The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-10-21
j ORPE1EJM@ t
lP OSF EGGPLANT
His HouseinOrder
A Comparison of the Pinero Pro-
auctions in London and New
YOrk-Other New Plays.
By NJ. Leroy Arnold.

Correspondence of The Journal.
New York, Oct 2O.-The hors-
d 'oeuvres Of the dramatic feast in New
York this winter is certainly piquantly
appetizing. With notable absence Of
successful musical shows, the true dra-
ma is coming into it's own. Even the
poetic drama is having a hearing. Hen
ry Miller and Mrs. LIE Moyne will soon
give a series of Browning matinees;
dian, whose burial wreaths are still
green, has been giving a beautiful pro-
duction of Stephen Phillips "Paolo
this play, Mr.. and Mrs. Irving received
no less than six curtain calls after the
final scene-a significant fact for those
who claim that the poetic drama is
dead. Mr.. Irving will personate Shaks-
pere's 1ago this week. Indeed the mas
ways been. His exquisite production Of
ga Midsummer Nights Dream" with
Annie Russell as Puck, has just been
brought to successful conclusion, to be
followed next week by Viola Allen in
"Cymbeline.
Then new note has come into the
drama, an American play-many critics
call it the American play. It is called
"The Great Divide,'' and the author
is William Vaughn Moody, q professor
Of English literature in the University
of Chicago. Certainly it is an acting
play, with elements Of psychological
strength-elements which Margaret An
glin, and Henry Miller depict with emo
tional fidelity. There are two English
dramas here which are also playing to
packed houses. One, Henry Arthur
Jones "The Hypocrites,' breaches
sermon with unfinching didacticism.
Indeed, it's faults, if it has any, are
those Of an over-ardent desire to
melodramatic in Characterization.
The other English play is master
piece, the latest work Of Arthur Wing
Pinero, ellis House Of Order.'' I'm
donbtedly the most striking and intel
lectral play which has been acted or
| is to be acted In New York this win
ter so the eminent authority on the
dramaturgic art, Brandon Matthews,
spoke Of it to me the other day. So in
deed it is.
The story is simple enough. It con-
| sists Of the tragic comic events which
cluster about twenty hours OF
the life of Nina, the second wife Of
Filmer lesson. M. P. His house is
kept in order by the sister. brother.
father and mother of the first wife,
Annabelle. The spirit Of Annabelle
| luOHO)O1lLcS Tilt pldCt, duu pOOT Nlud ID
politely but firmly ignored. Even her
little stepson, whom she loves dearly,
snubs her. Stung at last into retalia-
/ tion, she refuses to go with the rest
to a public opening Of memorial park
in Annabelle's memory. At this crisis
she accidentally discovers some letters
to Annabelle, showing her infdelity to
her husband. The sainted Annabelle,
if she had lived a few hours longer,
would have left her husband for an
other man, the father of her son. AS
/ the significance of all this flashes thru
Nina IS mind, she realizes that she has
/ the means for subduing her enemies, the
whole Ridgely tribe. Now there has
been genial onlooker at the little do
mestic tragedy, the sole sympathizer
with Nina, her brother-i in law, Hilary
lesson. She shows him the letters, and
he, by a powerful appeal to her higher
Dature, persuades her to keep the se-
cret She goes to the opening of the
memorial park, and bows down to the
i family of Annabelle But their patron
age is even more insufferable than their
4 neglect was, and Hilary observes this.
4 He therefore reveals the wretched bust
ness of Annabelle's letters to his
brother Filmer, Nina g husband. Filmer
4 awakes to the heroism of his living wife,
4 quietly and tactfully suggests that the
/ Annabelle tribe leave his house, and
1