New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-28
PLUT0CRACY IN A PLAY
On the London Stage-Some Chat
tng about americans.
london, Nav II

trayestes Of the vulgarity of plutocracy Not
long ago Octave Feuillets Second Empire finan-
cier was introduced TO English playgoers by Mr..
sydney Grundy in ''Mammon': and now the
same adapter has acted as master Of ceremonies
IN presenting NJ Mirbeau's Stock Promoter of
the Republic at His Matesty's Theatre in "Busi-
ness Is Business The French play is con-
sstently Anglicized: the action passes in a coun-
Try house among the Surrey hills; the millionaire
driving up in q motor car owns a string of
newspapers and is made up TO suggest one of
the most notorious Of the South African fnan-
cers: he browbeats and DULLES a baronet in
reduced circumstances, who is forced to act as
his private steward: an English earl is alter
pstey patronized and Inundated; a pair Of I'M
srrupulous stock promoters are dragged In from
the Street; a clandestine marriage is substi-
tutsd for the French love affair: and the only
undertone of the original local color is the close
ness Of the frugal minded Mrs. lizard. Isidore
Izard, with his for money his pride In his
possessions. his love Of ostentatious display his
contempt for wife and daughter, his idolatrous
love Of spendthrift son. his vanity in turning
o. the top lights for Sargent portrait and his
ruling passion for overreaching others in bar
gain strong enough 10 rise above paralytic
stroke, the flight Of his daughter and the death
Of his son. is a naturalized Englishman drawn
with dashng strokes Of coarse brushwork and
streaks and splashes Of crude paint and con-
verted into q type Of covetousness and vul-
garity. l am not concerned with the details Of
the plot, since the play has been produced in
America either in this or in some other version;
and. indeed it is a slender story not conspicu-
Gus for freshness Of invention. What is more
interesting even than Mr.. Trees acting in
character part certainly as strong his Sven
gall is the caricature OF plutocracy which has
been devised for the entertainment Of English
playgoers.
Il is q caricature so gross that the newest
among the rich can regard it with cynical con-
tempt Mr.. Tree is mainly occupied during the
play with the accentuation Of the commences
Of this fuancier's nature. II is most vivid i'm
personation Of vulgarity rejoicing In its own
power and heartlessness. Isidore lizard fills the
stage with the affectations and conscious pride
OF a vugarian. Loud in his dress, noisy in his
talk, coarse and familiar IN his gestures, he is
q truculent blackguard whose presence would
not be tolerated in any business exchange or
country house He becomes more and more i'm
possible as the play proceeds. and there is the
cumulative effect of a hundred ingenious little
touches in Mr.. Trees byplay-the play of the
fingers betokening the tricks Of a juggler or
Inountebank; the i'll bred stare and staggering
strut; the explosive laugh; the prodding OF every
waistcoat with long ruler; the inordinate
vanity; the good natured buffoonery and the
arrogant assumption that money is the only
source Of power and that il IS Of no consequence
how it has been made so long IT is IN hand.
Bypiay is Mr.. Trees chief talent. and IN this
representation he employs it without restraint
SO that in the end he has barely enough force in
reserve for the portrayal OF the strong Will and
ruling passion triumphing IN the paralyzed body
when the two cheats are seeking swindle him
and the bearers Of the dead at the door.
The dramatic motive OF concentration of pur-
pose in cupidity is sacrificed in this sustained
exhibition Of offensive Yulgarity. The worst
hammered stock promoters and most sordid
Spectators in the audience can wag their heads
and whisper: Surely we are not so badr Pos
s.bIy there was a millionaire out in the South
African mining tract as vulgar as Isdore lizard,
but as soon as he returned TO London. built
palace and foated a score of companies his
manners were mended his voice was lowered
and he took color from his social environu8nt.
Even If it be conceivable that the Napoleon Of
finance starts with a trick mule and climbs to
the crest Of his ambition through the stony way
Of bankruptcy and swindling, it is incredible
that he should remain vulgar trickster When
SO much color is daubed on in the comedy not
even the tragic note in the final scene redeems
the performance from the reproach Of being
buElesque on plutocracy.
pendent entirely upon single character study.
AIr. Tree IS well supported by Mrs. Brooke
the tinorous wife Of the millionaire by Miss
Tree as the daughter in revolt against luxury
and fraud and by ether members Of his
pany; but the burden falls upon him Of COM
handing public support for a thoroughly dis
agreeable play. In which there is romantic
interest. He does not carry it lightly for he
labors increasingly TO make every stroke sig
ni1oant and TO enrich the part with byplay; yet
II is congenial work and his stagecraft has
seldom been more effective. The effect of vul-
garity IS the same on the stage in life It
NAV be vivid, but it is repelIent and tiresome.
The broader the art In depicting coarseness of
manners and commences Of nature, the keener
IS the eagerness Of sensitive spectators to escape
from an unpleasant exhibition. The single
touch Of home feeling in this Napoleon Of
finance is his pride in his worthless sons
travagance and folly; and this is essentially IN
real. The comic spirit centres upon the vulgar
fly Of a man with tireless and unnatural greed
for money making; and that offers meagre
recreation even for idle laughers. Satire there
there can be none in so broad q burlesque on the
heartlessness Of covetousness. 1t is doubtful II
the galleries and pit can be entertained for
long period by this play; and II is certain that
the wealthy occupants Of stalls VIII consider
It q travesty upon the manners Of the day. The
English world Of fashion may be luxurious and
not too well employed: but It Is not so hagrantly
vulgar and boorish this play implies
Good feeling is real and earnest in England
toward America, and 1t IS shown whenever there
is Pilgrims dinner or any public function
which brings representative men OF the two
countries together; yet there are traces Of envy
when casual references are made to the pros