The Washington times., 1907-12-22
Pollock Play
Chief Topic
On Broadway
By A. H. BALLARD.

New York. Dec. 81.
- HANNING POLLOCK'S new
play. "The Secret Orchard" D."
has given rise to much discUs-
sion The fact that ne got his
suggestion from the Castle novel. and
evolved a somewhat original drama
that strikes home to the heart and soul.
and, at the same time, stirs up people
TO CRY Chestnut. give us rest ON the
wrOnged girl pathos." is complicated
result meaning that the play viii not
bc a large financial success, and still
il looks quite like having an historic
value that will keep it among the semi
classics.
The idea OF a man or a woman being
good is not new. But Il would bo new
II man or woman really tackled tho
tasks of really being good. We all claim
that we are untrammeled dramatic
critics. But, II we were absolutely un-
prejudiced and untrammeled. we prob
ably would break the theatrical world
up and spoil our usefulness In a night
Many say that Claiming Pollocks play
thrcshes out n haCkneycd subject. uses
worn-out types, rings IN threadbare
Characters and articles OF the stage,
and is unpleasant as well as tiresome.
There IS no answer 10 that sort of
comment. if II is sincere. But is it, IN
the case OF an old man. who Is not
open to new influences and lives I'm the
past, you might expect to elicit small
sympathy except along the line Of his
accustomed mental exercising ground.
Beside you need not hope fO- apprecia-
tion from a soured man who has not
won success i'm creative channels. and
who might easily feel envious of the
sudden rise to fame OF a new playwright
These considerations account for much
OF the pointed caviI.
Play Takes Hold.
For me. confess. the play took hold.
as I believed Mr.. Pollock was blazing a
trail. was putting out in the dramatic
form message that we must assimiiate
some time or another. Humanity is not
entirely scheduled and tabulated and or
dained as 90 its duties. social problems.
joys, sorrows, and occupations. as yet
Whatever Of illumination can be
thrown upon the public screen, well may
TT be soon thrown. and / believe the
stage IS a sufficiently obvious screen on
which 90 throw the picture "The Sc
cret Orchard" I'm the play which was
offered at the Lyric the other evening
throws a shining, clear, impressive pic
ture on the screen. and the handwriting
on the wall can be read with ease, uu-
interrupted flow. and signal emphasis.
The play does not thrill very often. and
il is unclCan and parQxysmal But
mCrcy,-it is as true as life and death.
1t propounds the question: Shall the
woman be forgiven for the Seventh Sin.
as well as the man. and how far do We
get our punishment for sin while we
are alive2 Il answers both questions
hopefully and Or-!mistiCally. while the
utmost grace c. construction IS pre-
served, and no GOOD taste IS violated in
the dialogue or situations The only
technical fault is the plays extreme
polish, which amounts TO an ovcruote Of
evenness. producing monotony and al
lowing the spirit of action to drop and
crawl along. Yet the play is above the
average. quite as strong. and virile and
important as THE Hypocrites" OF
Henry Arthur Jones. a play which dealt
I'm part with a similar episode I'm a
young girls life. There is little doubt
that If the play had been presented by a
company remarkable for its supreme
talent, 4 company temperamentaIly
equal to those inspired heights shat
alone drive the authors nearing home
Il would have achieved an extraord inar-
reception even I'm this, the worst and
most ErudEInE season OF q dceade. q"
Sound, Effective Argument.
You know the story. so 7 win omit
recounJing lt. The point I want TO
make is that this play is the best and
soundest and most practically effective
exposition Of the doctrine Of equal sex
punishment or equal sex forgiveness
equal Judgment to man and woman i'm
the matter OF seventh commandment
transgressions - since Wilkie Collins
wrote The New Magdalen." and it goes
farther than that Incompatible book
And II is the first time that a drauatist
has put the thesis fatty and mobioc-
tonably before us in a form that does
not bring blush. Aren't we all sin
ners Of various degrees and kinds
Don't we all feel sorry for each otner? q?
Ihe way we've treated the ladies is