New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-02
BY HECTOR TURNBULL.

D FrufOn
Lady Ursus harrington ... Phyllis Nelson TerrJ
BY HECTOR TURNBULL.
After the intrepid managers have
/ shown US almost every kind Of theat-
, rical production from the nouveau
Shakespeare to inverted melodrama,
Mr.. Joseph Brooks takes his courage
/ in hand and brings forth that almost
/ forgotten JOY of earlier days, the ro-
mantle comedy in costume. His selec-
ton was Anthony Hopes first play,
"The Adventure Of Lady Ursula" in
which Sothern and Virginia Harmed
appeared in this city about the year
1897. Unfortunately for those Of us
who have gone about -ailiug at the
theatrical diet provided for the last
few seasons and predicting return
to the old type o, romance, this speci-
men did not appear TO be particularly
encouraging.
II is pretty enough in its story and
setting, but it fails to grip us or thrill
us as it did in the dark ages OF 1897.
However bitter il may be We must adj
/ init to an astounding degree of theat-
/ rical sophistication since Anthony
/ Hope was our best source of romance.
and when the clash of rapiers covered
multitude of sins. Perhaps this dis
allusionment is due to the continual
struggle of our playwrights to cram
each act full of sensation and make
each sensation knockout. At any
rate, the fact remains that II we arc
TO have costume plays of the romantic
type that can equal IN interest the pre-
vailing Broadway success, they vii
have to be made to order and accord
/ ing to modern methods. REVEALS
| show their wrinkles pitifully.
/ Lady Ursula, if you remember that
| far back, was a lady OF SURPRISING
beauty in London about the year l776
In fact, faith, she was the toast Of all
the periwigged bloods of the town. To
save her brother from a duel with q
famous Sir George, who always killed
his man, she goes to his house in male
attire and exacts his promise not to
fight. She goes in satin breeks an a
because the benighted Sir George has
forsworn the presence of ladies. OF
course she is forced into duel, and
of course she is discovered by the
handsome Sir George. In the end, after
a series of staggering, toasting, quar-
rellng adventures. she is set to rights
with the noble hero and they live hap
PLY ever after.
What appears to be of chief interest
il: the production according TO the pro-
gIamme and announcements is the APP
pearance of Phyllis Neilson-Terry in
the role of Lady Ursula. She is very
beautiful lady, as we may have re-
ported when she played Viola a few
months ago, but she appears to lack
the comedy sense that would seem to
be required in the present play. Her
performance, engaging enough to be
sure, made known this want in the
very scenes where light, sure, spirited
comedy touch was most necessary 10
the covering of bare spots left by the
author.
Montague Love made a most roman
tic figure as the handsome Sir George,
and never have we seen player COM
port himself with better grace or a
fin.r touch in a like role. His work
throughout was thoroughly in the
spirit of the romance. Miss Virginia
Fox Brooks, the daughter Of the pro-
Queer. made her first public appearance
last night as Dorothy Fenton, and,
though it was a small part, 1t present
ed many exacting demands upon the
players skill.
Miss Brooks appeared quite at ease
and her performance was given with
/ finish that would do credit to many a
more experienced player. Cecil King
was amusing as the minister. and
Campbell Gollan did we'll with his
part of the swashbuckling civilian.
Annie Esmond played Mrs. Fenton with
creditable restraint The rest OF the
cast. officers and servants, was well Sc
lected.
An interesting feature of the produc-
ton was the incidental music by trio,
composed of the harpsichord, viola da
gambia and flute, played by Miss Pelton-
Jones, Paul Refer and Roscoe Possei'
Old English airs and dances were Sc
/ lected, and the effect was both pleasing
and a refreshing change from the usual
haphazard orchestral interludes.