New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-02
RETURN OF "sECRET SERVICE"

Sometimes an American actor goes to London.
sends back word that he has made a great sue
cess and then returns. In the hope that his coun-
trymen will come to see him because OF his al
legged foreign vogue. 1t not thus with william
Gillette. He assured himself Of the enthusiastic
support Of Americans before he tried his fortune
with Englishmen. No one was surprised that
Secret Service" turned out to be a good play
year ago. but everybody was pleased IL was SIM
ply the best thing that had been done by one VINO
had done good things before 1t was pleasing 10
hear afterward that so excellent an American play
had met the approval OF London. but that was not
why the audience gathered TO see 1t again at the
Empire Theatre last night. Those who mad seen
II before went because they knew that they liked
It, and those who had not seen 1t before went De-
cause they knew that others admired It,
The deserved success OF Secret Service Is an
illustration OF the fact which many seem I'M
able to understand, that play must be a play
and need be anything but play. There Is no
occasion for II to be a sermon or pohtcai essay
or n lecture on physiology or sociology While the
scenes OF Secret Service are passing pefore the
audience they are wonderfully effective. Wheh 'he
material and its treatment analysed afterWard
curious things are found. Many persons nave
found more or less Of them and have peen uhhec-
essarly troubled thereby The hero OF the play tets
his private affairs-that Is TO say, MS love AFFAIR
interfere with his duty his country. lie Is sent
as the trusted agent of his country to do GER
tain thing and then when he is exactly In the po-
sjtion to do II easily ne refuses do IT, The
audience applauds him in this. The heroine OF
the play endangers the cause or her people ior te
sake of her lover and the audience appiauus neI
The person who stands in the place OF the villain OF
the play devotes himself all through H. COTS @
ly and fearlessy. to the performance OF ms una.
as an agent of his government IL Is ni'nu 49,
he has an unworthy motive. but he does nothing
that in his position might not h hE from
worthy motives Yet the audience mates nm 80,
These things not thought OF WINE Iit pay
goes on. because they are SIDE issues an -,
fectiveness of the play is paramount When they
are thought Of the play is over, and then they 40
not matter The central interest OF tne pa! - "a
its love story and everything else ever uIty an.
patriotism have to give way 10 IL IN the
recognition OF what IS right or wrong II pauriot;;
ism were the central subject, love anairs would
have TO give way. These may not De the III
for carrying war, but they are tne p III, ~,
pies for writing play 1t Is positively amusing t9
count up the improbable and inconsistent ana
wrong things that this play contains. when us
strict requirements as play are ieit or, u siae
question But the point Is that Mr. Gillette SET
ahout writing a play and did not try 10 90 any,
thing else. And what ne tried 10 40 ne u,u, i.
SECRET Service" was acted at the Empire last
night exactly 1t was a few months ago AT nc
Garrick or possibly with little more spohiahe,,y
as n rim * now beginning instead or endlng. Mr.
Gillette cily calm and as caniy GonoIiv.
opposed his schemes with as Inuch force anu cis,i.
ness of purpose Miss Ida Waterman again gave
gentleness and dignity 10 the part OIL MTS var
ney The only new memoirs OF the cast OF lHIPor'
ney; Henry Woodruff. as Wilfred xarney ana MISS s
Hope Ross as Caroline Milford Inc last nao ,t me
hardest task in occupying the place OF Miss
| Odette Tyler 1t t. no disparagement OF ner 70
say that Miss Tyler was missed, tor sne pd!s s
| her part extremely we'll All the members OF the
| company received the warmest OF welcomes from
| the large audience. and Mr.. Gillette expressed MS
| thanks in n short speech