New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-17
By Haywood Broun

The theatrical season had it's real
opening last night when the first fine
comedy Of the new play year was per-
FORMED at the Garrck Theatre. 1t is
encouraging to have so good play as
Enter Madame" at the beginning of
season. 1t will be still more encourage
ing to have it throughout season.
Our careless and spendthrift theatre
has at last found place at the top for
Miss Gilda Varesi who has done her
vivid bits and scenes ali too long be-
tore coming to US as the chief figure
in play. During the greater pare of
last year and the year before she was
engaged in the task of trying to
scratch out genteman's eyes, but
last night she proved that she could
be even more adept IN scratching them
back again for another gentleman
New notes are finely and truly taken
by Miss Varesi in Enter Madame" 1t
seemed for seasons that she must be
sinister, but last night she was most
alluring figure. She gives q perform
ance rich in tenderness, but, lest any
body conceive this to be ondDof those
sticky bits Of acting which melts in
the mouth, we hasten to add that it is
a spirited tenderness. 1t is if you like,
two-f1sted tenderness with punch
in either fist. Varesi brings the same
Jingle and spark to a light comedy
scene which she gave to us all when
she beat upon the breast of Neri as
the blind girl in "The Jest" There is
no break in the current
For the frat tima this caoSou we
have a comedy which has the quality
Of excitement So fine and true and
live a performance as that Of Miss
Varesi last night brings a better thrill
than a host of off stage horsemen gal
loping to save whatever you please
AS matter Of fact at last they have
reason to gallop and to blow trumpets
and beat tin pans, and as they clatter
down the roads to rouse the house
holders they should shout to each
nsght-capped head "There's a good
is apt to be discounted for time, but
this Minute Man for one has no hesita
ton in pulling the f1intlock off the wall
and firing both barrels. We only wish
we had more powder.
What we mean to suggest is that
ENTER Madame" is a delightful play,
excellently acted.
The theme of the play is familiar
enough. A wife who is about to lose
her husband decides not to, and
doesn't. But there is many a shrewd
touch in the telling, and the play is
not one Of those empty affairs in which
sake Of the plot. These are true people,
and here there is no important free
will of the playwright's.
The lady about to lose her husband
is a great singer. She has brought
him romance but no comfort He
thinks he wants some one who will
sits with him before the fire. He be-
lieves he wants companion for his
carpet slippers. Unfortunately for his
plan Lisa Della Robbia invites him
and his new love to one last dinner.
atrical memory we found high spirits
and merriment successfully mirrored
on the stage. 1t is scene in which
two of the Italian servants become in
volved in the merits of certain singer
and certain opera. and nothing must
serve while the dinner waits, but that
one must bring his flute and fight it
out. The husband who was about to
trade romance and discomfort for hum
one last talk alone with his wife, and
in scene superbly played by Miss
fVarcsi and Norman Trevor the memory
Of all the old mad merry times sweeps
them both together again to live un-
happily but wildly ever after.
Mr.. Trevor gives good performance
and his personality is as charming an
asset as ever, but he handicapped the
play not little in the first act by
fumbling his lines. An amazingly fine
performance was that of Gavin Muir
as the proudly proper son Of the sing
er. Others who contributed largely
to highly successful evening were
Michelette Baroni, William Mailman
Francis M. Verdi and Jane Meredith
The applause was tumultuous, and il
ought to have been just that.
The program attributes the play tc
Giulia Cont and Dolly Byrne, but there
is a strong rumor that Miss Wares
among her other honors also deserve.
those Of author.