The Theatres.

THE THEATRES .

— m \ J . St . James ' s . —A new play at the St . James ' s Theatre is always one of the theatrical events of the dramatic year . The St . James ' s , since ifc has been nnder the present management holds , if not the highest , still no secondary place as a comedy stage , and we know that no wirk will be accepted there unless it possesses intrinsic

merit , or what may seem so according to the judgment of the authorities . Sardon ' s " Maison Neuve , " the original of " Mayfair , " doubtless owes its presentation at the St . James ' s to the opportunity afforded by the heroine Claire for the exhibition of vory great and very varied emotional power by the actress who is called npon to

represent the part . Her touch must range from the highest butterfly flutter of girlish glee to the tragic delight of sonl-crushing honour . Mrs . Kendal realised bnfc a just estimate of her own powers when she determined to accept a part made famous years ago by the srreat Madame Fargueil and Mdlle . Desclee . As an exponent of womanly

feeling and Under dignity , perhaps Mrs . Kendal stands unrivalled , whilst she has powers of passion which in the snbdned atmosphere of " society" plays can rarely be more than indicated by some transient Hash of expression . The story of " Mayfair" has alreadv been told in our contemporaries , and onr readers

know that it chiefl y concerns the fortunes of Geoffery aud Agnes Roydant ( Mr . and Mrs . Kendal ) , who live with their old uncle Nicholas Banable ( Mr . Dare ) in dull respectability near Bloomsbury Square . Uncle ancl nephew are stockbrokers , bnt the nephew aud his wife long for higher societv , and in the first act run off from

the little festival dinner in honour of their wedding day to the new honse at Mayfair . This dinner , which in the original play has a quaint Dickensonian humour , becomes commonplace in Mr . Pinero ' s version . The old nei ghbour who , in the " Parisien arriero boutique " appears with his pockets loaded with two or three bottles of favourite

Bordeaux , is perfectly in keeping with the scene and people , bnt Mr . Pinero ' s family solicitor , who brings his bottles of Madeira under his arm to the festival , though admirably portrayed by Mr . Maclean , has a forced and unreal humour . Mr . Brookfield makes a fine character study of a dissipated , impecunious captain ,

unattachedone of the delightful products the Roydants find in Mayfair society . Mr . Cartwright is assigned the repulsive part of Lord Snlgrave , whose reckless passion would involve Agnes Roydant in utter ruin . The flippant , foolish Don Juan of the original , who forces himself into the heroine ' s presence

at night , when under the influence of wine , is replaced by Mr . Pinero by a cold hard man of the world , dastardly forcing his attentions on a woman who loathes him . In order to raise the character of his heroine , Mr . Pinero has seriously endangered the whole scheme of his composition . His Agnes Roydant—pure , calm

and dignified as a Desdemona—would never have tempted such a man as Lord Snlgrave to forget all the laws of hospitality , decency , and self-respect . Mr . Cartwright , in undertaking this ungracious task , works manfully , and succeeds in giving a terrible sincerity to the passion he portrays . In the difficult scene where Agnes

Roydant—dazed by an opiate—lies half unconscious on her couch , whilst Lord Sulgrave talks , like Claud Melnotte , of mysterious Italian palaces , Mr . Cartwright made the unreality of the sentiment seem natural and real ; and though the character might lose something of its offensiveness under a lighter touch , this fierce possession

is perhaps the only ground for extenuation . Mr . Reeves Smith , in fche small part of a youthful lover , plays with pleasant honest feeling , while Miss Webster supplies a very engaging pendant . In the part of old Nicholas Barrable , Mr . Pinero produces a very finished portrait of the London merchant of the old school ;

every point , every tone is touched with a masterly hand , ancl this portrait—embodied by Mr . Hare—is assuredly one of the finest studies from life that gifted artist has transcribed for us . It is so simple , so true , so free from stage trick or exaggeration , that the art which produces

it is completely hidden . Mr . Kendal , as the young husband , who wanders into Armidn ' s gardens , and must pay merciless black mail for release , is afc his best . A manly , sincere , honest young fellow ; so manly and so honest , we with difficulty can believe he could get so involved with Armida and her friends . Miss Linda Dietz , by her

saucy sprighthness , makes the small part of a French maid of value ; while Mrs . Gaston Mnrray , by consenting to play Priscilla , the housekeeper , with bnt half-a-dozen lines , helped to make the dramatic background of no less artistic excellence than the perfect painting of the foreground figures . Miss Fanny Enson , a new recruit , in the

part of a lively friend of the heroine , gave some bright little comedy touches , relieving the melodramatic strain of the story . Of Mrs . Kendal we have already spoken , ancl whatever difference of opininn there may be on the qualities or shortcomings of the play , thero can surely bo none as to the delicacy and assured power with which

sho has mado living aud real this loving , foolish Agnes , who out of tho mists of unity and the bewilderment of passion rises through suffering to the knowledge that in home , with its Hacred loven and duties , lie tho wife ' s true happiness . The play is mounted with all the refined

care which distinguishes the St . James ' s management . Especially excellent is Ihe dining room in Bloouisbnry , with its Georgian furniture , its old portraits , and its grandfather ' s clock . The colouring is rich and quiet as a Velasquez .

Drury Lane . —Mr . Creswiek , like so many of hi . 'i confreres , has lianged his spear and shield in tho sacred halls of Old Drury , and the bravo old warrior in tho battle of life , now hushed for tho calm of-winter quarters , has said farewell to the toil and excitement of

the stage . It was a magnificent sight last Thursday to see the vast gathering within the great theatre , but tho occasion could well justify the public interest shown . Brother and sister artistes , Mr . Creswick ' u contemporaries ( alas but fow are left ) and tho later

The Theatres.

generation , gave their best sympathies and their best work for the good cause . When Irving , Wilson Barrett , Lionel Brough , Cecil , Fan-en , Mrs . Stirling , Mrs . John Wood ; Ada Cavendish , and a score other distinguished artistes resolve to make success a certainty ,

tne Treasurer will havo a satisfactory balance-sheec ; on this occa . sion he will be able to hand over a purse of £ 500 to Mr . Creswick , and assuredly many of tha veteran ' s old audiences will echo tho congratulations wf the Committee and wish him many a pleasant year to enjoy his well earned-leisure .

The Grand Master of fche G . Lodge of Indiana , U . S . A ., M . W . Bro . Albert P . Charles , has personally communicated to Bro . James Stevens his appreciation and high commendation of that brother ' s latest Masonic work , " Chips from a Rough Ashlar . "

In our last number we stated that a new issue of " The Child's Life of Christ " was to be published in " The Magazine of Art . " We are now given to understand that "The Child's Life of Christ " is a separate and distinct work from " The Magazine of Art ; " and from the first number which has just beeu received from Messrs . Casswll and Company ( Limited ) we feel assured it will be found a moat interesting work for the youngsters .

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