The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-07
AT THE THEATERS
Metropolltan-Henry Miller In "Joseph
-z..; :. -.~ ...- EntangIed."

Henry Arthur Jones has given us an
other clever study of London society In
Joseph Entangled'-a worthy compan-
ion piece to THE Liars" In the old
play those who became unfortunately IN
volved lied and no one believed them; IN
the new play they tell the truth and no
one believes them. Society, as Claude
Fitch cynically says, hopes for the worst,
and London society is very much like
other varieties, save that it Is, If any
thing, more artificial and heartless:
On the surface Joseph Entangled' Is
just bright satire which begins with
the polite banter Of refined comedy, treads
perilOusly near the abyss OF tragedy, and
! ends happily with treaty of peace that
seems quite unsubstantial. Really, 1t IS
| study quite Ibsenic Of upper class So
cial conditions. The bachelor cynic OF
the play summarizes the matter when
| he describes himself as "merely a spec
| tator observing our modern but very i'm
Jones subjects his characters and
| perfect system of monogamy.' MI
his situations to that merciless logic OF
truthful development which makes lbsen
so terrible, but he has not the courage
| for the tragic chaos of pessinism in
which the Norwegian Is wont to take
leave of his characters at the final cur
tain. Less terrible and also less con-
vincing must be such a demonstration
in human geometry, wherein the sides OF
the triangle are the husband, the wife
and the lover. j."
It Is true that the English author states
the problem with an original difference
in the terms. 1t does not appear that the
wife cares for the lover, except for the
excusable interest a woman must feel In
a man whom she has once rejected. the
; feelings of the lover have not changed
, and find expression on favorable oppor-
tunity.@ This opportunity comes about In
the most. fortuitous and innocent man
) ner. Appearances, however, are 50 read
, lily misrepresented that gossip becomes
) rife and finally reaches7a,t the husband.
: Enter TRACED In the high temperatures
:. of passion that ensue, the characters be-
t gin to appear in their true colors, some
q of which are noble and some ignob1e
i The most repellant of the latter is the
: hue the character of the wife takes or
L when in desperation over the unjust &C
; cusations Of her husband and nettled b3
l. his offer to "condone'' sin she has no
r. committed, she turns to the lover in or
= der Ito make her future secure. This l:
% a telling stroke in. the dramatic develop
Y ment, albeit a sad commentary on
Q character hitherto, irreproachable. Tn
r. denouement is perhaps logical, but un
\ satisfying and in spite of all the locker
- on goes away oppressed with the Tea
l. The delicate refinement Of Henri
n Miller's artistry was never more eviden
! than in his picture Of Sir Joseph, tn
~ victim of circumstances In the earle
J. comedy passages, and especially In tn
d breakfast scene, he IS admirably natura
and self-contained. His poise is so fin
that sudden transitions from gay bante
r. to serious sentiment and back again d
Is not shake it.. Nor does the stress Of req
f. trouble lead him anywhere into excess
He is the easy going bachelor, Wea
q enough to make love to the wife Of an
ID other, and strong enough to make an
IS sacrifice to- shield her good name an
-. happiness. It is a ]ovable. human, bu
= not an admirable, character. ~
~ Quite as successful is Miss Hid
e. Spong's, impersonation Of the wife, daint
re- and with dash Of feminine coquetry i
- the comedy passages distraught and hys
10 terical, but never overdone, even whe
to the storm of passion Is at its worst. TIL
"a restraint Of both principals is most al
49, tistic. -.s
VI Nor does the remainder Of the compan
u suffer by comparison. John ~Glendinnin
ip plays the rather brutal husband with fir
discretion. Frederick Tiden and I4aur
Crews, who interrupt the misunderstood
,w breakfast, and who are catechised abol
it later on, make precious pair Of go:
III siping nfnnies, so well done as to caus
lie resentment to 1ningle with laughter. TT
r. two laundering servants, done by Free
y, eric Tyler and Maggie Holloway Fishe
- are equally admirable as character sketcl
n es J. Hartley Manners does the wei
life meaning family friend, who tries
q straighten matters out, in good styl
e while Stanley Dark. as the cynical bacl
~ elor, critic and observer Of sociologic
It'll conditions, achieves q notable character
lat zation that stands out In sharp relic
For Another good character bit is the Q
professor Of Walter Allen, whose lif
IT. long hostility to society conventions civ
he the authors turn for satire grateful e
Of erclse. Inc peauti1ul Grace Heyer cor
-, pletes the cast, with her minor role of t
~ wife's sister. :g.4 w. B. Chamberlain.
Ing IS -4---4-
the 81 st So