Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-03

"A
ments of emotional interest, as well as
sprightly dialogue and well-defined char
acterizations. But! 1t is saddening to see
the manner in which that accursed con-
junction obtrudes itself The air was not
electrified at its first production on Mon
day night with those vibrations which thrill
when something great has happened. De-
spite occasional sparkle and defamation, 1t
did not exhale the ozone of success.
In the first place the word Reason" is
not a good one to put into the title of a
drama. 1t hints at Huxley and savors of
Spencer. There is disposition to regard
the playhouse place where the rational
may be suppanted by the poetic, or at least
by the fantastic and diverting. What we
Notwithstanding in taste however
barbered and evening-clothed in appear
ance-want is rhyme and romance. not rea-
son: and in the case of Kyrle Be!lew espe-
cially romance.
While searching for flaws in 1.-THE Mar
rage of Reason" which is in many respects
a very excellent play, there is one violation
of Theatre precedent particularly to be
noted. The hero Is represented as being
pursued by the attentions of the fair sex.
This Is not the view of affairs which the
world likes to have presented. 1t is fun
damental principle of fiction that a heros
devotion to one must be so obviously COM
plete that no other woman would be tempt
ed for an instant to get silly about him.
AS as he becomes the object of love-
lorn and unrequited attentions he comes
under suspicion of being that rather ridicu-
lous persona male coquette. The merest
hint of this is dangerous to the dignity Of
an heroic role. and it requires Mr.. Bellows
utmost hneSse to rescue himself from the
predicament into which the playwright
seemed bent on placing him. 1t Is an
axiom of theatrie chivary that the man
must be the responsible factor in all affairs
of the heart excepting when as callow
youth he falls into the tolls of an adven-
turess. With an adventures, of course, it
is different If the story OF Adam and Eve
Were written for the stage, heart interest
good old phrase. that heart interest
wouli demand that Adam be represented as
taking the apple away from Eve by force
and fraud. The woman must have all the
best of romantic situation.
Mr.. Bellew is an actor of such extraordin-
airy personality that it becomes necessary
to fit him out with extraordinary situa-
lions. 1t does not suffice to give him the
atmosphere of conventional society. The
problems of the polite world, however
piquant or pathetic they may be- are not
sufficient TO fully occupy his talents. He
Is at his best when uttering the diction of
genuine poetry and at his next best when
interpreting the intensities of romance,
which, however impossible, content the
imagination. and soothe the world-fagged
mind.
1t would be foolhardy to predict that "A
Marriage of Reason" will not go into New
York and make success. THE Great Di-
vide did and there are just many OPP
portunities for revision and readjustment
for this play as there were for the former.
The differences in tastes between the Amer
lean metropolis and the American capital
is frequently emphasized. 1t was shown
with marked accentuation in the case of
Charming Pollock's Clothes" Mr.. Pol
lock is frank in expressing the belief that
his old friends in Washington were less en-
thusiastic in their display of interest than
might have been expected, considering his
long residence and close acquaintance here
Washington has never displayed any
great loyalty to people who have made
their homes here. Wilton I.ackaye has
mentioned 1t from time to time frankly and
with characteristic sarcasm. Charles B.
EanfCrd has never found here the recog-
milton tragedian so bountifuly extend
ed to him elsewhere. 1t would be difficult
to mention an instance where local pride
has exerted a perceptible influence on the
success of a Washington engagement. Pol
lock relates the following incident in sup
port OF his theory that prophet is with
out honor among his countrymen:
AT the opening of The Law and the
Man l sat in front of a dear friend of
mine who never has been able to see any
thing In my work. Augustus Thomas, walk
ing up the aisle, stopped to tell me how
much he had enjoyed Clothes" When he
had gone the dramatic critic behind me
said: I hear so many people speak we'll of
Clothes" yet 1 thought it a bad play.
wonder why?'
Ask me something hard l answered.
You're a friend of mine"
The redoubtable Claiming does not hes
itate to express his opinion of critics when
they displease him. He has all the firm-
ness of conviction which becomes him who
has reformed. Pollock was once a critic
OF the deepest dye; critic red-handed,
ruthless and rampageous. The ticket seller
was occasionally almost obliged to suspend
business as the box Office attaches crowded
to the window. with blanched faces to
turn their apprehensive gazes on him as
he walked through the lobby on a first
0
which for convenience may be referred to
by the name OF Partisan publication, LIE
Temps Pollocks style being quite Gallo
in its personal vigor We're varied and pic
turesque in their vicissitudes. A youth
full gladiator in the arena CT art he WELD
ed his cestus without regard to whose
complacent visage might be disfgured And
1t made such clever copy that his editorial
chief sliced him on until there came such
@ vigorous protest from theater box office
to newspaper counting room that Journal
ism yielded to pressure, and Pollock was
called off. But the gladiatorial instinct
knew no pity for mercenary wounds, and
on Sunday he leaped In with renewed appe-
title for the fray. On Monday morning
this brought him a discharge sufficiently
summary to crafty the revengeful ire of
the most implacable manager. "and," added
the editorial chief, when you write your
criticism tonight, be careful to tone 1t
down." But am not going to write any
criticism tonight" was his reply. Being
summarily DISCHARGED suruma rilv f,,,it -