Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-05-15
POLI'S
CHARLES HAWTREY.

Three years ago "A Message from Mars" was presented at the Garrlck theater, New York, and won instant and enthusiastic favor on account of its refreshing novelty, thoroughly wholesome tone and delightfully."- anus ing qualities and the brilliant acting of Mir Hawtrey and his company. It was no small triumph for American play writing, as Richard Ganthony, the au- thor, is native of this country, al- though he had to go to an English actor manager to find recognition for his work That "A Message from Mars" ran some 800 nights in London and 2G0 nights in New York is mat ter of history, and the run in the lat ter city was ended only because MT Hawtrey had made arrangements long before to appear in London during the coronation time, and since then MT Hawtrey has given the play two re vivals at Broadway theaters and with ,undiminished success, and there is scarcely room for doubt that its pre- vious successes and the individual hit of Mir Hawtrey will be again re- peated tomorrow night at Polls. A play that is strong without touching several problems that. has no villain, that is funny without being coarse, that while pure and sweet in theme and development is free from mawk
 ishness and sentimentality, and which above all teaches powerful, though in cidentally and unobtrusively, strong moral lesson, should certainly be warmly greeted and literally attended. In it will be found, according to the most reliable authority, novelty to whet the appetite of the most jaded theater-gQer, and entertainment that will appeal to all. The play is not so much fanatical fable as might be presumed, but comedy of modern London life, suggested, as the author says, by Dickens's Christmas Carol.' The same kind of lesson in good will is taught, but instead of an old Scrooge to be bettered by dream we get young Horace Parker. This em- bOdiment of selfishness is rich and lazy lover of himself regardless of oth- CTS. He. is to marry a fond and true girl, and his heedlessness is extended to even her. He will make no sacri- fee of his own convenience to gratify her, but readily lets her defer to him. He is indeed an ungracious fellow. But at length he gets his come uppances, as they say down Long Island way. His fiancee asks him to take her to ball. He won't. She goes with an American millionaire, and before she comes back he is scared by the belief that he has lost her. Then he becomes worthy member of soci- ety and fit to marry good sweetheart. It is "A Message from Mars" that cures Parker of his egotism. He sits by fire and reads magazine article about astronomy until he falls asleep. His dream that a Martian visits him is given in the actioK of the play. This stranger has been condemned by mis- demeanor to come on earth and reform the most selfish man thereon. Our hero is the selection. Very much as Scrooge was made to see plainly his own bad behavior, so are Parkers eyes opened to the truth. Under the guid- ance of the Mars monitor he goes into the streets, looks through the walls of V Aho,,sas upon persons who discuss his Yfaults. becomes bankrupt and sees his afiianced bride turn from him in disgust. At length, ragged and hun gry, sympathy for other sufferers moves him and when he awakens he is thoroughly reformed. Prices for to- morrow nights engagement as $1.5O, $1, 75, 90 and 9 cents.