The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-12-06
LEFTY BEST PLAY
FROM PINERO'SPEN
Splendidly Acted at Ma
tiOnal by FaVeTsham.

conspicuous on our stage and that OF
England. presented at the New National
Theater last night the play Ok Lefty"
from the pen OF Arthur Wing PinerU.
The interest which attaches as a mar-
ter OF course both TO the stars acting
and the productions of this playwright.
was internationally the disclosure Of the
best play Mr.. Pinero has ever written.
and one OF the strongest representations
In Mr.. Faversham's whole career. The
two were received with all proper appre-
cletion by an audience representative
OF the most notable society the Capital
ah ords.
Mr.. Pinero is the author OF a score
or more Of successful plays. Among
them THE Magistrate" THE School
Mistress" Sweet Lavendar." and The
Amazons" are examples of ingenious
construction and crisp dialogue used for
the narration OF simple and beautiful
stories. Either by yielding to what this
playwright construed 10 be the spirit
OF the times or by the inclination az
his mind. his later. and in some re-
Mrs. Tanqueray," The Notorious Mrs.
Ebbsmith. THE Gay Lord Quex." Iris"
and now Lefty" have all dealt with
the relations Of the sexes and exploited
the manners OF nbertines and strumpets.
Not the Most Outspoken.
Lefty is not the most outspoken play
OF this latter class, but II is outspoken
10 the last degree of public propriety. II
relates 10 much the same qualities in a
man as those revealed In the atavistlc
Mrs. Tanqueray. and the quixotic Mrs
Ebbsmith. Significance might be found
even IN the mans name-Letchmere-an
this name is stamped By Mr.. Plnero with
the inheritance OF an irresistible i'm
morality.
Letchmere's life, already widened by
marriage, the birth of a son, and a
separation from his wife, &c diverted by
contact With a young shop clerk of at
| tractive figure, unodendlng manners and
bright face. For a summer this man
ana this woman, Lefty. play with the
IRE Of platonid friendship. Then events
reach their crisis. Letchmere's marriage
IS disclosed by a vulgar suitor for
T.etty's hand: in a spirit either OF manly
seif-respect or Of Dlackguardiy cynic-
ism LetchmSre persuades Lefty 10 en-
gage herself 10 the VulgRrian; that
/ creatures brutishneJs penetrates even
ewes which are closed BY principle,
safety and wOmanliaess; the comfort OF
rich furnishings and the atmosphere or
refinement lure the woman TO Letch-
mere's rooms; there the mans indisna-
ton and dismay at the defecticn OF his
sister opens Letty's eyes ard she es-
capes By appealing TO MS generosity
Two years and a half later they meet
Lefty happy and calm as the wire OF
commonplace and self-important pno-
tOgrapher. and Letchmere consump-
tive going away 20 die.
The story Is genuinely impressive ana
on the whole the aftertaste IL not IN
pleasant But for use on the stage II Is
neither artistic nor moral. stage arr
commands a wider attention than most
OF the other arts. but its responsible ~
is none the less 90 be entertaining, Up
lifting and beautiful Lefty is ez-
tremely doubtful as an entertainment, y
uDliftine only by the force OF a horrible
/ example and IS beautiful only for two
or three fine speeches at its close. As
/ Tor its mOrala. while It's final teaching
/ IS a vast Improvement over The Second
| Mrs Tanaueray" and The Notorious
| Mrs Ebbsmith." IL IS stu complete
! education in the methods OF seduction
/ and an Incentive 20 dangerous discus
/ sion.
FavershAm Dominates the Play.
Mr.. Faversham dominates the play
and insures Il a success in America
/ which was denied to It IN England.
There the role Of Letchmhre was acted
by Henry b. Irving. the epilogue WIS
generally dIsliked, and the play gagged
as diffuse il is a sufficient explanation
I TO point out that ia the one case the
star, albeit scholarly. intelligent. and
| studlous, lacked utterly the power Of 4
! convincing personality clothed in d
| highly developed art. Mr.. Faversham.
on the other hand, has never acted with
more conviction or betOkened greater
mower. In the long scene which ends In
Lettys departure from Detchmere
| rooms lie marifcsts with painful tensity
what he's been called elsewhere high
| pitch Of male hysterin. This IS. perhaps,
| the most conspicuous situation in tn
| play, ard Mr.. Favershams success a.
I.atehmere depends. no doubt, larger!
upon a.: but the representation has its
! basis IN the same Intellectual grasp and
| technical eNpertn=ss which have marked
| this actor approximations for years.
and are undoubtedly the secret OF his
/ rise.
The chief characters with whom Letch-
mere is associated are Lefty, acted by
Carlotta Nilsson HildG Cunning,
/ cockney dressmaker's assistant acted
/ by Miss opp; Marion Aliardyce, another
/ shopSirl. a woman OF fine character ana
generous heart. acted admirably By Ma
rion Oliver. and Bernard Vaudeville, the
/ vulgar suitOT. impersOnated with viEOr
( and realism by Arthur Piaytair. Mis-;
Opp has a compare lively small role.
/ assumed doubtless IN order TO remain
J with her husbands company but she
4 shines in II. Miss Nilsson ls a discovery.
/ She has the rarest capacity 10 keep
within her character; her tmpersonation
/ Is consistent. intense. sympathetic and
/ her ultimate success. II these same quail
I tiles develop. is assured
! Lefty" has been appraised tie strong
/ est play MI Pinero has ever written.
{ Its craftsmanship Is beyond adverse crit
( iclHm. The interest II aFouseS Is never
| weakened. In tribute 10 these qualities
II will receive the attentive patronage