New-York tribune., 1910-01-18
DRAMA
SIR Charles Wyndham and
Hiss Moore an The MoUusc.


acomed with heartiness suitable to so i'm
portant an occasion. The audience which
filed the theatre seemed quite as intent
upon giving - the els: 'nguished artists 4
right cordial salutation and thoroughgoing
approval as upon enjoying the comedy they
presented And that is saying good deal.
Tor the comedy with this presentation is
an artistic feast OF the first order. Sir
charles and his companions could play
New York for a season. If they were so
| minded. but. to the misfortune OF this puo-
lie, they are able to remain here only two
weeks before beginning their tour of the
principal cities THE Moliusc'' is now so
well known that the chroniclers of plays
need not tell its story again. The comedy
is simple, but clever and captivating and it
Is the more appreciated because ii affords
the public an opportunity TO see once more
the foremost comedian of the time.
How lightly the years touch Sir Charles
Wyndhami He and his ant conquer time
Inc best that could be wished for young
players Is that they might have such youth
as ne has now. Who shall dare hope that
they will attain to such art, and mellow it
with such experience, as his? There is no
greater pleasure for lovers of comedy than
the one that comes from Wyndham's act
ing All that is best in the art OF comedy
Is beheld in any performance by this famous
actor; is sensed from any presentation in
which he appears; there is proof at all
ments of guidance by a master mind III
the early summer of last year New York
saw what this means, saw the difference
between play acted by Sir Charles Wynd-
ham and Miss Mary Moore and their COM
pany, and the same play presented under
conditions which too long have been char
acteristlc of the American stage. The eX-
perience was as interesting as il was in
structive. New York was pleasantly star
tied from its complacency. 1t saw then what
it had been told time out of mind, realized
through ocular and oral demonstration, that
all is not for the best in it's pretentious
dramatic world. a comedy which had been
highly successful in London had come TO
nothing in New York, and under 10
cal presentation had been thought
poor thing unsuired to the taste OF
these audiences There were few who took
the trouble, perhaps few who had the ca
pacity, TO dissociabe the authors conception
from the mediocrity imposed upon it by
management and interpreters Too often
in this country it is by accident, rather
than design. that a dramatist's ideas are
assisted over the footlights by the ruling
gods and their puppets Of our overgiorited
theatrical world. Characterization fails,
atmosphere is absent, intention is con-
cealed by incapacity an incapacity puT-
veyed at wholesale and directed by the
monumental indifference of potent beings
whose commercial genius is to their artts-
tic perception and training as Falstaff's
intolerable deal of sack TO one-half penny
worth of bread. But when Wyndham and
Miss Moore played THE Molusc" here
some months ago the result was q revela-
t. 70 he
new play, quite a different play. and New
York admired it. The magic of Wyndham's
genius as actor as a master of play
presentation, had transformed it from the
piece that New Workers had first seen, and
sighted. into work which charmed and
held them, or which enabled Wyndham 10
charm and hold them. Wyndham and Miss
Moore and their associates gave to the
work a new life and new meaning. New
York rubbed its eyes with amazement and
delight. And now these favorite actors
have come again, and with the same play;
and again New York applauds.
Wyndilam is a marvel He is as buoyant
now as he was thirty years ago. There
were moments last night when he revived
memories Of his Bob Sackett in Brighton
his Peregrine Porter in Fourteen Days
and other dashing f1y-away parts conceived
in the Hghtest spirit of comedy. He
could play any of those parts now well
as he played them then. And then the
other character in which he has touched
the graver notes with cOnsummate skill.
Last night there were reminders of these
as well. in fact, Tom Kemp. in The
MoIlusc,' brings out so many of Wynd-
hams best qualities that those unfortu-
nate playgoers who have never seen this
ininitable comedian-if any such play
goers there be-should straightway hasten
TO the Empire Theatre and behold him in
a performance which will always be re-
| membered with JOY. Playgoers who know
his work will need no urging. The appetite
for Charles Wyndham grows by what it
feeds on. Recall his swift changes from
! gayety TO gravity. from sprightliness to
0espondency, frCn. tenderness TO peppery
anger from fipDanCy to pathos, from
humbugging to sincerity, from aversion to
love, from any mood TO any other, and
you will agree that other actor can
equal him, ca1 even compare with him, in
the power TO make these transits and TO
convince as he makes them
All audiences have their silly sections
New York audiences have more than their
! share of these. Last nights was no excep-
ton TO the rule. But when gigglers who
thought that everything in a comedy must
Dc lduSIL6U d. dS siGSltIS dI6 prone 10 90,
gurgled in the wrong place, Wyndham, by
the directness of mis- art, hushed the house
without appearing TO notice the rpples OF
misplaced mirth. without appearing even
TO exert himself. Only d master of acting
d presence which permeates a playhouse
can do this thing. And it is always re-
treshing to see 1t done.
Miss Mary Moore is charming as Mrs.
Baxter, the A1olusc." Her smile, her
manner, her dainty personality. her por-
trayal of pretty and luxurious selfishness,
are precisely the needed elements in the
character. Miss Moore, one ventures 70
say. has not been seen to better advantage
since her admirable work in 1.-The Case
of Rebellious Susan" Miss Dorothy Thomas
plays the governess, Miss Roberts, far bet
ter than either of her predecessors. She is
pleas 10 look upon and to hear. Mr..
sam Sothern is very good indeed as the
mollusced husband. There are only four
characters in this bright comedy, and they
are quite perfectly presented.
Sir Charles Wyndham expressed his
thanks 10 the heartily apDlaudng audience.
He is one Of the few actors who can make
a good speech. When he said that he had
arranged to pay an annual visit 10 this
country for the next five years he con-
veyed tidings which will bring immense
satisfaction to American theatregoers. There