MRS. LANGTRY ON THE STAGE.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume IX, Issue 947, 28 May 1881, Page 2 (Supplement)

MRS. LANGTRY ON THE STAGE.

The'gossips of the moment (says the London correspondent of the Sheffield Telegraph) is the promised dehut of Mrs. Langtry upon the stage of the Prince of Wales’ Theatre. She will play a prominent part in Burnand’s new play “ The Colonel,” shortly to be produced there. The private friends of the lady have long talked of the career upon which she is about to enter, for it has been contemplated these many months. The World has a leading article on the subject, under the title “ Beauty’s Last Stake,” which is complimentary or the reverse, according to the spirit in which one chooses to read it. The conclusion arrived, at by the writer is that the stage is the natural and legitimate gaol of the professional beauty. To speculate on the success of Mrs. Langtry as an actress w’ould be, to say the least, Unwise. We had better, as John Bright observes, reserve prophecy until after the event. Her friends, however, say that the lady has the histrionic faculty considerably developed, and there is no doubt that she has undergone most careful training at the hands of an accomplished instructor. Her first appearance may be safely calculated to create an excitement equal to, if not greater, than any that has attended the movements of this lady any time these two years past. Should she achieve success as an actress, her example will surely be followed by a host of ambitious ladies, and the stage will be pronounced a new and proper field for female talent.

A home correspondent writes thus : —“ Whatever her histrionic abilities may be, Mrs. Langtry is sure to have large audiences, because curiosity will always attract greater numbers than talent itself can draw. Last year Mrs. Langtry took the part of Jeannie Deans in some private theatricals got up by a Mrs. Freake, and created quite afurore in fashionable circles by her representation of that brave and living Scotch heroine. But then it is comparatively easy to win admiration when the actress is a Court beauty whom it is the fashion to run after and adore —easier than for a dethroned favourite to escape criticism when the performance is judged according to its dramatic merits, and quite apart from the illusory surroundings with which popularity and fashionable enthusiasm are on certain occasions apt to clothe it.

White stockings are rarely seen now with day costumes, but match the colour of the dress. For evening, only white skirts and spider web silk stockings are w’orn as asual. Collars are worn of every shape and size, from the small neck frill to the large cape and fichu. Some of the fichus remind me of pictures of Mrs. Hernans, or to be perhaps more correct, of the white neck gear of Sisters of Charity. On the whole the neck is very much covered, and is almost completely concealed under frills of lace or folds-of tulle. The fashionable colors for spring are —tarnished gold and green of every shade. Collars, necklets, and jabots are made entirely of flowers for demitoilette, evening or dinner dresses. As no dress can fit well without having a proper underskirt, I may state that underskirts are now all made plain front, and flounced up the back. You may make separate flounced backs, which you may button on to your ordinary skirts when required.