New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-26
NEW PLAY AT THE LYCEUM-

THE HOME SECRETARY
>. 49,. several times been proved, At the lycenm
Theatre that If the scenery is pretty u"e 80,
80 no nlavers interesting. and the acting skhtW
- ~ -. 10 radically weak may BE- made 70 seem
- 7, was again proved last night wren 10
,.rin he regular drematc season with tie i-S I'm
sock company Mr. Frohmsn prodnceo an r'''s
comedy In four acts by Mr. r. {. Cario'i e'''",N
..rhe Home Secretary" The piece Is iran III oon
.,or conventional and ordinary in language
ed artificial In almost every attribute; ye' II ""o
On cl.verly acted by Mr.. Frohmans cofneuans, an
I, was set In such charming environ'Ve' Vi ~ NV,
r,ous domestic attire. that Il seemed 10 possess oo
ohar,crsr and significance, and numerous TASTE
e,,l and rasdious audience received II WIN 0O'NA'
,,or 7, nrobably will have prosperous career.
tn s,biect NJ THE Home Secretary Is the tenn
,,orarv alienation OF a wife from her hus'~i1'
ingredients OF IL are the husDaiu' '"c VIZ
viss's special adrlirer, soclal CIRCLE a'iA'e pm
,,c. , slight mystery. atmosphere OF nli'o sus
49,, "a a, eouiyocal situation which is lmmed-
,.,. cxn,sinAd The apparent intention Is not 70
,r,roduce an anatory intrigue. but to suggest ''e
conditions OF on. and 10 hover ABOUT is ms
The atmosphere s slightly political anu an e
"a made 10 entwne the threads OF reVoiu'i'""'' "
csnda-isr and domestic romance. Inc scene - d"
To,do, homo and the action passes IN one even
ing between s o'clock and midnight l"e''e pei
sons are implicated. most Of whom disappear a. '.e
end OF the third act. AS TO moral drift ana 'i''e
nal force. the lay while not initiative is sueseS
tive OF the diddctc. idOOIIO"S HD'N'' - ~
phry Ward. notably "Marcella -
A better name for this piece would be the DIS
con,snted Woman" Mrs. Rhoda Trendeil was '''e
wife Of tie Home Secretary OF Englano-ah eN'''
MARY man. successful in all respects anu d.
husband loyal and devoted. Mr.. Irence' ho"e''''
a. q s,atesman had failed ITO guide Tree PeOPie
- still larger freedom. and smooth away the roueh
.sss of social inequality" and. since Mrs. lren
5.u had expected him 10 do this and to tell her al
about IL when II was done. she was ueepi! u'Sai
nonted and she felt impelled 10 Withdraw as 'H".
as nossibe from his presence. In that sau s'a'e ~
her domestic affairs she was not without soie s''s
CONSOLATION for she stu had the society OF MI
Soa-r,s Iacaue n worshipful young friend. who had
h,,aa ber husbands nephew and secretary wheh
q, trouble and who could talk In a Deauuiui mar
ner about his desire TO release seeming Hl"Ss ~
,ellow-creatures from the galleys OF lapor WI
Iacsne did not suggest the liberal use OF soap lac
rs IN fact a conspirng anarchist. his true name
hs,,y Dsneerfeld, and up TO the Tune OF MS me-
,r ,yi,, Mrs Trende It had been his chi't ann
10 snooth away the rough edges OF soc'i IN
equality" by smashing all creation WIN ~
pe,pg In love with Mrs. Trendcil ne hSu N".'' -,
snoothins process to be delayed MI 80
aor,,-,e though deeply grieved by MS vic ~
,narkabla conduct, continued 10 perform ''7
"a Home Secretary,-one OF which was " - -,
r. ,.,rs.,t Dangerfeld.-and In the progress VI
the ouLst which could not have peeh '',! .
no received a letter from one OF DSnse' - -
,.,..o,os offering 70 betray him. mat iO''e'
oo,sensd 70 a place OF security. IN MI Iie
na,. NJ Iecaile. Ike a good socialist surfep
,,, made his way !nto that room az ini'i SIrs
~ s,sai the perious paper, and mgr ere ~ords Of
T,endei VINO had come 10 say d ~" ~. ratrrn
iremoen' ,"reweu 10 her husband. on ms ir- nm
sroo ne House OF Commons A conve et Us H.
love and liberty. wHsh ~ Hf mr Trendc which
ettn,nd general explanation Mr l.sS al tier
aii5wed 70 depart. and Mt ana MIs ha ~ ferven
agreeing 20 separate, ioIueu e'"
has get forth
Thai posture OF circumstances nas p e5e 80 stage
by Mr. Carton in Inan,el are made TO tell the
reeuremet.h e, proceedings and not py naraa ns
Tier. are discrepancies inc ho orn,Sstes an affec-
on is ridculoSSs s mo faithful husband merely be
uohate. hoa tT no, answer ISLANDERS or MAKE q" Ne
81 himself by posing as the ireh d s "a 70 be- aware
woman in Rhoda's posr,of ceilings toward her The
~ i nj ncrefsry would not have aHowsa ~ he
70 be overheard talking about , rne IL 10 any
rayal and he would .d n9t as an able and
In such an emergency an aDie , however are
WITH common sense Dlscitepa hssIs md the fabric
uaavolhaoie ar,ifcial During act nIst me Sn sc
ecters assemble 70 20 70 t r.i hoard The dra
second they approach u,r and the force. such
m ,h. are are concentrated upon ac' 1s cose OF
bsns he hest passage is that to"aIu ,ratsd IN his
act third in which y" Inc Home secretarys clerk for
@ sc,s and talks like honest man nt nIIite
~ b,s taik IA pernicious folly - h ;aken In
clear that the author au nelson's extant believe
hat humanity can be made perfec, nS can be- re-
outons that poye I,3 by legislation and that lesis
i, sanitary character must De % a,sss,o1
blowing up pubic build'ns xsc,sms Mr Lecae; sci
made slaves into men, men, ,pe work. and made them
shce SCI ~ ;,sSg them the key OF death' "i''