New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-17
THE RIVALS
Old English Comedy Company
ReviveS Favorite Play.
PIECE GRACEFULLY SET
But Is Not Acted with Finish
Nor Studied with
Care.

In the case Of one OF those plays that
have won their way TO the eminence OF
being called "classic' audiences grow
fussy-it IS inovltable-in their demand
fer perfection from actors. In way, IT
is unjust both to play and player ou'
when a work has great charm it is impoS-
siblc not to want 10 see that charm re-
vealed Othorwise-since the work is
familiar 10 every one-why revive K?
After first performance such as that
of The Rivals" given AT the Thirty
ninth Street Theatre last night oy the
Old English Comedy Company. 1t is un-
usually hard to know what to say III II.
The players seemed not sufficiently pre-
narcd They did not know their lines
well enough to convey any feeling of con
fdence. and that particularly in the case
OF a play so well known to its hearers Is
trying When a classic Is al stake
Il is the performance-not the play-on
which attention is fixed. and confident
ease in speaking the lines is ilrst es-
Sential OF course. there arc excuses Tor
nervousness on an opening night in Now
York. and perhaps 1t was nervousness
that spread panic behind the scenes al me
Thirty-ninth street Theatre last night.
Just as the company's playing of she
Stops 10 Conquer" gained auency and
distinction at each performance. no doiot
the same will be the case with The
Rivals"
OF all the members of the Old English
Comedy Company the one who enters into
the spirit OF IN" plays best Is Annie Rus
sell herself Although she has neither the
fire nor vitality or many players who have
preceded her as Lydia Languish, she mas
a mellowness and a rhythmic grace which
give her great deal Of charm. She III
vastly better into the picture last night
than any of her supporting players. with
the exception OF Folio. Paget who re-
turned In her familiar part OF Mrs. Mala-
prop. From her playing this part to JEFF
fefson's Acres she has gained sense OF
sureness which she displayed TO the con-
fusion OF the others last night. She was
dominant Mrs Malaprop bountfW IN
comedy and emphatic IN speech Fiom
long experience with them she knew the
value OF each Of her lines. and balanced
her voice nicely 10 the reflex from the
audience.
Fred Pcrmaiu also managed TO belong
10 the times and the manners among
which ne was moving. but Frank Reirher
was hopel.ssly out Of it Ss the bounding
CAPTAIN Jack He failed completely 20
reveal the youth. the romance and The ~
responsible huinor OF the part \ tribute
IS cue him for his distinguished mann'
of spesklrg. but even that Unfortunate,
was a little out Of the spirit % the part
CAPTAIN Jack was no scholar, and il
would TAKE a notable scholar 70 speak
the language with tho sweet clarity and
reverence with which Frank Rechcr
Uses IL.
George Giddens Was = very youthful
and spirited Bob Acres. Curiously enough.
he seemed younger than ne did IN the
part Of Tony Bumpk!u. but quite t'e
same sort Of person AZ Tony An old
man irving 10 be young he certainly was
not. bob Acres IS usually played 10 be
laughed at. but one laughs with Giddeus.
II Is an entirely different reading Of tine
part from that TO which audiences here
are accustomed II IS a trife more COM
mouplace than the old model too. In its
conception But Giddens's humor is too
whimsical 10 he commonplace in us e.
feet HIs funmaking was infectious. even
n 10 seemed out Of character
The others were sadly weak IN their
smaller parts Percy Lyndal providing a
deal OF disappointment in complete In
ability to bring out the fun Of Sir Lucius.
The play L. moderately and appro-
pristely set.