New-York tribune., 1906-04-22

afiesory. illustrating with comic sufrt. . -
ton stage In drama Mr.. Barrie had a,,..a,
made a pathetic figure Of the old cso-
"Pantaloon." whose Jokes no lonzsr war,
warded with laughter; but IN taking NM n,
parable again he humorously ldent,n,d ..
legitimate drama with the primitive Punch .,s
Judy show. The Snowman is before the uub,,
cracking the old chestnuts and thump,ny n.
puppets with his stick. while Judy behind n,
scenes Is indefatigabls In supplying an -.
usual attractions; but the faithless spectator,
weary Of the monotonous rounds OF child heat.
ing and murder even with a mimic g,bb.,
thrown IN. hoot at the performance az c-uss
drama, hopelessly behind the times rhs
broken-hearted partners confer sadly over their
rnisfortunss. It Is the New Man who has
spoiled the business by talking politics ana
having too many ideas. Judy suggests that Il
may have been too moral show and volunteers
tearfuily TO give up her marriage lines IN ths
Desperate hope that public interest win revive
under the delusion that they are not man and
wife. Punch IS unwilling TO have her make this
sacrifice for the good Of the show and when
the public. impersonated by an unsentimenal
butcher. demonstrates wantonly against the
crudeness Of the art. falls upon him with stick
and kills him AT this moment swaggers in the
red whisksred New Man. made UP so as to re-
sennbls Mr.. Bernard Shaw, and explains the
sort OF drama that IS wanted with an idea at
the root OF every hair This Is Super Punch
who has taken possession OF the show, and, as
the two veterans are creeping out stealthily, he
leaps upon the window ledge and is greeted BY
the nckls public with a roar OF applause. So
ends the harmless pleasantly. which Mr. Dion
Boucicault and Miss Eva Moore carry out with
admirable vivacity. and Mr.. Shaw is none the
worse for a fresh advertisement IN which he
is not his own sandwich man.
If Punch be a fantasy with nothing mora
rnordant IN IL than good-natured satire. Jose
phine" which follows IL. IS a freakish burlesqus,
not so much Of the serious politics OF the day as
OF Mr. Shaw's method Of carrying on sundry
discussions on the stage. Farmer Butler is
John Bull himself. corpulent and stolid. with
habit of falling asleep when he ought TO be
vigilant master OF his household; and he has
three elder sons Andrew. James and Colin. who
are speedily identified as Lord Rosebery. MI
BaIfour and Sir Henry Campbell -Bannerman
and also a baby, Bunting. who is a swaggerins
labor agttator in the second scene and full
blown trades unionist member Of Parliament
first steward. with much 70 say about efficiency
but after being engaged 70 Josephine p'O-
vincial from Birmingham way. and quarrelins
with Miss Barney in a Irritation ne Is as
missed TO the lonely turrow 10 make room lor
James In the second scene James VIII A'9
1aneuid airs. finds il difficult 10 make up MS
mind and TO keep the house IN order ou' ~
finally yields 70 the mature and rorcelui "OO"9
OF Josephine, who cOnvinces him thal INC -'~
source OF trouble is the housekeeper' MISS ~.
Trade. In comes a fairy godmother' W..
Josephine recognizes as Miss Far 1Idu''
though others give the name as Eetal-@'OA
Protection: and Farmer Butler awaKehiis - -
hts nap. is embarrassed 70 find himseA oe''e,
The two charrners Free and Fair, while tls P'9
v,ncisl spinster is clamoring for 'lia"o
bo,,sekeeper. With the passing OF tn7 ~
and the disappearance Of the falry aOO''
below. and with travesty OF the pay .d
..tIar,la,' the good mans eyes are opVi'0.'
co,,r Who has been promising 10 builu - -.
,,o,,r b,- oIanI. for Miss Blarney IS aVpO--
chief steward IN place OF the Na-'al' .,-s
y +hs trtrd scene there IS n leap N 'i' -
from, past and present TO tha unKnO"" ,ob-
row and In Mr.. Buffers Lono'n hous0' - .,,.-
hies OF Parliament. there Is an lhs0'i q
tbs door Where winston Lives anu -,
'--0 1000 az ceaseIess talk from the ru'u,'
Prime Minister. Another chisl "a
rasdsd and Bunting is ineligible oec&u9' -
will not allow his master TO sleep a. .,gnt
IN this way be in condition for sieepiis -,ar-
1,ha alternative for Mr.. Butler IS MS o"'. ~ ma
-,as,a with Josephine. who agrees 70 s'e' su,
cbacks and release him from an I''Es With
+tas and anxteties; and the play e ,,s
Andrew still pIoughing IN the iui.O"' 1,0uss
lanes and Colin kicked upstairs Hi'0 -, ,vaIt.
oS Elder Sons and with Mavourheeh
ing for a house OF her own s,cb ne
rrna bravura OF a performance IN w. ors
,aot two Prime Ministers and the P''''- cov
q 70 rspreseuted as flirting with mala'Hs IT,
90 E,r., Trade and Fair Trade. ana WIZ rTo,.s
r..nonsible vet fascinating a hoyush 80 o.
RuIs takes ones breath away. Inc -. - an
sr,azsn.nt increases when Mr. bouO'''' .,sh-
acts IN petticoats the part Of the - snc-
fui dame from Birmingham and carries ours;
caasrrIlv through a series OF complex .o+,n-
and so fully prepared Is one FOR any ,,,,nston
xs,cv thar the nomination OF Mt RS
Churchu "the cock sparrow. when uSo A,,urs
rarnas.s " for Prime Minister In the ea''' .aosn
fails 10 excite surprise. Anything 70, sarris
tr robr F,,u.s main island when MI -
turns things upside down, but 'h0 ~, Ss-
tial talk. more or less illuminated W. poll
longs In a burlesque OF Mr.. Shaw ',,'r,oeratla
tics Is so serious nowadays. WITH ,s,tins
Parliament haunting IT'S red ues "--s nv Ren's
about reforming everything under @ e, .rs-
Illuminated dial. that bewildered o0S,' a,roaea
pect deeper satire than there IS @"~ sreassh
Mr.. Barrie for going too far Win ., n'9 Know
Inventions. They confess that taeS uo ,hsu-
what the play means. and can't eon''.I s.s OUT IA
selves that IL Is funny. They may =. IN Dar-
time that ne Is laughing at everyDous a,