Life — January 16, 1902 — page 12: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Two Stars That Are Stars. LD as it is, the situation where the hero finds himself with sword in hand, his back to a wall and a congregation of armed enemies in front of him, seems still able to stir the reader of novels and the spectator of plays. Certainly this is the redeeming feature of ‘A Gentle- man of France,” in which Mr. Kyrle Bellew has chosen to make his reappearance before the American public. The scene in question has some novel features, for in- stance, the acrobatic way in which the victims of Mr. Bellew’s sword roll down steps and over balustrades, but even so it seems hardly sufficient to redeem a piece which in other respects resembles closely the many sword-play versions of heroic novels with which the public has of late been surfeited. Mr. Bellew himself is an actor of much finish and of even merit, but to-day he seems ‘k the fire and vigor to be expected in the extremely Rooseveltian part of Gaston sac. His reading of the lines is in- igent to the highest degree and his delivery most agreeable, although kept within narrow limits. In person Mr. Bellew is attractive, the consciousness of which fact inclines him to too much posing. Compared with some of the machine-made stars who have lately held @ large place in the public eye, Mr. Bellew gives the spectator a sense of artistic completeness and finish, The part of Mlle, dela Vire assigned to Eleanor Robson gives that capable and charming young actress little to do, but she makes the heroine fit nicely into the picture and gains the approval of her audiences. The cast throughout is a competent one and the mounting quite sufficient. “A Gentleman of France” is a lusty play adapted to the taste of those who like hearty provision for their dramatic appetites, T]{© compare Mr. Otis Skinner's perform- ance of Lanciotto with that of the late Lawrence Barrett in the same version of “ Francesca da Rimini” would certainly not result disadvantageously to Mr. Skinner. Graceful, sincere, magnetic, evi- dently a student, and with a voice strong, well-modulated and musical, it would seem that even with his deformity this Lanciotto was better calculated to win the love LIFE of the frail Francesca than his better- dowered but less manly brother Paolo as played by Mr. Aubrey Boucicault. To see such an actor and such acting as that of Mr. Skinner's makes one wonder why the combination is so rarely seen on the Ameri- can stage, and especially in New York. The reason is not far to seek by those who know the standards of the men in control of the theatre in this country. Itis so much cheaper to manufacture a counterfeit star than to give his fair reward to a genuine one that the public is given no choics The story of *‘ Francesca” is in the minor key but its sombreness is alleviated by the brilliant and picturesque setting given to it by Mr. Skinner at the Victoria. The metrical form adds to its stateliness, and its lines have a literary value unusual to-day. The company is intelligently rehearsed, and in its entirety the performance attains a high degree of merit. Marcia Van Dresser, whose temperament is not artistic, and whose voice and delivery sct one’s teeth on edge, atones somewhat for these defects by her personal beauty. Mr. Norris's rendering of Pepe, ELEANOR ROBSON AS “ MLLE. DE La VIRE." the malicious jester, is repulsive to the highest degree, and might in this particular be modified without making the author's meaning less clear. “Francesca da Rimini,” as presented by Mr. Skinner and his company, is a perform- ance an intelligent and educated person may sit through with self-respect and enjoyment. This is exceptional praise. HANK GOD!" is the last line of ‘Sweet and Twenty” at the Madison Square Theatre. The senti- ment finds a distinct echo in the hearts of the au- dience as the curtain goes down — not because the play is in itself a bad one, but because in the process of making the public give up two dollars—more often two dollars and a half each—for seats at a play which should take half an evening in perform- ance, everything is strung out to the point of tiresomeness. Robbed and tired, the unfortunates who have been lured into sit- ting through this attenuated show naturally join the actor in his expression of gratitude at its end. Better cast and with the natu- rally slow action of the piece not exaggerated to consume time, “Sweet and Twenty” would make a pleasant first or second halt of an evening’s entertainment. As it is, the manager who ‘ presents” it might be sus pected of getting the public's money under false pretences. Metcalfe, UFE'S CONFIDENTIAL GUIDE TO THE THEATRES. Acadony of Music. —« The Christian" tn ctacular guise, with Elate Lesite and nin the leading parts, Religious. or ass Tlegious—melodrama. Broadway.—“The Sleeping Beauty and the Beast.” Fairy spectacle, enlivened by songs, comedians and ballet. Worth seetng. Bijou.—""The Widow Jones,” with May Irwin in the te part. Fanny. Criterion.—" Du °° Remarkable produc- tion and remarkable performance by Mrs. Lesile Carter as Du Barry. Daly's.—"* Frocks and Frills,’ Notice later, Enpire—Stock company tn The Wilderness.” A clever littie play well Garrick-—Chatles Hawtrey and English com: ny in “A Message from Mars." Unique and Interesting. Herald Square. — Dramatic version of «Monslear feaucaire,"" with Richard Mans- field as the hero, Neither remarkable nor especially toteresting. Knickerbocker —" Tae Toreador." Notice en wm.—Annle Russell tn “The Giri and the Judge.” Clever comedy well staged and acted. Manhattan.— The Unwel- come Mrs. Hatch," with Mra. Fiske a8 the heroine. An artistic and Interesting per- formance, Madison Square.— “ Sweet and A Twenty, * See above, Repmblic.—Mrs, Patrick Campbell in repertotre. Notice later. Savoy Mr. Henry Miller asthe heroin.» D'Arcy of the Guards.” Pleasant play of Revolutionary times. Victoria.—Otis Skinner and company in“ Fran- cesca da Rimini.” See above. Wallack's.—Kyrle Bellew and company in “A Gentleman of France.” See above. Weber and Fields's Music Hal. —“* The Girl and the Judge” in burlesque form, preceded by tanderiite on the stage nnd clever looting of tbe pubile by ticket-speculators. comicbooks.com