The St. Louis Republic., 1902-12-21

public 1t would decide that managers are largely re-
sponsible for plays of the Iris type The COM
mercial value-temporary always, but durable enough
of such plays is too well known, and those amiable
beings, the managers. not in business .for health
And the managers control the theatrical situation
1t is not to be supposed that theatrical trust has
any more soul, artistic otherwise, than the ordi-
nary corporation. Everybody-actors, playwrights,
costumers painters, carpenters and electricians
work. if at all, for the managers" who are
not averse to making capital of the publcs morbid
liking, curiosity. appetite whatever it is, for the
plays euphemistically termed problem.
Just now is the harvest time of these plays. The
managers. realizing that the pubcs morbid tenden-
cy is nearing Il evu.son. making hay while the
shines. AS for Iris ii was said that Pinero
himself sick of that sort of thing wrote it with the
deliberate design to safe and disgust.
Iris is the limit" 1t portrays the downfall to
the last dtch of morally unbalanced heroine. with
remorseless fidelity detail Morally I'M
balanced is too mild phrase for Iris: Immoral
but half describes her character: she is immoral
native instinct hard define being neither of femi
ninity nor of virtue. but resembling the eusiveness
OF the femae savage. coqnetry perhaps carries her
past Il few minor, trihing temptations She sue
cumhs TO the gaudy allurements of furnished.
tapcstried and upholstered flat.
few highly artificial entangled circumstances are
thrown abcut her feet in the playwri.ht's papabe
effort to trip her; but the real. sole causes of the
creatures ruin are gilt mahogany and silk brocade-
the beads and trinkets of The savage. Love is a
stranger to the design: is affection: she actually
hates Madonado and loves another. Beads and
trnkets the sole "exteuuang circumstances
She is not. like another modern heroine. sell
ing herself for starving dependent family She
likes sowns. glassware, and electric lishs. That is
all Throughout two acts the scene is boldly laid
in that revolving fat.
Where the moral lesson the good seed of
which Mr.. Sothern speaks: In the fact that Iris gets
sorry after time:
The wages of sin is death" I'm virtue alone is
happiness. But Iris bo,hers her head
about distractions She is sorry for wrong done,
hut deeply sreved at the consequences of wrong. The
audience left to do all the real repenting for her
if it wishes She suffers from retribution which
the playwright Springs" on her: is overwhelmed by
circumstances. At her final exit the audience knows
that she is ruined. but not repeniin woman: her
Sided future is plain day.
Audiences not troubling themselves 10 repent
for Iris She fails to arouse deep sympatly-having
been too uuwomanly and unnatural. Audiences are
bit touched. but they know not why-possbly be-
Iris. played by Virginia Harmed. is n weep
ing creature with subtle. winsone voice Touched
not. they will forgive Iris. She has bartered
not only self. but love: ana when do civilized play
Aud if they may. by queer ratiocinntion. be
supposed to require this superiuous lesson. how can
unrepentant Iris impart it?
The Reverend Mr.. Ryan is said to have criticised
the play without seeing it. Having it. should
he say that it contains moral lesson than
cakewak, the average audience will agree with
him.