The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-09-30
SOME UNDRAMATIC PLAYS.
II CAMERA AND the PHONO6RAPH
IN THE HANDS or Mr.. HERNE.
Realism In sag Harbor" That should Delight
People FondIy Appreciatiye OF Hernei'm
Appeals to the vision In THE Belle OF
Bohemia" and In - Milton Dollars"

Dor" sninles with every sentence that she
speaks. Some one remarks that she has a
oold in her head She explains that It Is only
a habit She is requested TO blow her nose.
She takes out n handkerchief, but will not use
Il. and searches her pockets for one that she
has lost. You see" she explains, II carry
two "A shower and a blower" That Is a bit
OF the realism In James A. herne's new
work, and ~ much is thought Of II by the author
that an actress Ia engaged for no other service
than TO impersonate the catarrhal creature dur
Ing the scant five minutes that she figures in
the play. The audiences hold II at less value,
because II Is disgusting. Feeling as TO n more
protracted physical subject In Mr. herne's play
at th' Republic, that OF childbirth, seems TO be
diyld't between amusement and ~disapproval,
a. shown contrastingly in the faces Of the peo-
pl' Probably We Americans are too squeam-
s. in our avoidance Of child bearing az a topic
IN ordinary con vsrsRtion between men and
wom'n Perhaps Mr., Herne means to be edu-
ottlOnl In respect to that, and his lesson may
bring us to the English freedom of speech
IN matters OF maternity. lie and Marion
Abbott impersonats a very old bach
e.ur and "A not so old maid. lie
urges her TO marry him. and his strongest
potive l. an avowed desire TO have a home
OF ~ own with children in II. She Is willing
Co hn a wife. but breads to become a mother.
Those points are not left infcrential. but are
enforced over and over, in jest and soberly.
WITH illusions to the probabilities as affected
b. sh age Of the prospective husband.
j take, the amorous courage derived from
an unaccustomed glass Of wine TO make the
vomlu name a wedding day. Later IN the
rlly. she is the mans housewife. and an out
A. Of infant clothing is being made. while she
apI bnr f,p,nln pnunpapi,pg digpVag habipg
and conjecture how much longer the husband
can be- kept ignorant Of his approaching pa
tcrlul pride. This element of tocoloRy IA
pot subsidiary. Much is made Of II, Mr..
Horne depends on II largely, not for humor
alone but for serious effects al@o In his depic-
ton VI the commonplace residents OF a Long
I-Irnd hay shore town. But II Is kept ante
natal by the termination OF the play. II there
w,~n % NTH 1ct7
\ supper in sag Harbor" with a real clam
Pic il an actually to which no spectator can
ohi cct on any other ground than c%ovetoris hun
gcr for some Of II The party al the table ia
made up of the households two husbands and
their wives with four guests. A stage meal is
u hard problem in stagecraft. The time INIT is
against II. A usual way 10 get over the diff
cu'ty il to show only y part Of the eating and
drinking by having them nearly over at the
rise OF tne curtain, OF CHUNG lntiu II'Inu-
turcly by an interruption. Nj. Herne is adept
in giving an entire supper In ten minutes with
our much suggestion Of haste or curtailment.
In this incident we have a fair illustration
Of his hest realism. Not a word essential to
tho story Of the play, or having moro than
slight Tcrtiuency to it. is uttered at the table
The riot waits here. ms II does often elsewhere
les rVcuS1bly. while the characters illustrate
Themselves irrelcvantly. That IL a dramatic
fauit beyond question, but in this instance
II provides good amusement. and therefore
heirs the play In a practical way, There is
nothing In II that looks like acting. All l.
natural. characteristic and devoid Of a sug-
s,~tIon Of Encouragement. 1t should have
been easy 10 write the conversation, rs 1t IL
confined 70 the viands and other unideal sub
.o'-. and il highest rise in wit Is when the
host. ~ on offering a dish to a IreoccuTied
guest, SAYS that the fellow probably thinks
a contribution plate is being passed to him
~ church
..r ucrit uf this supper, from the Herne
p,ut of view, lies in the faithful simplicity
a. 'ho action The clam pie j. -teamingly
.uU.Iuc T. i served ont in a homely way and
o'ou heartily How much Of dictltorial
c.Jp Nr Hcrnc has given 10 those actors only
t. informed -%po,tator can imagine. Not one
'. .' '. .'N" HN llN~NtlNN ~
I.'nu OF iil.e pro'ence j. aroused II II were
q .,luu urnturo madc with a camera in an
60 80 ~nG liprhur house and shown along
rI'. '."flnIn talk reproduced 10y a photograph,
I'.r.Hi lDi uo l"-~ theatrical save in one i'm
i".fI,' Particular. The scene Is. after all,
s.r"i from luauity 10y that eN0gCcrntion which
" M.-f" p,ul"-.r~ 10 dcplore, but does not
al 'r''a"r discard The clam-pi" liberalism would
o.' q. lot" iIvoriing In about two minutes, in
''''lu' lasting ton, fit Wrr"uot forthelOut who,
l'.- ~'IIol.ly angry because the girl lac has
HD..' 60 tI" .uT per l. seated be, iGc another
i'|.,. .,l. 90, 10 eat "A mouihful aud sits s,owl-
ina rrl wu'u"-lug Admitting that he stop,
s.,. .Io~' OF ciric1tIrr. it l. true, neverthe-
l".. l,tr Hi, behavior goes away beyond the
bound, Of probability Mr. Iierne permits
t.. u"Hr." D., b., comic, even though in doing
80 D" break, faith with hi converts to litcral-
3" But doe, 1t not also rcfute his doctrine
a. lH'|iDr reality in acting? Not only at the
snr-"', hur throughout the play, this fellow,
n ,uhodjrd ,lrycrly 10y " T. Hodge, Is re-
E'rI". hy the people who go 10 the Republic
H. 'nr boot value thov get for their money.
j." I- Us rrIc q type Of a rustic a. any Of his
Cu' .JHIpu-. but the other are Vigorously.
Retained while Pc alone enjoys the theatre
&. N'"u. of r'aEgeration The consequence
J. '.gl Nr lIodg" more than Mr. Herup makes
n ocular and -tlll quite legitimate impression.
-'t i.all'u~ l~ In vgrIuus ways n play for
e'"'' s'udIou~ observer of tho stage to see
u'" of the three uudramatic new plays Of
h' 0"ck, tn" Poll" of Tohomin." had
nose .. plot thgu Is common 10 Ca.ino ev-
. .Hnln- Er' 10 Mr. Uoruc felt constrained
l. -'' 10 hi, II"," 'Ur ~ub-litlc OF An Old
S.o because u todd Of two brother. in love
"'N.nr -irl, Mr. Smith ought 10 make q similar
" .HiEw'ut tp the past for lii Use again
o. rs. iIru whose close re,cmhllnrr ,alse-
'ou'i.'Nu Again, II the dictate. Of con-
-',"n' Hn" To- b" obcyrd 10y our thcltriral
W''"., VI EnElandor world have 10 confess
e." s".rr.- p' some Of hi, music. But 80 much
ir'uNr",, r.. not 20 be expected in these times
when do" ~laa,tcr, of foreign plays advertise
t."W."IN"- H-'No authors, and u pair of scissors
used ul % move. is A. good q tool of dramatic
ifu" a. 1000 m',-nll pen Of genius or course.
Ih" Pole oI Bohemia" Is not q thing To get
e'l'"d oyer j. is meant to be only a show
q" 'oIHi l.rn aud comedy women Every
BODY know, what sam Bernard l.. aud here
W" go him in M" original and a duplicate
h' INF. doubling with Dick. his brother Most
o. Nth" aot'"~-"- aro too familiar in the Casino
service T." require further notice in print, no
n''". y th"v do delight their audiences There
Is % '' ry now .oubre'rro in Anna Iaughlln.
~ ''" as first displayed in the Casino roof