New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-09-21
THE DRAMA.
Ade's Football PIay Makes a Touch
dOSCn.

George AIDE made his first speech before New
York audience a. the Garden Theatre last night
after the third act OF The College Widow" his
new comedy. which Nr. Savage chose 70 Be the
opening attraction OF his regime at the Garden
M. AIDE had 70 make speech: the tuInult and the
shouting would not die until he did He said The
College Widow" not problem play, and he
suggested a possibility that some in the audiencs
might have guessed the fact II was, he declared
merely al attempt have little harmless fun
with college undergrad 10 poke rid!culs at
them not 10 make little TIN gods" OF them. but
simply 10 treat them as human beingA They may
not deserve IL. but that's what we've done MI
AIDE concluded
II is seldom author can be successfully MS
Own critic but NJ AIDE has done precisely what he
said only "a little harmless fun should read
great deal OF harmless fun. such an abundance that
the sounds % merrtnent from the audience last
right eclipsed in magnitude those heard at the
first presentation OF "A County Chairman ana
none laughed louder than numerous colleg1ans who
aled the orchestra and were apparently organized
in the balcony, for none were able so intimately
10 appreciate the Photographic Adolity OF NJ ACES
observation OF the surface OF hfs ane hls remark
able power Of transferring his negative as Il "sro'
10 the stage often without touching Up the usatS
and shades Beyond the point oS excusabe exaggeFa'
non and sometiues not touching them Up az al
With even less dramatic body than a County
Cha3Fman'-aad that had Little BODY enough A1a
falsely sentimental al that-'Ihs College W4oO"
wins attention, inspires mirtb and pTovokes
nIeasana sense OF genuineness by the marked
ability OF It's author set characters Whica
he has observed az hrst hand upon me
stage and make them breathe, ana Ms AFFINITY
70 see without bitterness the amusing side OF
them % put n their mouths, again without oitteF-
ness the droIlest and often the most natural OK
remarks. 4 constructive dEaInaust Nj Ade IA hot,
ana Il would be a bold prediction THAI ne ever VII
be. But as a builder OF stage entertainments winch
are both broadly amusing ana sinceZe. Il not Deep
in their adherence 20 life be appears az The present
moment TO bulk large among American play
WTights-
me scene OF The College Widow" Is laid a:
Atwater College which may be supposed 70 spread
its campus somewhere IN the Middle West II Vas
Billy Bottoms argument for athletes that ne had
never heard OF Atwater TIL II scored on DoFheL-
Adr Ade was wise in choosing such an institution
4 lay college. they would call Il II Cambridge
one fears-beczuse he knows the Life Of SUCH
place az first hand and because in the PerilouS e1-
pertinent OF representing undergraduates or the
stage hIlins the picture for four acts with aault
actors supposed TO be young coLegians' ne neeleo
every aid 10 mako the picture convincing 4A@'
his picture was in the main convincing was sur
prise 10 many. 70 more than the recent sradu-
ates OF Eastern colleges who sat before the curtain
rose IN the seats of the scornfu, and. IL must De
confessed, due in no little measure 70 the 4Oi-
giveness the thought OF AtwatsTs rural
Insured The players however. all contrtved 20 look
remarkably Juvenile ana unWorld-weaFy and the
delicious boyishness OF much OF the dialogue otIen
poiuting satire, bright boys will tire" a o1oao
mantle OF charity the curious CUSTOM unaH
aeemed to prevail AtWater OF allowing the
..town girls 20 roam tho campus at WIZ ana
~ permitting the football head coach 70 make love
behind the beachers while the whistle was blowing
eor the second half. Alas he did not deserve 10
see his team wini .A,. -,oAa
ant :. did win Billy Bolton. on a tumble maze
q 105vard run for q touchdown IN the last LnI''t''
~ NAV which was also the last minute OF inc
third act and then the joy-maddened cIo"o anu
the g-irny. bloody team burst In a roaring mass
through the doorways beneath the granosIaho OUT
upon the stage, bearing the hero high aIor| FlasS
waving. girls screaming men shouting the cuEu@ln
descended on stirring and animated picture ana
then II was that the audience. catching the con-
tagion shouted for AIDE. and would not DO appeaSe1
TIL Ny Savage too. had made his little speech
OF course, the triumphant halfbaok got the COLI
Iege widow IN the end Frederick TruesdeH was
the halfback and he was manly, quiet and YOUTH
full Miss Dorothy Tenant looked such charming
widow one did not wonder Billy Bolton hurdled an
entire eleven TO win her love- and Miss Amy hicard
as an athletic girl. and Miss Gertrude Quinlan IN
the amusing character OF tina waitress in college
boarding house. were both excellent Edwin Holt
played the part Of the halfbacks Jovial father an
amiable satire the millionaire who buys his
degrees and several minor character bits were
made highly diveFtinE. The play VIII be without
question q great popular success.