New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-21
pr HECTOR TURNRULL.

,;e-lty stage N theatrical ahRirs as an
.,.r.mslv felieitous event. Since the
assuming Of the season our new pro-
5.rtOns, both successful and other
"a, have presented 10 New York play
.,,rs practically the opposite eX-
.-,l,, Of plsycrsft and playing that
:, spd combined in the Sardou drama.
T. "a. become almost a fashion for the
,,er day playwright 70 sscrirce char
80, 70 effect and 70 require of the
.,,,r nothing more, apparently. than
!, ,bility &c present a photographic
fy,s With some show Of skill IN MINI
:r. Diplomacy, however, even
I'm ~; plsyed by an indifferent cast, can
u, fsil 10 impress its audience with
80 admirable consistency Of its con-
.,,psiion and character. And when II
4, rr,,epted By such capable players IS
NJ Frohman has provided one finds
.s,t the fascinating web of intrigue
,rS the human love story take on &
rsv,lty and an interest more often as
,oei,,ed with new plays than revivsls.
on the play itself there IS but lit
Il, 70 be said that smacks of now
,ty Since its first production in this
,ty. in 1878 az Wallack'S Theatre, nu-
n,rous writer's on the drama have
,per, time and energy in discussing
he plsy and It's author Al great length.
II il generally conceded, however, that
often as Sardou is condemned for his
re,oinste love Of theatrical artifce.
Diplomacy" or Dora" as il was frs:
called. sacrifices less of its human
qualities 10 its construction than othe:
equally notable examples OF the
sgAofs craft. Its form may be con-
sdsred BY the specialist to be vastly
more interesting than its substance,
but % the lay mind, untutored in the
sbsorblng pastime Of scientifically
pulling play 10 pieces, it is the knowl-
tdss u human nature disclosed in the
CONSERVATION and the brilliant
blending Of the two themes, amstory
ed political, that will command the at
ieHiion and the deepest interest.
The authors peculiar faculty for
investing his figures with the man
IL o. sincerity and his situations with
ysntsble warm human atmosphere,
vhls shrewdly favoring his scheme of
obstruction, is particularly apparent
during the strong scene in the second
ie and the stronger episode that I'M
ntalsteiy follows. Here, too, the
ig.aor shows most clearly his delicacy
" touch and his fine restraint in
welding any hint Of overemphasis
wen he has made his point.
These are the scenes and situations
,sl occur after Count Orlof has un-
Willingly confessed 10 Julian that
he has proof OF Dora's treacheTy
ara is thoroughly convinced that she
= an unscrupulous adventures who
tsx1ys the honor Of her admirers for
Isasy PAID by intriguing foreign dip
'niis. Julibn's behavior when he
isars Of the eircumstantial evidence
igilnst his wife, Henry's cool. reason
'bs manner Of discussing the situa-
Ion and Orlof's touching grief at
reanding his friend, were eXcellently
iieiured last night, and the play pro-
gsntd IN tense and almost fswless
ishion until the time came for Julian
question his wife himself. Here.
salcriunstely, there was a noticeable
.a-oown IN the interest, due, perhaps,
Y ,overplaylng on the one hand and
aes OF sufficient spirit on the other.
.ah' however, may be purely hyper
olletl observation, but II so il is
sas the less the result Of contrast
ss'ssen the episode mentioned and
Nese that preceded and followed il.
noticeable air Of modernity has
nsp' INTO the play since Sardou gave
! 70 the world. On the whole, such
10 the matter Of gowns, dress, a cas-
AZ mention Of chaufeUrs and the Xix .,
~ Furnishing process is to be com
.saoed and avoids distraeting mental
.9psnsons, but there are touches to
10y henrys lines and business made
.suaetlng by their very novelty, if we
" not greatly mistaken.
me present cast, assembled with no
Is trouble and care by Charles
.';anar, easily earned the rousing
uNons given them by the enthusiast
N, audisnee. As Henry Besuclerc
,ausm Gillette had but 10 enter the
~, VT N the first act, his hat in hand
MS face showing the whimsical
80 ioroidding expression NOV be
cur mental conception of Mr..
STOCK Holmes In repose), and the
sart Of every one in the audience
~. OCT 10 him. His easy command
81 me sense Of values in dealing with
! ~ and shades in moments Of COM
" strong emotion are but new in
,,S s.ons o. his rare skill and intelli-
'',ss As player.
!, s wonders, regTetfully, why he is
s..s .'oom seen on Broadway, and re-
T,, upon the salutary effect Of his
s,..sht appearance. Blanche Bates
ss1..0'ns Comtesss Zicka into q very
VII person, indeed. She has no
e.-snsms, but q slight veneer of
80 when under observation. Once
ana confronted by the oppor-
~" y 10Y her deeds Of craft she sets
.e'lr.h ef Niilsny in & thoroughly bust
As fashion. Her Interpretation
IN s unhappy lady was extremely
Soneeived and very welcome. Miss
IN, VINO has the happy faculty of
,s,.t;s ner every gesture and pose an
4 1--WE one, brought her talents into
h. w successfully that she achieved
Il. 'ery difficult feat Of making ber
AVA NAAS " lNcdiIeROeTS who
.esa many hundred versions of
4 D,i Sst eomtesss since Sardcu wrote
iN,ss.y beautiful and engaging lady
;r, 49, Ooro, and few actresses could
sss.s.sa 50 effective in Dora's lighter
trsp o. commanded the sympathy
nee,f ~ the more emotional and
ed.nss. scenes. She has, however. a
wa :" TO sxaegerate her demonstrs-
u, A., y. grief 70 some extent, and AZ
! Ssl'.tS'Seared to affect the proper ar.
riUss..'aa OF her lines during her
.aSss;sM. scene the effect was not
4 sis,' 20 an unbroken impression
sss Ss ATTY: This, however, may have
Va, s9e 70 nervousness, and even
wi" klf,rsmedisble nine-tenths Of tSn
tr,ss, believe that Miss Doro Is quite tt
Z. ss,,. segardless o. insinuations 70
l.fsss'isry. Leslie Faber was cast A.
hsto,nan and gave straightforward
Aes' more eOmmendable for