The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-28
ADJUSTMENTS

Elsie De Wolfe In 1.-THE Way OF the
World" at the Metropolitan.
Thank heaven there is at least one
American playwright who goes neither to
the latest popular novel nor to the tones
of history for the story Of life to which
he is to give dramatic expression-one
writer who studies the men and women Of
to-day and puts them all palpitating with
life and passion into his plays. From
Clyde Fitch we have come to expect much
-genius, daring originality, satire that
strikes home, but above all, fidelity to
truth wherever 1t leads. Time was
when Mr.. Fitch permitted truth to lead
him into some very difficult and unpleas-
ant situations. Nor does he finch from
them now. But he has learned how to
reconcile verify with dramatic necessity,
how to build with due regard to climax
and denouement a wellrounded play
which nevertheless speaks the truth.
Such play is 'The Way Of the World -
The strikingly unpleasant scene at the
christening recalls the equally unpleasant
wedding scene in "The Moth and the
Flame" but there is a difference to be
noted. The climax Of the later play grows
so much more naturally out of what has
gone before and fits so much more nicely
into the dramatic scheme. There is more
justice in it, too, for the wife has made
such disgrace possible and even inevitable
by her thoughtless follies, while in the
earlier play the heroine is crushed by a
disgrace she had done nothing to deserve.
The denouement Of 1.-THE Way of the
World" too. brings compensation, be-
cause it is so satisfying without being in
the least unreasonable.
Mr.. Fitch has been subjected to much ad-
verse criticism for his audacity in choos-
ing scandal Involving the paternity of
the child as motive for his plot This
seems on consideration unjust. It was a
Eedaring thing to do, but Mr.. Fitch has JUS
titled his choice by his strong and con-
vincing treatment and the freedom Of his
play from any essentially immoral ele-
ment.- The. tendency of the play is good
| and its tone is wholesome. The play
wright might with justice appeal to
Shakspere himself for precedent. And
| certainly plays like 1.-The Way of the
| World are not to be mentioned in the
same breath with the suggestive farces
| Of the Frenchy kind, the corrupt and
cynical soul-dissections Of the Pinero
| school, the hectic torture dramas Of Sar-
| dou, or the spectacles in which Belasco's
passion-torn courtesans are the central
| figures. .< - - ts:ss> - /: y. 80 ;
Miss Elsie de Wolfe and her players give
the play a thoroughly satisfactory setting
| forth, in which each role is clearly defined
| and yet nicely subordinated to the general
effect.} Miss de Wolfes picture Of the wife
is that ofsa warm hearted, loving woman;
| whose innocence springs from soul-purfty
and whose mistakes are thus less culpable
than unfortunate. MISS de Wolfe Is q
| thorough actress rather than great one
| She understands the value of glance OF
the eye an intonation, an attitude. BY
these little things she reveals the charac.
| ter. She IS never beguiled into over
acting, and the Wife even under the
stress Of great emotion, Is the same
woman that has been revealed earlier IL
the play John Mason realizes wonderful-
i 1y well the role of the husband, who has
permitted political career to intervene