The Washington herald., 1907-12-29
NEW YORK THEATERS.

because Yorke and Adams. the
created a genuine Christmas
sensation in their musical comedy, Play
ing the Ponies"
Charles Cherry sprained his ankle dur
ing a rehearsal Monday morning, and
Miss Elliots opening had 10 be postponed
until Wednesday evening The Car
rick. therefore, remained dark the early
part Of the week. Miss Adams opening
was originally set for Christmas Eve, so
that Hackett divided interest with Miss
Taliaferro when the week began. any
way, Sutro's long-expected play, orig
inaIy presented by George Alexander
IN London. was the focusing center OF
interest and attracted a polished and
audience. One never can
tell what New York audience will, in
the long run. approve in the way Of Sc
rious drama, but this play ought 10 sue
ceed. IL is vital and up 10 da,e. SutrO
is not the psychologist that PinerO is.
but he presents a well-defned problem
that must come home 10 a lot OF married
men who send their wives abroad and
forget them in the fascination Of bust
ness
Such a man is John Glayde, PITTS
burg millionaire. lie is the iron king,
and forgets in the excitement Of bust
ness that his wife is living in Paris
in idle luxury. exposed 10 temptation.
and forgetting day by day that he ex-
lists. When John Glayde Unexpectedly
arrives in Paris IA response 20 an
anonymous cablegram Of warning. he
dnds his wife nervous and distant
He hnds her cold and his advances re-
jected. In spite Of his relentless bust
ness career. he IS a man OF warm
heart and feeling. He tries 70 re-
gain his MurieTs love. but she can only
invent excuses and simulate @ friend
snip that IS not sincere IN an exalted
spirit OF self-reproach. he bIames only
himself and promises 10 make amends
by giving up the struggle for power
ard becoming again husband and lover
But matters have gone too far
Mur!el IS in love with a sentimental
young painter. Trevor LerOde lie is
three years younger than she, and full
% the enthusiasm Of an ardent lover
His mother wants him 70 marry the
daughter Of a rich English brewer
and il is she who sent the warning
cable 10 John GIayde. II does not
take Glayde long 20 discover the truth
nor lcng 10 see that he has come too
late; that Muriel IS infatuated with
Trevor. and he with her: that both. in
truth. are madly sincere.
Yet John GIayde Is forbearing He
tries 10 the last TO re-awaken Muriers
affection. He appeals 10 Trevor. II IS
not until he realizes that he Is being
made the victim Of a base deception
that the full conviction Of his hopeless
position overwhelms him. When he
surprised the lovers in the act OF
eIoping. his first impulse is TO destroy
but his sterner sense Of justice pre-
walls. and he agrees TO give Muriel up
90 Trevor and leave them together iyl
the artists studio 20 divorce his wife
on his return 10 the United States.
The problem here is. may a man
leave his wife alone 70 find in others
the companionship and sympathy 20
which she is entitled from him. with
out paying the penalty OF wilfuI neg
lect. and the answer is divorce. The
treatment Of the subject IS romantic.
II lacks the cold analysis OF Ibsen and
the polished cynicism Of Pinero. but
truth and conviction are at the bottom
OF il, and the play makes a strong I'm
preston.
1t WAS admirably played, and the
vericst cynic must give Mr.. Hackett
credit for one Of the best performances
he ever gave in his life. His John
Glayde is said 10 be an Improvement
on Alexanders in London, and one can
readily believe IL His work was
earnest and even intense, and in sew
eral scenes the tears glistened IN his
eyes and his voice yibrated with gen
uine emotion that reached over the
foOtights. Miss Darragh PLAYED Mu-
riel excellently The whole perform
ance was pitched in the right key
There was no ranting in the big scenes
and no moments OF artificiaIly-wrou
climaXes but subdued power and evil
dence of artistic sincerely.
OF course. the press is divided. as
usual The Times calls it an artid-
cial play and says: Very young peo-
PIE and people who do not care tC
analytic things viii like John Glayde's
Honor" The Telegraph, whose re-
view is written by Algernon St. John
Brenon. a conservative and capable
critic. calls it "a serious play on a Sc
rious subject, seriously acted by q
company, the majority Of whose mem,
bers were in close touch with the sig
nificance and capacity Of their parts.
and congratUlates the audience or
having enjoyed "a rare privilege" in
this respect. William Winters pent-
up feelings vent themselves in a mora
sDasm, which consumes a column OF
more IN the Tribune. He hates any.
thing by Ibsen, Hauptmann. Maeter-
linck, Sudermann, Pinero, or Sutro. II
fact, all the morning papers, except
the Telegraph, pan" the play and the
performance. The afternoon papers
are quite as much one way as tho
morning papers are the other That
means that just about four Of the crit
les praise John Glayde's Honor" while
the remainder slate it.
The first announcement that Henry
Miller would star Edith Wyune Matthisor
was through the medium of this letter
several months ago. At that time Mr.
Miller contemplated having Miss Matthi
son take Miss Anglins place in "Th,
! Great Divide" when the latter went L
Australia in the spring. a hitch of some
kind occurred, and the report was denied
on no definite authority other than tha,
nothing was known Of It in England
where the former exponent Of the moral
| ity play "Everyman." has been playins
ever since she left the United States. .sov
the report is confirmed. and Miller again
authorizes the statement that she is 4