The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-08

This other who had drawn from the
dying man the story OF the suffering
woman's innocence was by way OF loving
her himself SO he too remained silent.
To have revealed that the wife was guilt
less would have been to send her back 10
her husbands forgiving arms. Eventu-
ally, however. he was compelled to admit
what he knew OF her innocence. II was
finally revealed in its entirety through
the fundamentally of her child. BY this
means was the weakness Of his evidence
revealed to her husband. and the reunion
OF man and wife accomplished.
Familiar AZ this story OF the estranged
parents united by their child was in its
general outlines, there was much IN the
new work to make IL altogether different
from any previous treatment OF the same
subject. After the first act and It's meio-
dramatic prologue Evidence Is play
Of irresistible charm. Its authors are
evidently beginners In the art of the play
wright. but for lnished technic they
have substituted heart. In place or the
effective idiom OF the practsed writer
FOR the stage they have supplied speeches
graceful In their simple literary form
and full of sophisticated wit or poetic
imagery. Then the writing of them is
deserving the respect of any cultivated
audience.
1t would be useless to deny that the
authors are so g,Iltless of any knowl-
more than once leave the spectators in
doubt as To the why and wherefore of
the presence of the characters on the
scene. What could, for instance, account
for the gathering OF the hero's friends
and enemies In his rooms in the first act ?
But the inherent strength 90 the drama
and its possession of at least one hne
study of character made the audience
forgive these Inconsistencies. And there
IL often forgiveness for such technical
weaknesses when there are other interests
| sufficient to compensate for them.
Dominates the Play.
This character which in truth dom-
| mated the play. was that OF the redoubta-
| BILE old Duchess. who decided that her
| granddaughter. after seven years penance
| for her unjust divorce. should be intro
| duced again to the world. So this power
| full old woman entcrtains at garden
| party this world to which she means
| to restore her granddaughter Certain OF
| the guests she receives personally In her
| drawing room. They are mixed lot
| for, as she explains TO "A friend, this Is
| one of her geological days. The upstairs
| who attempt to snub the guest OF honor
| she withers with her sarcasm. But she
wins the day. for she brings husband
| and wife together.
| This character was splendIdly drawn
| Since the dowager of Lady Windermere's
| Fan" there has been no such brilliant
comedy figure created for the stage, Com
| plete self-contdence indomitable will a
knowledge OF the world and her own i'm
portance IN II, as we'll AZ sense OF
humor make her notable portrait in
| the small list that is really worth while
| In the cOntemporaneous English drama
The audience delighted in every line she
spoke,
| In Rank Of Great Artists.
And It took equal pleasure out Of the
superb acting OF Haidee Wright In the
role Miss Wright wiz always be remcm-
bered for what she contributed to "'rhe
Passing OF tho Third Floor Back" ms well
as TO "Tnrte" hut what chs did las,
night put 1er in the rank Of the greatest
artists Of the theatre to-day. Tho incar'
nation of the Duchess Of WrCT she dom
mated the stage from her first appear
ance. Her caustlc wit, her impatienc'
with any energy any less than what sh,
possessed nj the ripe age of eighty-three
her comfortable worldliness-all thes,
traits were most graphically indicated by
Miss Wright.
What the public thinks of such fin,
acting was exhibited by the enthusiasm
which made futile effort to bring hel
alone on the stage after the second act
| AllHouEu lN was IlpA IOSN"lEt l'l utl ~
enjoy that distinction, hers was the ar
tistc triumph OF the evening-lndeed o
many evenings in the theatre.
hut the acting was all admirable once
the ar,ifclality OF the opening scenes wa
over with, Aubrey Smith was the ster'
and unCompromlsingly legal husband L
the life and Viva Birkctt's natural patho'
as the discarded wife added its tone L
the scenes with her husband as well a.
| h.,. NM nj HnI Nartt a mn
delightful childish simplicity by a certain
Reggie sheffield, who appears TO have
reached the mature age of about nine.
The high level OF the acting was main
tanned in every role. That Is OF cours'
one of the reasons that made Evidence
one Of the most artistic and inteiligen
successes that the local stage has know
In many a day.