New-York tribune., 1905-02-17
THE DRAMA.
MR. WILLARD hs THE PROFESSOR
Knickerbocker Theatre.


: entertainment and very welcome.--he viii close
~ Nevv-Tork engagement next Saturday night
- revival OF Mr.. Barries charming corpositton
,,tess within the reach of this community benef
i,sat source OF refined pleasure Objection against
-srv theatrical pieces that relate TO quaint and
-s-le character. pastoral incident sentimental ex
-s-ience and common occurrences of everyday life
!, the natural objection OF taste and vfvacitv
,rxnst things that are trite insipid and dull II
) not simplicity Of subject that often makes a
s,rnestic play intolerable burden: IL is mawk-
gsb treatment. In The Professors Love Story"
.7ple theme has been treated in q manner es-
srtialy light and free.-with the vigor OF bright
lind; with tenderness Of feeling: with delIeacy of
,sste: with keen sense of character piquant
sr-,or grace Of style and. sometimes with dra-
ratio effect Nothing will seem inappropriate
!, the stage that comes accredited with virtues
n. those and all the more welcome is this sweet
.-re refined. sparkling tale because interpreted
y az actor whose powers are of high order. and
yhose fire equipment and ample experience place
~, in the front rank Of his profession.
NJ WIZARDS most conspicuous triumphs in an
.,-lie- time were gained in charscters.-like the
s-sser in The Silver King-that evil and
sinister. i is remarkable OF him, however. that
- hss acted with equal facility, characters that
-snel sympathy and characters that enchain it.
zIs ,osssssss in q marked and unusual degree the
,over Of irnpersonation. In The Professors Love
story the character assumed by him is quaint,
rsnisl and lovable. The background Of the picture
e TIE rich. sweet. tranquil home life OF England.
~, Professor whose mind, for many years. has
s..s devoted - science and scientific writing. has
,sssed through the period OF youth. without its
rs,sl arnatory experience; and, having come 10
.ss- maturity with which romance and sentiment
asa commonly. though enormously accounted in
harmonious, he is suddenly overtaken and subdued
hv 1--we The object of his passion is a beautiful
sirI who works for him. as q secretary; and the
,bso-v of the play is that. while he is aware of
sanns mysterious personal arrangement, he does
N, peroeive the nature Of his trouble, and does
ret know the cause; and thereupon he has re-
course 70 medical advice. The source OF his
trouble Is sufficiently obvious 70 the Of others.
however. and in due time, the patient himself
ezaksns % 6 knowledge Of the truth; ano there
rpon be woos the girl and wins her; ana. whereas.
81 the BEGINNING of his passion, he was distracted
monty and slow, he becomes, at the end or II,
r,-seh+Iv ardent and gay-rejuvenated by the
sns-k from heaven. and clad with the investiture
n radiant happiness that only prosperous love can
bes.ow Il is 8 pretty story. and It will remind
+aa observer of = celestial truth,-that all the
v-orid becomes beautiful. and everything in IT
rohie when loeked AZ through the eyes Of love.
There are weak places in the play. Its repre-
ssntarives Of British aristocracy are drawn with
something OF the exaggeration and injustice which
in the customary stage treatment or TINS suo-
,sct appear 10 be inseparable from the liberal
raind Weak-minded. petty. futile persons, no
seuh- exist in all ranks Of society; but British
ladies' and gentlemen not necessarily idiots
because they happen TO bear titles Scorn OF the
titled classes may, in work Of theatrical art, be
carried far as TO react upon the listener ana
sean both spiteful and nauseous. The matri-
ronaI conspiracy against the Professor is more IN
the spirit Of than Of comedy. The attitude Of
the Professors sister toward the lady Of his love
seems not quite reasonable and not that OF perfect
Food breeding The exceedingly comic scenes Of
he Scottish peasantry are episodical and, though
dsghtful not an essential part Of the dramatic
fabric And there is needless delay, for superhu-
ous talk after the end Of the action has been
-sarhsd All defects however. are overshadowed
ty The wealth Of feeling. the quaint grace the
unconscious hunnor. and the incessant felicity of
zrt vita which Mr. Willard embodes the principal
character
To present IN q state OF serio-comic bewilder-
rneat liddIe-aged gentlernan.-rehned. learned.
eccentric. tender. and drcn,-and 10 show in what
manner he asce-tained the secret Of his perturbs-
ton, and what result subsequently came Of IT, is
TIE purpose Of the DRAMA purpose. in Mr. Will
lsrds cement Of its central character. that is
brilliantly ard hunorously accomplished It is not
likely that any man, however eccentric. could be
IN Iove without knowing il. and without knowing
the object Of his passion But it is not impossible.
Tie philosopher Newton cut a large hole il his
study door for the cat. and smaller one. for the
kitten; and the poet, Bowles when dressing for
dinner. could not find his other black silk stock
ing" because he had inadvertently put both stock
ings On one leg Anything may happen TO an
absent minded dreamer, whose thoughts are on
everything but himself And refreshing idea IT
sand delightful TO have II presented by actor!
that there be man IN existence TO whom
himself is not the first Of all earthly considera-
tons Mr Willard is especially happy in sug-
sssrag the unseIhshness Of the professor,-the gen
ts humility of his disposition. the docile candor of
his mind, the density OF his preoccupation and that
EveetIy troubled perplexity Of the intellect upon
which. in this comedy. the whole fabric of char
scer and scheme Of action depend without the
clement q beautiful simplicty.-not Of manner
Eone. but OF feeling-his success would be i'm
possible With II, he has converted a whimsical
theory into lovely truth. His presentment Of the
Professor ncarnates affection and is the image OF
protective fondness selfabegnation, and chivalrous
ieolstry; enly. the image IS. ali the while, made
hslf conicsl and half rueful, with the quaint hui
hor of mingled perplexty and soicitude The
loFes n ordinary usually begin in a com
non instinct. The love OF such a as the
Frofessor.-Vho has the feminine constitution,-be-
gins. as Tomans love usually begins. with affec-
Oon; and therein II is beautiful and pathetic. Mr..
willard has perceived that truth and the art with
which Re conveys Il is not less conclusive than
epate- There is great comicality in the uncon-
se4eus petusnce with which the bewildered scholar
tessats mental disturbance that he cannot under
s@na and IN that vein Mr. Willard is delightful.
ms embodiment Of the Professor is authorita-
H'e Manifestation Of depth and variety Of nature.
1 rs form is Of pervssiye grace. all the more
4-hhg for being hornely and quaint II keeps the
serFe, continually interested and pleased: II not
ohy makes him laugh but it awakens in him
selng q gentle sympathy. and he is happier for
H1Flag H.
10 the ha5itcal observer of the acted drama in
2 - strange period now passing 1t is an inexpres-
's relief and comfort turn away from dark
psigaysl q evil passions and wearisome analysis
= neral obliquity and 70 let the tired mind repose
- Spectacle Of gracious and urbane character.
tshile humanity romantic sentiment. tender feel
= aho serene rural Hfe,-with it's soft touches OF
s''i' It's pleasing lights Of eccentric hunor, and