The Washington times., 1903-02-10
Iris" Proves to Be TaWdry
and InartiStic--VIeWed by
Audience of Moderate
Size.


modern problem play" from the pen OF
Arthur W. Finero-was sordidly disclosed
last Light az the National Theater. The
moral degradation Of the work had been
much anticipated in Washington by
newspaper discussion. fact which, cou-
pied with some slight interest in the
actors and the natural attention Of the
critical playEoer 20 every writing by this
author may explain the attendance yes
terday evening Of strangely hetero-
geneous audience OF moderate numbers.
It is greatly TO the credit OF this assem-
bly, that the play was received with only
slight favor. The ultimate judgment
must be that Iris is entirely indefensi-
BILE
The conditions OF this problem are
peculiar They must. unfortunately, be
outlined here a young widow with a
heart rooted in luxury is infatuated with
a weak and peunilCss youth, but does not
choose to marry him because her late
husbands property is devised to her on
condition that she continue her widow
hood Her fortune seems large enough
10 maintain her even when reduced TO
her dower-uf which no one in the play
able young person prefers instead to be
come her lovers mistress and keep her
funds intact. At this juncture her So
Tcitor defalcates his trust. The woman
therefore sends away her faithful though
impccunions paramour. Willingly accepts
a book OF checks from a wealthy Jew.
and is subsequently Overwhelmingly dis
mayed TO discover that she has dragged
Nnaaw a
to a life Of strumpetry.
These three persons are Mr.. Pinero S
chief chemicals-one a supposedly beau
tifuI and charming young woman who
sacrifices self-respect, character. Wo-
manhood and love for the cheap com
fort Of many pillows and indecent
gowns: another. a youth whose man
hood is unequal TO the task OF guiding
the woman who loves him and would
lean upon him for guidance. the third,
a miserable travesty on the honored
house OF Rothschild-a house which has
now for three generations given various
states OF Europe valuable and noble
service-whose devotion 20 this demirep
provokes an offer OF marriage even
after her descent into the abyss of un-
utterabIe shame. and whose final casting
OF her away because she has deceived
him. as well as everybody else, is eN-
pected 70 move the audience 20 tears and
solve the problem. With these in
gradients the chemist has mixed a group
of dull subsidiary characters and poured
out as a result rather an ingenious. but
n mos. nasty and repugnant mess OF
dishonor. brutality and indecency.
such roles enact themselves. They are
what are known to the stage as good
partg The widow Iris. Is given pre-
suunptive charm. an ardent. impetuous.
nervous. volatile. dollhouse tempera-
ment. and is expected TO display antag-
onistic feelings. vibration between rival
lovers. commissions OF passion, and I'm
ally TO disappear in a tide OF tears.
Miss Harmed displays the part without
interpreting IL. For her, passion, aoan-
Comment. power. pathos are expressed in
a series Of whines. futters, rapid-spoken
speeches which even those in the first
row cannot distinguish. and violent ges-
lures. She has never shown signs of
any real concept OF histrionic art. and
this performance confirms the belief that
she does not possess it.
Opposite to this star are Henry Jewett
aud william Courtney The fcrmer Is
the Jew of the cast. Maldonado- His
task Is 70 be burly. jocund. banal.
crafty. insincere. base. common and
fierce As was said OF his predecessor
IN the role, Oscar Asche, lit seems
pity that any respectable gentleman
should be constrained 10 make himself
publicly odious-" a contamination which
Mr.. Jewett accomplishes completely,
though not artistically Mr.. Courtney
IS the lover. an ass. and he contributes
TO his part an entirely gratuitous awk-
wardness.
In the roles enacted for New York
then. by Miss Harmed. Mr.. Asche. Hilda
spong. and Herbert Ross Washington
is shown Miss Harmed. Henry Jewett,
Ethel winthrop. and Arthur Lawrence
The play may have been absorbing in
London and New York. IN Washing
ton If sent away its Monday night audi
ence in a mood OF dissatisfaction
tinged with ridicule-
Iris" is the last progression OF what
some critics have termed "the move
ment 10 treat the great realities OF
modern life upon the stage Il be
comes it's title. defense OF this moral
garbage appeared in Tho Times Of sun
day from the pen Of Miss Harmed The
argument may be eRitomized as follows:
That IL people did not care 10 see such
plays they would not be presented; that
the critics who condemn them are either
hypocrites or fools. that Iris" is a
lovable character that she is not in
tended to be initiated. that luxury is a
necessity 20 her; that she is not brave
because no one has ever shown her the
way to courage; that she did not divine
Maldonodo's purpose IN leaving her a
chcckbook. and that "the rest is fate. ID
II is added that after having been mis-
tress 20 two men there has never beer
time in her life when she was SO
well fitted 20 be a faithful. loyal wife. -
and that # the performance makes zone
woman think" IL has not been in vain
These contentious all deserve courteous
answer.
IL ought TO occasion no surprise that
ca In ..Ia