Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-14

One of the goat misfortunes of society
IS that so many wicked people will insist
on being clever. Mr.. Pinero has written
some very naughty plays, but like the Dad
boy who manages to make the teacher
laugh, he escapes the punishment Whlcn
would be melted out to the culprit of more
serious demeanor. His Iris has been
mistakenly called a problem play. Indeed,
this very loose term has been applied to
some of the most frivolous farces simply
because they CHARGED to deal with people
who are deficient in their sense Of matri-
monial responsibility. For this reason
The Gay Lord Quex' has been called
problem play, although it is nothing more
than the picture of roue, whose charac-
ter displays some Illuminating scruples CT
conscience. Iris" which enlsts the serV-
ices of so good an actress as Miss Virginia
Harmed, offers material for thought
The influence on society of the type which
she represents in this play is so well known
that there is little opportunity to morailze
The puzzle is to find the problem. Pinero,
himself, gives it up. The play starts harm
lessly enough. and, indeed, it is not until
the very close that the spectator realizes
that ne has been treated to nothing more
than well-drawn picture of the methods
by which outcasts of the lowest type are
evolved When the door is shut upon Iris,
aud she is driven into the street, for no
other reason than that she has been inca
pable Of keeping faith, either with her own
ideals, with ner lover, or with her rich pro-
tector, the cold barrenness of the character
is thrust on the intelligence as an affront,
which experiences in striking dramatic situa-
tions, brilliancy of dialogue and intensity
of climaxes cannot relieve. 1t is all to no
purpose save that Of gratifying morbid
curiosity. There is assurance that
another Maldonado does not await her at
the next corner 1t is an injustice to Zaza
or to Camille to place the character of Iris
in the same moral category with them
Both Camille and Zaza were women who
were cast from early youth into social
environment which could not but blunt
their womanly sense and coarsen their ma
lures. Once awakened. however. to the ex-
istence of loftier ideals, they struggled to
realize them and the hoplessness of this
struggle is what constitutes the tragedy
and the warning upon which their claims
to freedom from injurious effect must arise.
Iris merely starts out bad and gets worse.
:;
At the Columbia Theater Miss Eleanor
Robson, who, since her charming perform
ance with Mrs. lie Moyne in "In a Bal
cony' has been conducted through a Sc
ries of ordinary plays which would have
warped the career of a less efficient and
attractive young woman, appeared this
week before large audiences in Audrey"
OF the three who were concerned in that
notable Browning production Mr.. Otis Skim
Ter appears to have met with the most sub
stantial success, mis- 'Lazarre' having met
with DODular annrOVal and a liberal "a
OF critical Endorsement. Mrs. lie Moyne has
been down south with a play entitled
Among Those Present Miss Robson has
been appearing in melodramatic roles which
made very slight demand on the exceptional
qualities which introduced her as a notable
and promising quantity in the world of the
theater. 1t is understood that a very strong
play has been secured for her and that
next season she viii have more congenial
opportunities than those which she enjoyed
in "A Gentleman of France" or even 'Au-
drey."
The book play is very uncertain guam
tity. Janice Meredith" was not regarded
as possessing much literary merit, even
when it was submitted onyk to the reading
world. 1t received scant praise as dra-
matte work, yet here it is al the Lafayette
Square Theater. after a number of seasons
prosperously produced and with much prom
Use of future vitality. Some of the stories
which held the interest most closely have
had rather shabby dramatic careers while
those which displayed little plot or inven-
ton. such, for instance, as David Harum'
have enjoyed extraordinary success. ITO
Have and TO Hold" one of Miss Johnston's
stories did not survive behind the foot
lights. Richard Carvel," however, while
failing to live up to the hopes which the
book aroused for it. managed to enjoy a
more or less prosperous career. What the
future of Audrey will be it is impossible
TO predict. Claims of large and enthusiast
tic patronage are made in It's behalf, al
though admirers of Miss Robson cannot feel
that it surrounds her with the proper at
mosphere However, there is no danger
that the dramatized novel will become ex-
t!nct "Uncle Toms Cabin alone Is enough
TO guarantee its verdant perpetuity.
The experiment of a local burlesaue
stock company is again in progress at the
Empire Theater. whose career has been one
Of so many vicissitudes since it held the
proud distinction long ago of being Wash
irgton's leading theater; one that played all
the noted American and foreign stars The
work Of providing It with attractions has
been one of difficulty recently. separated as
II was from all the established affiliations of
managers. and Mr.. Schlesnger. the local
manager. has maintained a single handed
and successful fight which now enables the
theater either to continue its career or re-
tire from the field with honor, as managerial
policy may dictate.
This house, although not extravagant in
It's pretentions. has several times looked as
II II might be the key to very interesting
theatrical situation. Its policy for next
season IS at present in doubt Mr.. Herman
the new proprietor, says In an interview
with a Baltimore paper:
ut is very likely that the attractions
now being presented a the Lyceum, one of
my Washington theaters, will be trans
ferred to the Empire, and that the Lyceum
will be enlarged SO that the Class of PLAYS
20 be presented at my new theater in Bal
timore 0he Front street, can also be given
there. The lot on which the Lyceum Thea
ter stands is quite large, and in any plans
for increasing the size OF that house I
will not be hampered by lack of ground"
The line of attractions that Mr. Herman
has in mind for the new Baltimore theater
re Of spectacular character AS the
L a., .Se Ia