The Washington herald., 1907-09-29

ity-
1t has no story to tell in the usual dra-
matte way II IS a stupendous exposition
Of psychological phases OF human nature.
Il takes the intr0spective being. living
upon himself. from the far northland,
where Shakespeare found his Hamlet.
We who live so much more on the sur
face have no psychological affinity with
the type. and to US The Master Builder"
will always be an unsolved puzzle
Ibsen ia his play completely breaks with
the French influences under which he
wrote THE Pillars Of Society" and
"Hedda Gabler, ana branches of
into unexplored regions of speculation
on human nature, where we find II diff
cult to follow him. Yet episOdically. the
play IS interesting, and the dramatic
feeling is never amlss in his wonderful
dialogue. In spite OF all the symbolism
/ In which It abounds. there are moments
/ Of intense interest that hold ones atten-
/ ton in an unrelexing grasp.
/ The performance viii add TO the repu-
tation of the Russian actress. and it is
doubtful If any other Of our present-day
players could exercise the same magnetic
influence in the character that she does.
| Her accent has appreciably diminished,
and only in the longer speeches Of i'm
/ passiOned feeling does she lose control
Of her mastery Of our tongue at times.
I was one Of a party OF newspaper men
and regular frst-nighters who went 70
New Haven on Monday to see the pre-
miere of David Warfield's new play. "A
Grand Army Man" The play went with
/ thunders OF applause before an audience
composed largely OF Yale students and
/ its fate was left in no manner Of doubt
Wariield has a worthy successor to the
Music Master" In the part of Wes'
Bigelow. the charming old Indiana rural
ist whose love for his adopted boy is in
many respects as touching as was the
sacrifice Of Barwig for his daughter in
the earlier play.
In "a Grand Army Man" Mr. Warfeld
bids farewell TO the dialect OF the East
Side Hebrew and the educated German.
and adopts the vernacUlar. rounded out
with a slight tinge OF the West. The
period Is Indiana, tWenty-one years after
( the war. BigeIOw served on the Union
side, and had "a speaking acquaintance
with Gineral Grant The enly woman he
ever loved married his rival This IS the
romance Of his life. She died and left an
orphan boy, Robert. WHO was received
as a baby into the bachelor home Of the
old veteran, and reared Jointly by him
and Letitia, Bigelow's spinster house
keeper.
Robert grows Up with the ewes of his
mother TO remind the kISlly old veteran
of his shattered romance and To enlist all
his love and interest, IN the eyes Of
Blge!ow. Robert can do no wrong. and
much Of the quiet hUmor Of the piece de-
velops from the exaggerated notions he
has formed Of Roberts inventive genius
in constructing patent bolts burglar
alarms, and printing presses Outside OF
Robert. the old man has no ideals save
the welfare OF the Grand Army post Of
the town. Of which he is post commander.
and whose doings supply the greater
part OF the local color in q most charac-
teristic manner.
The post is building a hall and Robert
IS sent to Terre Haute on his bicycle with
Sl.@'o.H Of the post money TO make de
posit in the bank The boys ambition
has been spurned by the apparent prefer
euce given TO a rival by Halle Andrews.
wtth whom he IS IN love Halle is the
daughter of Judge Andrews. who has
been defeated for reelection 20 the bench
by Bigelow and his comrades. and does
not share Miss Hallie's secret fonduess
for Robert
The boy falls into the hands Of
sharper dealing in bueket-shop options.
speculates with the post fund intrusted
to his keeping. and loses it. His hopes of
making money quickly In order to win
the favor OF the judges daughter are
~udely shattered. and he confesses him
self a thief.
The pathos Of the story lies in the devo-
tion Of Bigel0w. who az first refuses to
believe the evidence against his boy.
When Robert cOnfesses. Bigelow is
overcome. He makes the lad bring him
whip and he deals him a singing lash
that can be heard through the whole
theater; then. recalling the image OF the
boys mother, ne slowly drops the whip
and folds him in his arms
Then he goes out 20 raise the money.
dollar by dollar. assisted by his Grand
Army comrades. who take a lenient view
of the boys indiscretion.
Judge Andrews is filed with resentment
against Bigelow for defeating him. and
against the boy for being loved by his
daughter. and on the last day Of his il di-
cial term sentences the youth 10 a year
in States prison.
The great scene Of the play occurs in
the wonderfully realistic courtroom. in
which BeelOw is called upon to part
from his adopted son, tearfully appeals
to the Judge. and finally gives away his
Grand Army badges. declaring he is
through with life.
This forms the climax Of a thrilling
scene In which Warfeld's realism and
tenderness are seen at their best. It is
one Of the most stirring moments in any
play.
1t is succeeded by a quiet after act, the
following New Years Day, when Bige-
lows comrades are on round OF merry
calls, and appear at his home TO lend
cheer TO his deserted hearthstOne Even
here the pathOs is effectively relieved by
Warfield's quaint hGmor. which finds
ample expression in its sad setting. and
serves TO vary tears with laughter.
But Robert has made a valuable inven-
ton during hts stay in prison, and HIS
unexpected release and return form a
satisfactory solution of all the difficulties.
Halle has been true to him all the time,
although he has asked her to forget him.
and she is there TO greet him and to
assure him of her confidence and faith
In his future. and with Bigelow and
Lititia withdrawing into the other room.
The curtain falls on the young people
fondly holding each other heart to heart
and lip 10 lip.
The production is typical Of Belasco
in all that goes to make up a performance
that holds the spectator by the compelling
power of the story, the splendid acting
and the afu1osDher{c realism, 80 sba 1,-.,,,,