The San Francisco call., 1903-09-15

~ " EWLY labeled, retrimmed and
IN generally made over Georges
" Ohnet's lie Maitre des Forges''
u last night made another reap
pearance as 'The Aftermath"
this time arranged by Henry Miller.
Pinero, Pritchard and not few famous
others have tried their hand at adapting
the Ohnet romance and people like Jane
Hading and Coquelin have ever been
found ready to play it. In the dearth of
new plays the return Of Mr. Miller and
Miss Anglin to THE Ironmaster" is not
surprising. There is much in the play to
commend 1T as medium for both of these
clever people, and Mr.. Miller has made a
smooth and easy running version of the
story.
The new dramatist claims little origin
ality for his edition. Rather a pot
pourri' Of book and other versions. he
modestly terms 1t. Perhaps the chief diff
ference in THE Aftermath" and the older
editions is in the freshening up of the
phrase, though Mr.. Miller has by no
means taken all the stit out of the talk.
The language is still rather balloonv. the
sentence over long. the phrase DER flow
cry The outline of the original story.
dame, is closely adhered to. There are
however. several happily introduced Incl.
dents Of lighter character that serve to
leaVen the somewhat weepy lump Not
that it is not the kind of weep" that is
joyfully jndulged in.
The troubles Of that very damp young
person Claire are still good for a tremen
dous lot of more or less deserved sympa-
thy, as last nights reception of the plav
proved. cff
scenes TO rely upon. The scene between
the deceived bridegroom and his newly
made bride counts yet the plenteous thrill
and the scenes between the flirting Ouch
ess and Claire, between Claire and her
old lover, not TO forget the duel episode.
are all in the class OF self-raising senti-
Inent. True, Mr.. Mi-ier and Miss AngIin
deserve better things. There is about the
whole story a radical theatricalism.
falseness of values, lack of the subtle
Verities of life with which these two are
so competent to deal, that their time with
THE Aftermath is much in the nature
of waste. Still, as 1t is not life but enter
tainment that the average playgoer de-
sires, the play will doubtless be q consid-
cradle success. 1t was last night Need
less to say, the staging is Of admira Bile
sort and the gowns are dreams
It will be remembered that Claire has
four acts Of unmitigated dampness to
support. If this daughter of a hundred
earls (French) is not In one sort of
trouble she is in another. 1t is, however.
the kind of role catalogued as strong
and has the aforementioned strong scenes
that with some relief would only gain
strength That Miss Angln does everv-
thing possible for the part goes without
saying, compelling full sympathy for
the rather ungrateful character She
realizes delicately the ruling pride of the
girl, and paints with sure and fine touch
her warming into tenderness and love.
Her scene with Derblay (Mr MiIIer). the
bridegroom, is handled with conscious
power, coming into full touch with ones
sympathy. She invests even the banaI
scene of rivalry between Claire and the
Duchess with dignity and conviction.
playing the part throughout for all 1t Is
worth.
In Derblay, the sensitive, high-minded
master of the forges, Mr. Miller wins an
other personal triumph. He has flung
overheard for the nonce all the Shaw
realisms. the Davis modernisms and plays
| the romantic old role in properly ro-