New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-22
THE DRAMA.
" MEN AND WOMEN AT PROCrORG


The new play by Henry C. De Mile and David
Belasco called Men and Women 1.-THE title Is Dor
rowed without acknowledgment from Robert Brown
ing was last night for the nrst time In Proctor's
Twenty third Street Theatre, and was welcomed cor
daily by full house. Applause wss frequent and
sincere and there repeated recalls after the third
oct 1t is likely that this work VIII be as successful
with tho populsce as were "The Wife and "The
Charity Ball." for Its faults similar to those III the
earlier plays BY the authors, and are not more
conspicuous while Its story Is stronger. These
writers shrink from using the knife 1t was necessary
TO cut out no small part OF the dialogue Of The WIFE
before the prosperity Of that piece WAS assured ana
heroic surgery upon the new play viii be indspensa
ble because there dreary In the hrst
ard second acts the last act Is in the MAN, petty.
trivial and dull The play would be much bettered 1t
were COMPRESSED into three The really impressive
and effective scenes In are IN the third act. That
plainly moved the audience and Kept its ATTENTION
sharply strained. The Incidents and the language USED
In the meeting Of the directors Cd the toterng bank are
worked out but the mseres and the torments the
appeals and representations OF William Prescott and
Agnes Rodman before the desaultng cashier avows his
guilt to the world are unduly prolonged deporable
lack of brilliant invention has marked most Of the
previous labors OF Mr. De Mile end Mr. BelescO and
even In this play 1t is difficult to discover evidences
Of conspicuous originality. Nevertheless 1t is unde-
niabIe that the main plot Is developed in an inter
suspoHoc
Is we'll sustained Yet the chief story is too much
confused and distracted by superuous side issues and
episodes while the attempts at wit and hunor too
rarely swift and sure.
The nlav was over at 50 late an hour that it would
not be profitable here and now to describe it in detail
The Mot concerns itself mainly with the comphcar
tons troubles and suherings which follow the de-
filtration of a bank cashier. who tries for time to
divert suspicion from himself to the friend Of his
youth and the lover Of his sister. but who finally
confesses his crime and seeks to explae IT, through
all his sorrows lie is comforted by the invincibe de-
votiop of . noble woman, the daughter OF reformed
convict who after his release from prison had gone
to the far West gained riches and influence and even
bcome the Governor OF Arizona. As the play closes
this daughter is about to give the defauer her hand
In marriage while tile repentant criminal Is resoiutc
10 blot out the memory Of his wrOngdoi by LIE
of honest toll. There are many characters, some OF
them rather hndrance than help to the action ;
and in several Of these we recognize the traits and
Ineamepts that became familiar IN "The Wife
and in The Charity Ball and even much earlier.
The features and figures Of these persons are but
thinly disguised.
Charles Frohman's stock company, which appears
In Men and Women has q number of experienced
and competent players and others OF much less merit
The acting of Frank Mordaunt, NJ. A Kennedy and
r. A. Roberts clearly accepted BY the audience
with much favor, and deserved commendaton. Miss
sydney Armstrong exhibited marked ability in the part
Of Agnes Rodman and the judgment Of the house upon
her worth was enthusiastic. A graceful and delight
fu figure in the joyous before grief came upon
her, she laid hold upon the sympathes of those who
saw and heard her in the passages OF desolaton aid
woe. 1t is true that there was too much
gurgng esspng and clutchng at the climax OF distress
in the third act but the actress conveyed the impre'
sim 40 true earneStness >sud force. Mis- Odette
Tyler was excellent as sparkling and entertaining
widow with a vain Of raillery, and Mis- Maud Adams
1t grievous to take the name OF the play
from Browning, IL mistake to take the name
of " The Wifes from sheridan Knowles. Playwrights
should be able get names for their constructions
without such unlicensed borrowings.