New-York tribune., 1905-02-26
LONDON DRAMA.
rh Philosopher of Looe on the
g,oe-Mr. Sutro's Third Success.
London. February u.

~ ,s,,. that every fresh success requires
So e. treatment ''Afollentrave on Women at
u e, James's Theatre. is officially described as
.,r,asv; but in reality it is farce similar in
- % oscar Wildes THE Importance of
sp 81 Earnest" thin in texture, with complica-
,e-s in place of ludicrous situations. but with
uO-- A,,1iancv in dialogue. 1t IS essentially a
-t niece but that character is a singu-
N,., o'' rood one-a genial old man who has be-
an expert and analyst on the subject of
CO.. CO.., having married three times and written
...,eo work. an authority in divorce court
-. and 2 practical manual for men con-
,..,,g rnatrimony. Mollentrave is an in
.s,.,i+- clearly drawn by the playwright and
~, ,,opersonated by Mr.. Eric Lewis that the
= - moves and is interesting and amusing
g. he Is on the stage. He is not charlatan
srniable and self-complacent theorist
U -,ooaeds in convincing others that he never
WV ,,,s,akes and that when his schemes
iii0'' . -o wrong the effects are precisely those
So -,,b his subtle knowledge he has been
-, n produce. AT the worst the exceptions
,xa his rules, and whatever happens ne
~ ,-,-s-iably undisturbed and triumphant since
" - tbe wit 10 accept results as proofs or ms
ne ''aS -.science. and he does this without any
s-,ssrsnce Of deceiving himself. characle'
.rts e a genuine creation. Conceived in the
- u,tbout taint Of corrupt manners, ana IT
anu =. r.s, any, rnpleasant reflection upon
~. Aollentrave imposes upon his group oi
.I.ss because he is a guileless optmist' YET ne
-. % +ake himself seriously from beginning
- end that is his droIlest gift. = character
,L,s ,,,o,Id admirably suit Mr.. Willard VINO
. .,-asrad to great advantage in The FRO
...o-s Love story and in The Rogue
r,s5v plays bearing some resempiaice -
:, ru+ro,s In the hands of a wandering s'dI
-,o--,er with a talent for eccentric COMEDY
T..,,.-.-a,,a on Women" is likely to prove
ENABLE property in America
.-fel;sr has made "a most careful COM
-. irvcsrigation, on scientific principles "a
=. t,47ing. perpleXing creature known 10 "'
= u-,-oar" Tie comedy comes IN the appilc@-
a.. - his principles TO individual cases Inc
lioI +tas. IS the household of Sir Joseph
,,-,...od q rich bachelor. successful par
ard q member of Parliament An old
800 !, Australia has died, intrusting 10 MN
-,,,rstan the care of a pretty ward; young
-, Sc already in the house; female COM
ton has become necessary, and, owing TO
.,,.,,s, the faithful housekeeper has given
.i.a NJ her soeedv retirement. MolientraNe
s-,flss and rubs his hands over the ease with
rbio7 be can restore peace III this disordereo
boYse He classifes the girl among the III
,srfel7rate sertinlentalists," and proposes an
EASY solution-marrying OFF the ward 10 lh7
renbew. II he had noticed the flowers on inc
barrister's desk the expert might nave pei
eeved q budding romance OF the May -aliu-
septpr17ber order. but he is too conhdent OF ms
skill 10 take any precautions. The nephew %
sunnIoDed and is found TO be an love VIII
the pre,ry girl; Mollentrave presents the case
with chaste metaphors and facile esoquehce' pul
50 ot,scurely that the ward THINKS lhal Hei
Guardian returns her affection; and the nephew
receives a refusal when he proposes 10 her'
uouentrave is not more successful when he
spplies hls learning and experience 10 praetica4
,ssrs at his own house. There is an lnahe
,,i,o- with = title who is anxious TO marry
radv Claude Derenham, the amiable expert s
MN daughter. but when he approaches her
u5,b e-an,nering tongue and explains under
sx,,art advice that he is thinking of oHerlng
himself TO a rival, he receives her best "lshes
and does not excite jealousy. The book may De
p standard work on women, but the author
fails whenever he attempts to heal the WOUNDS
and restore the peace Of mind of patients con-
sulting him
95ollentrave does not admit failure in any IN
stance His face Is wreathed with superior
smiles Of self-complacency whenever his patients
sppeal to him to extricate them from the EN-
barrassng plight into which they have faileh
after acting upon his advice. There may De
complica tions unforeseen by then but there can
- na failure in the final results, when every
hing has been thought out by a master OF SCI
ace. Like Sydney Smiths adept in indirect
nstlo5s he cannot cut q cabbage without steal
frg upon IL from behind and carrying il with
device Lady Claude Derenham suggests an
easy and sensible way out of Sir Joseph's en-
tsnglenent with his ward This is to explain
the mistake and to resign in favor of his nephew.
So simple 4 solution is not considered sufhclently
scjenti6c fyv the specialist There must be a re
Arrangement OF pairs. differentiation by contrast
and a correlation Of forces. The blushing young
ward must be repelled by evidences Of senility
IN her guardian. The nephew must be drawn
i into Irritation with the charming widow, Lady
Claude Derenham as a counter-irrltant Tor eH-
l citing the girls resentment and passion. Each
eKpedient was adopted, but with unexpected re-
suits The rretty little ward, while dosing her
equity guardian and feeding him with a spoon.
fel in Ioye with him more deeply than ever, until
hs mentor warned him he would have 10 feign
Paralysis, and the youthful nephew, instead of
/ flirting mildly with the widow. made ardent love
/ 10 her. and what was an additional complica-
4 lion in a situation already uuduly complex. was
1 The fact that Sir Joseph and Lady Claude. while
4 each were embarrassed with the attentions of a
Youthful adBirer. discovered that oidtime fire
4 had been rekIndled and that they were devoted
4 y attached 10 each other. The peer, meanwhile,
1 who had been repulsed by Lady Claude and had
gore in guest Of her rival. has sent telegram 10
| Ao3entrave announcing that he has proposed
/ % third lady and has been accepted
4 NoleuJrave's book on women needed TO be
l smpreheHsively indexed. so also these various
\ re affairs required q careful catalogue. 1t is
/ &haps fault of this playwright that In spite
l his fine French technique, these complications
/ e not brought out 50 clearly 10 be easily
81 M Mind Ilne sciernoe Of love rs II is writ