New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-13
LONDON DRAMA.
The Walls of Jericho" at the Gar
rick-Od Fashioned Satire.

Mr. Sutro IS a new playwright, who has made an
excellent reputation in current literature as
the translator of Maeterlinks Life OF the
Beer and other works and as an adapter Oh
s'Annunzio. as the author or the bright "a
teotive curtain raiser "A Marriage Has Been
Arranged" he excited lively expectations OIL
ruocess as a dramatist and these hopes have
been fully redeemed in his new play at the Gar
rick Theatre The theme is old-a conflict OF
viii between husband and wife over the conoi-
lions of the social order@but the treatment Is
fresh and forcible. The construction is as neat
and workmanlike the best of Mr.. P1neros
plays and the literary form is superior. the
wit cleaner and more wholesome and the satire
more trenchant. The Walls Of jericho" is a
sincere and consistent play with a serious pur-
pose; yet it amuses and entertains the audience,
and there is something to think about when the
curtain has been rung down. The heartless
talk, airnIess life, shallow recreations and low
Ideals Of smart society are pleasantly satirized
but there is no abuse Of the Coreln order, as
ignorant as IL is vulgar II is not comedy OF
manners like Moliere's Les Femmes Savantes'
ha which the affectations and pretensions OF the
bourgeoisie was travestied. 1t is comedy Win
two acts OF bright dialogue, a third act OF IN
tense interest and dramatic force and maj
scene which is logical and inevitable There Is
q clear sense Of character; the actors nave WORK
10 do that is worthy Of their best effort; and the
play does not drag at any point. Altogether. It
IS one OF the best English plays written in
long time, and. trite as the main theme may be,
the treatment is markedly original. If the
Judgment Of the first night audience. which was
favorable to the point of enthusiasm. be sus-
tanned by the public, Mr.. Sutro will set new
style IN current drama, or. to speak more accu-
refely, he will revive the taste for old fashioned
comedy, with bright talk and considerable action
and an undertone OF common sense.
The hero Of this drama is another John Mild
may with al individuality of his own. Jack
Frob.sher, a sheep farmer IN Queensland, has re-
turned TO England millionaire, bought his way
into the inner circle OF Vanity Fair, married the
daughter of a marquis and settled in Mayfair
with q country house outside. a shooting box in
Scotland and yacht on the Solent Having 40
cepted the patronage of a titled family, ne is
forced TO lend money to his father-in-law. and
having fallen IN love with society woman he
becomes a witness of the vacuous amusements of
the smart set settles her score when she is a
heavy loser at bridge. and watches her firtatons
with fashionable idlers in general and with
contemplate rake. Harry Dallas, IN particular
The return OF Hankey Bannister, one Of his Aus
tralian pals" and & millionaire like himself,
opens the way for patrician intrigue for the en-
richment Of the n1arQus's family by the marriage
of Lady Lucy Derenham Frobisher is unable TO
interest either his wife or her relations in his
schemes for making good use Of his money in
the erection OF sanitary dwellings in the East
End and he is Disguised with the tendencies
OF fashionable life and anxious 20 keep his friend
Bannister out of a marriage similar TO his own
A sympathetic friend. Lady Westerly tells him
that she is disappointed IN finding him SO tame
G bear. and assures him that he has only to
shout and the walls of Jericho will fall fiat.
These proceedings occupy two acts, with an
opening scene at the marquis's house during
ball. and game OF bridge in Lady Alethea
Frobishers boudoir. during which one Of the
titled players cheats, wins lot OF money and
suddenly discovers that she has an engagement
and must go. The most serious Irritation of the
smart wife ends in a declaration OF love by
Harry Dallas. which is interrupted by the
gloomy, serious husband.
In the third act the trumpets of rams horns
are blown. and the Australian shouts before the
Jericho OF smartness. The battle opens when
Frobisher insists upon helping the titled brother
in-iaw 10 marry a girl whose honor has been
compromised and TO make fresh start in the
colonies The marquis is angry over the Aus
Gralan's interference with the family code OF
honor and Lady Alethea attempts to reduce the
rebel to submission bv sarcastic filings at his
Gresome virtue. The trumpets sound again
when Frobisher attempts to prevent a marriage
between his sister-in- and the infatuated
Bannister by telling him how heartless and
mercenary she is: and there is another blast
when the rake. Harry Dallas. is compelled to
gSad to the indignant husband a love letter
written TO the wife. The walls of Jericho are
rent asunder and thrown down when Frobisher
announces that he will sell his property in Eng
land and go back to Queensland with his wife
and child The welkin rings when this social
Joshua, guarding the ark of the covenant OF
manhood. shouts in trumpet tones: I've had
enough OF these companions Of yours, these
wretched, sexless women who do nothing but
flint and gamble. I've had enough of their brain
less, indecent talk. where everything good is
turned into ridicule, and each word has a double
ours, in town and country, where all the men
make love 10 their neighbors' wives. I've done
with it-done with II air. Furious is the n
elaught, Lady Alethea offers stubborn resistance
and refuses to surrender; and a fourth act is
required, with the mediation of Lady Westerly,
before a reconciliation can be effected and Fro
psher enabled to carry her off to Queensland.
BY that time the walls Of Jericho have indeed
fallen fat; but not the play. That has been
carried In triumph 10 the final fall Of the curtain
with only a mOmentary decline of interest, ow-
ing TO the inevitableness Of the conclusion.
The play provides two strong parts for acting
CIR. Arthur Bourchier gives really mastery
performance as the Australian. During the
first two acts he IS a sornbre. almost pathetic
figure among his wife's fashionable friends. His