New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-29
THE List WEEK.
Che Squaso Man a Success-E. S.
Willard on O.. =. Shd1C.

Willard on O.. 3. Sha5c.
Edward Milton Royle's play. The Squaw
Man." in which Faversham appeared last Mon
day at Wallack's Theatre. has proved a popular
success. and is nightly filling the theatre. AS
The Tribune pointed out last Tuesday morning,
the play is in reality nothing but cleverly put
together and well reined-in melodrama, which.
when submitted to critical test for probability.
discloees only small percentage of that In
gredient- But probability is not supposed to be
an ingredient of melodrama-all that Is de-
rnanded is the semblance OF probability while
the play is In progress This semblance The
Squaw Man Individually creates. thanks both
to Mr.. Royle and the excellent cast. Mr. Faver-
sham has part which is not beyond his rather
limited powers and such Theodore Rob-
erts and George Fewcett appear to advantage,
one as an Indian chief. the other as good nat
ured good hearted. humorous cowboy. Both
IRE picturesque character parts. and both are
= italy played. Mr. Roberts OF course is no
..osice at Indian character tmpersonation. and
Mr.. Fawcett has had the sound training OF the
stock company to fit him for vivid representa-
ton Of 4bit' part The scenic investment OF
the play also is picturesque. and the sent
mentality OF the heart interest CHATS the
phrase is 1t not. to when melodranlas are
in question23 is Of the kind to win the sympathy
of that large portion OF the public who VIII al
ways prefer Longfeliow to Keats and u7elo-
drama to natuTalisra. But little nlelooralIla
now and then is relished by the best OF men 30
long as THE Squaw Man is not confounded
with the real portrayal or life. so long as it is
accepted merely q story told for the storys
sake. its success may be accepted with gratitude
and approval
r. S. Willard was asked the other day in To-
ronto what he thought prompted G. B. Shaw to
attack Sir Henry Irving. Mr. Willard is quoted
In reply as follows:
The spirit of envious self-seeking, that in
f5. Ivy he Of
other people doing. Mr.. Shaw has achieved
rotoriety by assailing popular sentiments He
Is a sort Of literary Iscar!ot, who finds his honor
and profit in the betrayal Of ideas aud ideals
commonly held sacred. He was shrewd enough
70 see that the readiest way 70 attract attention
is to shock popular sensibility. He had enough
cleverness to appeal successfully to immature
minds that mistake audacity for genius and
have not get come TO realization of the fact
that true genius is creative. not destructive
His gretuitous insult to the memory of Sir
Henry Irving is readily understood by those who
know Mr.. Shaw's methods. He saw unprece-
dented funeral honors being bestowed upon the
dead actor, and his mind was fevered with the
desire draw attention to himself in an at
tempt to detract from those honors. Mr. Shaw
escaped possible mediocrty by becoming an
Isnmael. He has gratifed his ambition for dis
tinction in that way. Is it likely that he would
neglect SO exceptional an opportunity DIS Iiio
national recognition of Henry nving's serevice
to the stage to thrust himself into the lime
light?
But / exaggerating the effect OF Mr..
Shaw's latest bid for notoriety 1t have
no worse influence than to excite the contempt
Of honest minds for who assails the dead
with a charge he would not have dared to make
against the living man. AS for the intimation
that Mr.. shaws enmity to Irving was due to
the fact that Irving had prevented the produc-
ton of Shaw's plays in London-it is too alb
surd. In the first place, such an attitude would
have done violence to Irving's very nature. He
much too magnanimous 10 have entertained
the idea of so petty and so malicious
tagonism But had he been disposed TO oppose
Mr.. Shaw in that way he would have been
powerless to accomplish the purpose. With the
eager rivalry among managers to secure new
ana available plays Tor presentation at tn e
theatres, fancy how ridiculous it would be for
any TO undertake to exclude a capable
dranatist from the theatrical field. The sim
pie explanation Of Mr. Shaw's exclusion from
The London stage is that he did not write plays
That managers could regard as suitable oher-
ings to their public. Mr.. Shaw's plays are ap-
parently designed in the main to shock popular
sensihilites-and that is not the aim or respoh-
sible producing managers.
However. Henry Irving is resting in West
minister Abbey, the highest possible dlstnGti9 on
that be given a dead EngliShman. co
not know where Mr. Shaw win consent TO take
his final Sleep"
SO gracious, must have been reused INTO UNUSUAL
anger TO put that sting Of wit into the tan on
his remarks. It is worthy Of Shaw himself
Here is a paragraph from 1.-The Manchester
(England) Examiner" OF May 49, 1861 occurring
in review OF performance of Jacobs Truck
al the Theatre Royal. when irving was mem
Der Of the stock company:
There is a word or two due to Mr.. Irving for
MS clever representation of Slipton STACKER TINS
young actor possesses many good qualities
Nature has done much for him, and requires a
grateful return But he is acquiring habits that
win ultimately interfere with legitimate prog
ress- Why should he be ambitious initiate
The automaton rather than q graceful and
manly bearing? Natures idea of a gentleman
lis not that of the modern swell " with Jerking
walk and stiff neck and spasmodic eIocution
Mr. Irving has good presence an intellectual
looking head and eye. fine sonorous voice, and
no slight amount OF intelligence He will be
an actor If ne has resolution to let Nature have
more Of her way.
NEW BILLS.
This week viii be prolific than last