New-York tribune., 1914-12-01
nv HECTOR TURNBULL.

u.,;a Tempest, who presented her
,.rrsr London success, "At the Barn" ,"
q, .bs Arst time in this country at
=. Comedy Theatre last night, had
w ~, hard time Of II on the whole.
I,,.Srs ,ss.S hits of the dialogue sometimes
rafused 70 be captured at the rignt
namsnt. pigeons not yes used to their
'''r,oundings held up the action OF
~ NAV while they flirted with the
.nd,sncs. and some silly seatholders
,rs;.,ed upon g:ggling and laughing
:, ,Ss most touching scenes. Still MISS
T.m,.st won through the unusual
HA..laes with so bravo a spirit that
W. ~, .rcseeded in electrifying the some
'ISst ~ infantile play into all evening 5
80" ;nment By the sheer force OF
-, .rresistible charm and her unde-
n;sble talents as a player. After seeing
~. dslightful lady in "At the Barn"
!. ;s putting it mildly to say that she
eouId easily make "Uncle Toms CABIN
verh 81 admission.
play itself is made Of ancient
.n Almost every volume OF sueh
machines as "Zippy Yarns at 10 cents
sbs eopy contains a variation OF the
,lo, a Young actress repenting OF
IA hargain she made with bad peer
snds refuge and a retreat in the
nome Of three confirmed bachelors. VI
rourse when her visit is at an end and
,La is about 70 become the mistress OF
the wicked peer, according to her, 1901,
III compact. the most confirmed and
rrnstiest bachelor of the trio ups ana
msrries her himself. The author was
quite right in calling his work an
What is Of chief interest is the play
ing of Miss Tempest, for upon her
sboulders rests the burden Of the en-
tire three acts, and it is by her skill
alone that the fragile tale takes on
semblance Of freshness and interest
She makes Molly, the swithering ac-
tress. a convincing enough character,
and succeeds in enveloping her with
real sensible charm. This is due, OF
course. 10 the fact that Miss Tempest
is a player possessing that rare com
binstion-a high order of intelligence
and remarkable ability, which cannot
but cause one 10 wonder that she
should choose so unworthy a vehicle.
Mr.. H. Z. Anson, playing the grouchy
bachelor who falls in love despite him
self, made rather q good fist Of his
role, although he had TO struggle with
S visible case of nervousness. His
work, however, is always good 70 see,
snd be can be depended upon to give a
elean-cut, intelligent performance, no
matter how poorly the character hts.
Franklin Dyall was even better as the
comfortable, jolly artist than in his
recent role Of Wichello in Mary Goes
First" His performance was easy,
natural and thoroughly enjoyable. Guy
Newall added somewhat TO the authors
humor as the bachelor critic, but he
looked far too happy and unimportant
for London critic. Still, he may have
worked for a weekly.
Kate Searjeantson appears again in
role that demands an expression OF
English middle class snObbishness, and
II there is one person on the stage
who presents this insuiferable type 10
perfection it is Miss Searjeantson.
Lillian Cayanagh does little more
than look exasperatingly attractive, but
she is ever welcome even in a role that
makes her a mere stage decoration.
W. Graham Brown did not shine par
ueularly as the Lord Clonbarry, per
haps because ne could not shake from
his mind the consciousness of the
puerility Of the part long enough TO
summon his usual spirits. The rest OF
Mss Tempest's company did well
enough, but one wishes she would go
Deeper into her repertory for better
NAV