The sun., 1905-09-03
and th. dramatic idea. Of tho highest ap-

and the dramatic ideas Of the highest ap-
peal.
Yet within this limitation our play
wrights have shons with unquestionsoio
brilliance. In the matter OF sheer comic
force ana vernaoular truth to charaoter'
any English dramatiet has equaled hoyts
faroes. and, on q somewhat higher level.
Richard Harding Davis's "Ths Dictator
and Augustus Thomas's .The Earl OF Paw
tuoket, his lieht has been hid under bushel.
English satirical burIesquea are poor anu
heavy second to the interludee whicn Eosa'
Smith has written for Weber and fleius;
Crude IA was George AIDES 'sultsn OF suiu
In technique and finish, the satiritai idea on
which 1t Is founded has range and pene-
tration which Gilbert never elualed. NO
English melodrama that nov comes TO mino
Ia moro moving than Augustus Ihomass
-Arizona, and none exhibits brillianoy,
originality and technical certainty OF eneot
comparable to that Of Gillettes secret
Service" and sherlock Holmes George
AIDES pioturing Of the commonplace hum0rS
OF life In "Tho County Chairman ana INC
College Widow" has no counterpart on tho
English stags-there 1t IL the aristocraoy
or nothing. With the exception OF hoyt'
all OF these writer's Of what. without conoe-
sosusion, We hope, may Be called the mino,
forms are now advancing in the nasternooo
of their art, and have promised pieces ior
the coming season.
Exubersnt gaiety and alert Inentahty-
the broad laugh and the subtle shock 70 tne
nerves-these are - yet tho qualities OF tho
American play.
II. In the moro requiring forms OF dramAtio
art, they have fallen short Of exoelienoe'
It Is not for the lack Of persistent ana m
tellisent effort, nor for the want OF popular
success. Both Of Mr.. AIDES genre oomedies
oonts aimed tho germ Of character In CON-
junction with plot that might have boon
made the occasion OF legitimate drama !;
and he has confessed an ambition to write
moro seriously on more serious subjects
In .The Other Girl" Mr.. Thomas essayed
dramatic comedy, and while falling short,
Is It seemed, In tho matter OF teonnlque
and in the larger implications OF his theme'
nevertheless created two or three cnarao-
ters that have no betters, as regards fresh
ness and vigor Of presentation, in the modern
English drama.
The playwright who seems to have often
est approached the bullseye OF the comedy
and drama OF character Is Mr.. Clyde Fitch.
In the portrayal OF tho nainutie OF con-
temporary life, and in the composition OF
striking individual characters, he has shown
powers of very high order. In fertility
OF invention and In the mass OF his output
he leads all his fellows, both here and in
England. Sometimes for an act entire ne
moves with the divination and the precision
OF a master. A few OF his plays, as The
Climbers and aThe Girl With the Green
Eyes" fall short by narrow margin oi
ripe masterhood-the power to conceive
a vigorous idea, of comedy or OF drama
and work it out with unfaltering skill.
Is it possible that this lack Of the broader
grasp is q corollary Of the limitations IN
the past OF our national outlook upon the
world? The excuse will not do for the
present-still less for the future. In short
| is it not possible, even probable, that with
| the broadening OF our horizon as a nation
our playwrights will develop commensu-
rate range Of vision? Certainly the chances
are with US, and it is this that gives Broad
way at this season It's peculiar fascination'
Tomorrow night at the Empire John
Drew produces play OF Mr.. Thomas's
and at the Criterion Miss Maxine Elliott
| play Of Mr. Fitch's. There is something
peculiarly apt in the arrangement. Nc
American comedian approaches MIR. Drew
in the portrayal Of men Of the better worlc
and Mr.. Thomas Is at his best in writing
about men. Miss Elliott il not only one ot
the handsomest of our actresses, but has
of late taken her place among the best II
her kind, while Mr.. Fitch excels in the por
trayal Of the mood feminine. What viii
| be the result? Whether 1t is much or little
| the part Of the American drama ia creditablt
and secure, while the future is bright with
promise. JOHN CoRBIN.