ignorant are unknown
or forgotten by all the rest of mankind
'Oid Heidelberg may be better remein-
bered even in New York than the pro-
sramne writer at The New Theatre sup
poses: il certainly is well remembered in
England and all over the continent Of Eu
rope. In placing the piece upon It's own
stage The New Theatre at once challenges
comparison with theatres among the fore
most in the principal cities OF the OLD
World. as well as with productions, Aneri-
can 6IlQ 1cAliidii, IA e@AAS SiNs'
test The New Theatre does not emerge
with advantage AS theatre which as
u,res. or is believed to aspire, TO the chief
place in this country II COMES li,AApiiiS AiiiA
the test
The perversity which has niscast all its
previous plays has not permitted this play
10 escape. So much depends upon the ac-
tress who plays Kathie that any one would
suppose special pains would have been
taken in order to secure suitable per
rormance Of the part This theatre has, IN
fact as a meSber OF its regular company
young actress who would be delightful as
Kathie, but Miss Busley has been engaged
for the role. Therefore she performs. But
Miss Busley does not get into the character
at all She Is vivacious, 1t is true, put she
is far too knowing, and she somehow con-
trives to divest kathie of charm. Now the
Kathte OF Rudder's Inn, the Kathie with
whom the Crown Prince Karl Heinrich OF
Sachsen-Karisburg was enraptured, ana
for whom he returned to Heidelberg after
his accession to the throne. must have had
charm, great charm. Miss Busley makes
her merely a lively and designing mink.
Mr. Gillnlore's Prince is very good. Mr..
Gilmore seems to have come upon fort
unate line with his German princes. Last
! season ne was al anOInSf theatre III SAIiSo
king when Miss Elsie Ferguson played an
exiled queen. And his success then may ac-
count for his present at The New Theatre.
Anyway. here he is, and but for certain
occasional instant OF awkwardness, he
comes OF very well with his part, although
there is a good deal in It that he might
get out of It with keener insight.
An excellent bit Of acting is Mr.. Gott-
schalks. He IS the valet de chambre to
the Prince, vain, officious, contemptuous
with his interiors; obsequious, attentive.
efficient before his Superiors- Mr.. Gott-
schalk has done nothing better at this
house.
Mr.. Holland. as the Prime Minister. de-
serves praise. Mr.. Calvert, as the Princes
tutor, Dr. Juttuer. Understands the char
acter he has to play. but never for a mo-
ment does he suggest that he is German.
He is decidedly an Euglishman. with Ger
man wig and a German name. Mr.. 1cVay,
as Rider, the innkeeper, has absolutely no
conception Of his opportunity; Mr. Brunilg
makes old keIlerman comic person, when
he might with propriety make him pathetic;
the Court Charnberiains are American, but
not so thoroughly American as are the stu
dents at Heidelberg, in spite Of their caps.
clothes and striped bands A good deal OF
the business OF the piece IS well done, espe-
ciaIly the ceremonious details at the royal
palace. The best effect OF scene and prop
critics. Is that Of Prince Kari's rooms at
Heidelberg, effect quite perfect in its
way. But the outdoor scenes are not equal
in beauty. in movement, in acting, TO pro-
ductions which have been given elsewhere.
The New Theatres production should be
the best OF all. Its presentation OF any
play should be better than any other thea
tire in this country or England can give.
Unfortunately, no such claim to superiority
is yet supported by results. A ".