The sun., 1901-10-13
IN THEIR EFFORTS TO AMUSE
SOME OF our ACTORS DO NEW
THINGS THAT ARE ODD.
The Intreductien ef Hawtrc, by Frehman
In Gsnthsny's singular Comedy and
ef Dsiy and the Two Ru.sells by Let-
erer and Hsmmerstein tn Farces.


sf Daily and the Tive nu>seils by Led
erer and Hsmmerstein in Farces.
Matches Mary. with lights for cigars.
and q Salvation Army girl. with the War
On. stand az thu Carrick Theatre exits
AZ The conclusion OF every performance Of
"A Message From Mars 10 get coins from
an audience that has just learned n lesson
IN charity. Mr.. Ganihonys play teaches
the ugliness OF self-esteem and the beauty
Of self-sacriflcs In q way that helps instead
of hindering the entertainment. The
author duly ascribes to Dickens the idea
of a man cured Of selhshness by q dream
IN which he sees deplorable results Of his
bad conduct But where Soroo0s was taught
entirely 10y visions Of his victims. Parker
N impressed In his sleep well Ivy his own
Imagined hunger. cold and humiliation.
Mr. Ganthony IL not altogether logical
as a preacher. and not very e1pert as
dramatist. but the simplicity ~ the sermon
and the criidity Of the play make . probably
stronger impression than subtler treat
ment of the theme would produce. You
say .Oh, pshawl' 10 the form of the com
position and oh. yea 10 the substance.
and all the while you are getting fantastic
diversion, along with plain instruction.
The point Of value In this piece II it- laugh
ability In most 81 its illustration and de
nunciation Of selhshne-s. The unwilling
pupils futile resistance 20 the teacher
from Mar IL serio-comic with the opmi-
calty carrying the seriousness merily
Nor IL all the fun above farcicality, though
q good comedy average h maintained.
The Martian's dynamic power. under
which the opponent quivers and the furni-
ture dance~. is suggestive Of q harlequin
sde. and tho skyward flight of tho un-
earthly messenger, upon the succee~ ~
his mission h like n trick In an eStrava-
eanza Both would he ridiculous In
pretentious drama, but n dreamed tnct-
dents In an unpretentiously whimsical
plav they sssimlate with the sudden trans
rarency of solid walls and the instAn taneous
change 81 the hero's clothes from luxurious
warmth Ia chilly tatters 80 absurd
reversal of natural sequenoe a. the intro
duction Of actual characters In his dream.
not after he has seen them In real life, hut
before he has ever ret his waking eyes
on them. does not seem Ia count against
either the moral or the am,irement OF this
odd pieoe Even the incongr,iity OF the
LEAD -colored monitor from Mars posing
and declaiming with the grandiose air of
the devil In The Black Crook and the inn
pressive majesty Of the ghost In Hamlet
IN the midst 81 London commonplace peo-
ple. does not Illustrate the authors inten-
tion of weirdness.
The manuscript Of a Message from
Mars must have read like a dangerous
thing for stage uHe. and IL is no wonder
that MIR Ganthony was a long time finding
q manager to produce IL. Charles Haw-
trey was rewarded for the risk he took by
two years Of success In London. and now
be has gained through II a happy introduc-
ton In New York We would not have
welcomed him upon his English vogue II
he had not brought an acceptable play.
Year- have passed since We suffered from
Anslomania and recovered. London Gre
dentials now command kindly How
are youp- to the theatrical visitor. but We
are quite as ready 20 say cordially Good
by II the acquaintance does not prove
pleasurable Most OF US like MIR Hawtrey.
no, AZ a genius. which he is not, but a- a
clover actor with an engaging individuality.
He strikes you ~ manly first and gentle
manly second He II big. good-looking and
conceals whatever self satisfaction he may
feel He has the aspect Of a good-humored
chap. unconscious ~ his politene~s and
not seeking to call your attention TO II.
Nothing in his acting seems artful. His
freedom from obvious effort whether II
is easy or hard for him-and only his per
sonsl acquaintance can know about that
h a charming rarity on the stage. II
qualities him finely for his role OF the egoti-t.
and Offsets the experimentation OF Mr..
Ganthouy's singular play with delightful
naturali-m. We hardly dislike the fellow
when he churlishly undertakes the dear
girl who loves and coddler him, and we
do not despise him when he harshly refuses
to aid the worthy tramp, 80, Of course
when he becomes an ardent lover and an
impulsive philanthropist We are fond of
him. These things account for the sue
cess OF the latest play and player brought
from London.
The two musical farcee Of las, week
we're spectacular In environment. though
neither depended wholly upon that The
scene OF the second act In The New York
ers- represents a conservatory. The glass
looks real. and the pillars ard rafters
that support II are white. Plants and
vines half conceal the structure and soften
the effect Through IN. transparent walls
and roof q re-,ful evening Landscape is
visible. In the sky a full moon shines
down upon the glass covered gaycty. The
gowns worn in this charming place are
separat,ly beautiful, and collectively won
derful. The grouping Of them IL a lesson
in art. All the primary colors are in
cluded In some shade. but their So
lection has been def that there l. not
Q jarring spot In the whole mass. Reds
are companionalIle with yellows and lavcn-
ders. and blues and green- are intimai"
with pinks of several families, but all
are Ia a harmony. The creation Of this
creme gives tn Mr.. Icsierer n night 10 the
name ~ artist, But this setting would
70 10 waste II Glen McDonough had not
supplied level to 40, Ia Il. Tn. original
gem VAS no, very brilliant, and in places
still suggests n stone In duh weight. hut
he actors have polished Il ~ highly II
passr- with the careless observer as a
rare thing Tn" play sparkes from start
D. fnish ami moves With bright animation
thai j. welcome q tired observer. Som"
fault may - found With the dancing Of a
lively girl with rather trying voice. bu'