New-York tribune., 1906-12-11

-0e 80, 5ehneet II IS made known that Bsnneet.s
go a I1u the contracts for building library
an aqueduct-" Harrigan, remembering that
oeaIet ST., was interested In poIitics .ns,ac+g ais
as 10 the fulhlment OF his contracts with
&c &c S4C' and on investigation. has found his sus-
~ ,r.aSA oonnrmed He threatens Bennett with ex-
posure OF his fathers dishonesty
Fhelan recognizes ''Thomuson.. a. ~. so, %
N@tIlson the man betrayed by Charles VAIN
"iiehI and thus driven 10 suicide PheIan con-
s .ionls MN with his sister Cynthia who has Just
ol1o Oe'rothed to Perry Wainwright, and OBJ
lhs talhs rom Thompson" an admission OF his
identity as her brother
DenHeH IS accused. before Dallas by VAIN
wight ana HaTT1gan. Of using his political position
- - e"oie nm TO win money In stock speculations
oallas. on Benefits admission that he has sup
Piled the money to go Short on a certain amount
OF Borough stock Indignantly repels him and
accepts Gibbs. Bennett. in distress. asks his
L0LHeF 20 instruct him as to the advice that he
ought TO give to ga friend" IN the position that
Is really his own. Mrs. Bennett, having told him
mat his friend should DO right whatever happens
oVlnes that II is, in fact, her dead husband, his
father OF whom her son is speaking but she still
urges him To do what is right, and Bennett de-
termines 10 abide by her counsel. The scene then
SHOWS two committee rooms. at the City HAIL.
double ser-elways difficult device, but used with
good effect in this play. The final session OF the
Board Of Aldermen is IN progress. The franchise
bill Is TO be passed killed. Roberts has weak
ened Harrigan compels him 20 to the City
Hall, but Roberts cannot bring himself to the dis
honesty required, and he throws down the nOtea-
Bennett begs Roberts 70 vote his conscience die
tates Harr1gan threatens Bennett but cannot in
uInldate him AS a last resort it r. agreed, at
HarTigan'E suggestion, that Gibbs shall oTer 70
relinquish Dallas Wainwright, so that Bennett may
win her. II Bennett viii allow the franchise bill
pass. To make this offer Gibbs passes from
room 20 the other the door is not quite closedI
Dallas enters the room Just left by Gibbs; she
hears him make his offer. and she hears Bennett
contemptuously refuse It. Dallas learns from her
brother the truth about the short sale OF Dor
ough' stock snd having broken with Gibbs. she
accepts Bennett Phelan produces Thompson" TO
confront ana denounce Wainwright and 70 prove
a charge previously made by Bennett that Vain
wright and Harrigan had agreed brfbe of
s&e0M Harrigau expresses his intention of hold
ing IN reserve a controlling menace, the knowl-
edge of Bennetts fathers dishonesty. Bennett tells
him he cannot do so because the story has already
been given 20 the press by himself, together with
his pledge 20 repay TO the city every dollar that
was lost through any irregularfty in his fathers
transactions.
The acting Is clear, simple direct and expressive
OF all the meaning contained in the play. Mr..
Frederick Perry, actor who seldom appears
without doing something admirable denotes Al
wyn Bennett. intrepid spirit, without being
either ''goody' oppressive and. maintaining the
refinement Of gentleman born, invests every sit
uation IN which he is implicated with fine and
telling vitality. Mr.. Frank MacVicsrs, as Harri-
gan and bfr. George Fawcett PheIan. each
ticians wonderfully lifelike and thus create and
maintain perfect illusicn. The characters fl the
play have been clearly Disseminated By the author
the actors make them perfectly distinct. Imagina-
ton IS not required the requirement is fidelity 10
fact The best Of The feminine representations is
that o. Mrs. Bennett-a good woman plainly drawn.
and therefore difficult 70 act-by Harriet Otis Del
lenbaugh- The more snowy part is that OF Dallas
Wainwright. smoothly played by Lillian Kemble.
The assumption OF Charles Wainwright. by James
E Wilson. Scott P Gibbs by John Flood, and
Henry Thompson by Geofrey Stein are correct,
sustained and effective: the performance OF william
ingram, by William Richards, Is q well executed
bit: he acted a short scene with the Mayor, de-
scrbing his service under the elder Bennett. and
was much approved Ingram fs shown old,
one-arrned servant. at the City Hail. who had at
tended many mayors Altogether. this is a good
play we'll actsd-a play that means something's
play that contrasts very strongly and very favor
ably with theatrical muck about matrimonial in
continence-a play that presents the pleasant and
unusual spectacle Of a plain. simple, honest man
in spite or pressure and temptation. For once the
community Is spared the sight Of that ancient
chestnut man or woman. who deliberately does
wrong knowing Il 10 be wrong and then trckles
through four acts 10 show that It really could
be helped. and IS not wrong after all The meaning
was long ago set down Sir Henry WOtton
How happy IS . born and taught
Eerveth anothers will
Is his honest thought.
And simple truth his utmost skill