The evening world., 1890-06-10
"RAcLAN's WAY"

"Raalans Way" new play by Arden
Smith and Edwin Arden, presented for the
frat time at the Union Square Theatre last
night. tells the not very unusual story Of
the love OF two friends for one girl. One OF
tho friends is q villain called Ivan Bobeloff.
II you doubt his villaiuy just listen to him
exclaiming: ma rot aud YOU will be con-
vinced. Nobody but criminals Of the deep
eat tint burst into MA .rof!" upon the
stage. Ivan has q strong foreign accent.
though he forgots IL at time. lie doesn't
wear tan kid gloves, am thankful to say.
Tho other friend ia an English gentleman.
q member OF All old Cornwall family. who
uses Americanisms ana wears this style
t5 suits Of clothes. His name is Guy
Raglan. There are moments when the
Christian name seems appropriate. lie ia a
very curious creaturo-curious enough to be
interesting. lie reminded me OF the dolls
that move their arms and legs when you pull
q string. To proceed-Guy goes on Yacht
ing trip. and while no ia calling away Ivan
makes love and doubtless eIclaims " Ma
Jof ~ to the beautiful Vivian, who is OH
gagged TO Guy. Guy, having suficiontly
yAchtcd. arrives at some moonlit ruins and
surprises the lovera lie has duel with
Ivan, with lovely ultramarine moon beam.
Ing upon them. Hc kills Ivan-so he be-
lie,os, and so the audience hopos. Vivian
fails upon his body. and the curtain falls.
In the reNt act Vivian has married Guy.
Under the circumstonces, that Ia exactly
what she wouldn't have done in life. Tho
cIigcucieS OF tho drama, however, deaden
the perceptions Of truth. As l said, the mar
ried Guv. and five years have passed away.
presumably in order that the playwrichts
could introduce stage baby four years old.
The sad news that Ivan isn't dead makes tho
audience dcspondont. He arrives In due
course with his " Ma .noi !" and thus the
action quickcns.
Tho last three acts were devoted to the
jealousy OF Guy. Ivan loves Vivian. Vivian.
who iS Rketchcd very badly and inconsis-
tently, appears uncertain OF herself. Guy
traps Ivan and is about to kill him, whom he
falls dead. Guy tears down q portiere and
covers tho body. Vivian screams out, The
curse OF the necklace ia upon me e"-probably
because she had read tho expression In tho
mouth of ono OF tho heroinos Of penny
dreadful fame; the band softly plays IL
rrovatore" and thero IL general agony.
How IL all enus one never knows.
Guy says something about Into the
light" and falls to tho ground Vivian,
with her little pot. stands at the background.
You must decide the end for yourSelf. II Ia
. case of you pays your money and you takes
your choice.
"Iiaglan's Way us certainly . way that
nobody will envy. Tho story Is old. but IL
could be made interesting for all that. Orig
inality is not always possible. The fault of
the drama is its incoherency and the vulgar
way in which the story is eked out. All Mr..
ArdenS knowledge OF England seems to
have been obtained from story papers OF the
Family Herald type.
The idea OF Raglan is good, or was In
tended to be good. Tho promiso Of tho out
line was never fulfilled in the picture. Mr..
Arden came to grief. The character OF
Vivian is hardly worth discussion, while the
villain. Ivan, is ono OF those impossible
creatures, made for tho stage. Most Of the
principal people soliloquize. and the villaiu
does so with cigarette.
Edwin Arden as the hero showed that he
possessed dramatic intelligence. He needs
some refining touches and the influence OF q
good company. Mr., Arden would bo much
more interesting II he did not invite criti-
cism az . star. Heis curious young actor.
from whom good could como II he were
properly taught Nelson Wheatcroft, our
old friend of the Lyceum, did not appear to
advantage. His part was bad one, and he
wasn't good in il. This goes to show that
our metropolitan idols perhaps are idols
only because nice pedestAls are provided for
them.
Miss Seligman was excellent as Vivian.
and Miss Matte Earle extremely successful