New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-08-28
Stage Set for
The Return Of
Leslie Garter
Former BeIasco Star Is IL.
lighted With the Role Of
Katherine i'll The Circle,

American stage Mrs. Leslie Carter
Those who were in and of the tumu,.,
Gus receptions accorded to her art ).
the days that seem so long ago lik. ;.
credit those properties of the Girl.
which might bring Mrs. Carter b..,
to the point in the grand arc where she
went out of the ken of the New York
playgoer.
Just now the various sectors Of "Tb.
Circle" are being tested on the out-of.
town stage, preparatory to presentation
in New York by the selwyns early in
September.
For the necessary record it may be
said that about thirty-three years ha,s
elapsed since the beginning OF the me-
morable association of David Belasec
and Mrs. Carter, and fifteen since ifs
termination. II mas been about eight
years since the actress made more than
an occasional stage venture. Ii was civ
years ago that she made her music han
tour in this country on the Orpheum
Circuit
Considering the span of her artistic
career anc the scope OF her powers
Leslie Carriers plays have been COM
paratively few, but these few are iex-
els in an amaranthine diadem. In the
period of her Belasco stardom sor,
eighteen years, there were but six aac
only four Of these we're major sue
cesses. OGe OF the causes of this was
the monopoly OF theaters by the "The.
atrical Syndicate" and involved Be-
lasco's fight TO establish himself as an
Independent producer. Another was the
difficulty e getting play to suit Mrs.
Carter's dramatic forte.
4 Departure From Tragedy
And the 'Sensational' PLAY
New York has never seen her in =
comedy of such quality as The Circle
possesses. It is in The tragic mask that
she IS best remembered; t. >pth of tragic
feeling and power Of dramatic express
SION were conspicuous in her equipment.
The list Of her vchic7>>s is short There
we're two light musical pieces. The
Ugly Duckling' at the Broadway Inca
ter in 1890, and ".Niss Helyctt" at tau
star Iheater in 1891: "The Heart CT
Maryland" at the Herald Square Thea
ter in 1895; ''Zaza" at the Garrck in
1883; "Du Barry at the Criterion IN
1901; "Adrea" at the first Belasco The
alter in 1905; all in the early consulsliip
Of David Belasco. Thereafter she ap.
peared in "Kassa" and several other
productions Of minor measure.
With this garland of Belasco, Leslie
Carter became known for her exception
Il facility in bandishmen'. her COM
mand Of the wles Of coquetry and for
the clarity and purity of her English,
which was always joy to hear
To her representation Of Lady Kath-
crime, which will be in opposition with
John Drcw's Lord Porteus in 1.-The Cir
Gle the actress brings so far as judy
ment may be used on that OK parte
proceeding known as the interview-aL
her former resources Of diction, cer-
tainly many graces Of mind and per-
son, an undiminished elevation Of al
burn hair and that strict element Of
good acting which has been called "a
passion Of Joy in the thought Of tie
character acted
Thus fortified. she should be secure
Of effectiveness if her technical cunning
has remained vhettcd during her re-
pose from the big things of the stage.
But never really retired from the
stage she answers. 1.-THE theater has
been my religion. am bound to it.
There have been obstacles, and one was
the lack CT the right play. And nov
believe have the play. love the part
q Lady Katherine"
Lady Katherine has come to regret
tina. she bolte1 the matrimonial har-
ness with lord Por.eus thirty years be-
fore. She IS not the person TO relish
beng cut by nice people She has cone
&c dyed hair and lipst;ck with rather
old-fash;oned consciousness Of default.
She can call Lord Porteus brute. For
him he romance Of their relation mas
long been dead though there is rem
nant OF the old affection.
How the S.taation
Travels in : Circle
And while the elderly boilers seem TO
get on pretty well they offer to ho'a
themselves cut as solemn warning %
a Younger pair who contemplate making
4 bolt OF Z. Lady Katherine tells El'1a'
beth Of the heartaches and the isolation
of the position. The awful example i
almost effective, but the younger par
decide that it is love, and they bot
anyway. the awful example 10 the coz
trary notwithstanding. And since you'a
VIII have it so, the solemn warning
lends It's automobile TO elope in.
Mrs. Carter finds Lady katherine oo'a
spr;ghty and somber role N when
pathos is shot through with Lively
humor. and frivolity with singular
strength OF character. London thoush*
il bold" play It was received WIN