New-York tribune., 1901-10-10
LONDON DRAMA.
MR.. PINERO'S NEW PLAY AT THE GAR
RICK-REMARKABLE SUCCESS OF
AN AMERICAN ACTRESS.

AN AMERICAN ACTRESS.
London, September %.
Mr.. Pinero's iris is very earnest drama
elaborated with consummate artistic and lit
erary skill. and pointing with frank brutality
and terrible realism moral in accord with the
inexorable laws OF ethics and human life. It
may be classed specifically with THE Second
Mrs. Tanqueray." THE Notorious Mrs Ebb-
smith" and THE Benefit of the Doubt and
condemned by excitable nloralists an n
wholesome problem play: yet when the curtain
has fallen for the last time. problem has been
left unsolved to perplex any unsettled mind,
nor has false sympathy been excited for weak
ness or vice. With dry eyes the spectators leave
the theatre, appalled, by the tragic consequences
OF easygoing self-indulgence. Iris is de-
scribed inadequately either as a psychological
drama or as play based upon subtle analysis
Of temperament, for it pulsates with the life OF
the times and II closes with the remorseless
logic of everyday common sense. Moralists who
insist that audiences must be fed with sugar
candy and sprinkled daintily with rose water
may complain OF the theme. II is strong meat,
but untainted Mr.. Pinero is a profound moral
ist well a literary artist, and his work
unlike the fimsy farces. the theatrical melo-
dramas and the vulgar musical comedies Of the
day. has serious purpose. and inevitably pro-
notes reflection upon the ethics and tendencies
OF modern life.
The play describes In dve acts the decline and
fall OF a charming woman, neither vicious nor
sensual but weak, indolent, ease loving and
incapable OF strenuous action. Iris Bellamy. a
rich widow Of twenty-five, is surrounded by
admirers and friends of both sexes: but by her
husbands Will she cannot marry again without
incurring the penalty OF the loss of her wealth.
The first act presents her IN the heyday OF
home IN Kensington and entertaining her friends
at dinner. Among the first to enter the draw
ing room is Archibald Kane. her solicitor and
the manager OF her property. to whom she re-
veals her perplexities in choosing among her
many suitors. One OF these. Colonel Wynning,
despairing Of success, has found consolation
elsewhere. and another. Croker Harrington. is
a devoted friend, always ready to serve her but
unable to command her affection. The real
rivals Lawrence Trenwith, without money
and with way of making his way in the world
except penniess rancher IN British Co
lumbia, and Frederick Maldonado. a lurid and
famboyant millionaire with Spanish Hebraic
blood Iris is in love with Trenwith but is IN
capable Of sacrificing her wealth and sharing
his life Of poverty; and in order to protect her
self against the risks OF sentiment, she agrees
to marry the millionaire. This is during the
first stage of the dinner party. when the guests
assembling and finally passing downstairs
in couples. After the dinner she makes secret
| appointment with Trenwith for a later hour. and
repulses the millionaire when he wooes her
IDENTIFY. The third episode is the secret meeting
when she falls into her lovers arms, refuses to
| go out with him to Canada a poor mans
| wife, and bids him to follow her to Italy after
| she has broken off her engagement with Maldo
! nado. The play opens brilliantly with these
three scenes. in which the relations of the lead
| ing characters clearly defined.
The second and third acts. which beauti-
| fully staged for villa at Cadenabbia, on Lake
| Como. denote the sentimental dalliance of the
| lovers, none too innocent, and their parting
| der stress of adversely. Trenwith is manfuly
striving leave her and to face the realities of
| a bread winners existence. and poor. weak, sor-
did Iris is OBTAINING him with tender pleas and
| shrinking from giving up her wealth and follow
| ing him to the ranchman's log cabin. Several
/ Of the guests at the dinner party in Kensington
| reappear at Cadenabbia, and while they
| eossiping about the scandal which has been
/ caused by the flight of the lovers Croker Har-
rngton reads In a London paper account Of
| the embellishments Of Archibald Kane. the
| trustee of Iris's estate. Her fortune has been
| swept away, with the exception Of a pittance Of
| f15O year. She bears up bravely, again de-
| clInes Trenwith's proposal for immediate
| rtage and agrees to train herself for the pri-
| yations of poor mans wife by waiting two
! years for him and living her beggarly in
| come The millionaire, apparently without
| sentiment, proposes her lovers health and then
| her own at Cadenabbia. and offers TO accom-
| many him to the steamer in the morning. Iris
| and Trenwith have a formal parting In the
| presence of their friends. and protracted love
| scene in the early morning light: and when the
| traveller has started for Canada. the millionaire
| returns with friendly smile TO the villa and
presses upon Iris checkbook rs defence
| against the possible trials OF poverty after her
life of luxury. She refuses it with dignity then
allows him to leave il on her table. and not long
| after his departure draws the first check for
| the pressing needs OF friend and drops the
| hook into her travelling bag. In the third. as in
| the first act three episodes closely connected in
| time are separated by the falling of the cur
| tain three times upon the same scene
| The fourth and fifth acts, staged for luxu-
| rious London nat in Park-st- represent the
| degradation and humiliation Of the heroine. Two
| years have elapsed since the sentimental scenes