Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-19
MRS. WARDS
PLAYA HIT
"THE MARRIAGE OF WILLIAM
AsHE" WELL RECEIVED
Auditorium Audience Treated to Satis-
tying Presentation of English
Society Drama--SeeIy Re-
ceives a "Lennon"
BY G. NJ. EMERY

Satire irony and q scathing arralgn-
ment of the social shams met in society,"
English society, If you please-form the
background ON which Mrs. Humphrey
Ward in '"rhe Marriage of William Ashe
has traced a question, asked since clVlll-
zation began, and variously answered.
How far may an impulsive, fiighty, no
tional childish wife carry her flirtations'
and still retain her husbands love- deVo-
tion and respect?"
The Ferris company with Florence
Stone presented the question entertain
ingly at the Auditorium last night peIore
an audience we'll pleased with the oHer-
ing.
For answer, one is left somewhat to his
imagination; yet the impression that
husbands love- when it be deep and
strong, will forgive much and still sur
round the object of its affection WIN
tender care, is the one most readily re-
ceiVed.
The novelist merely reiterates tnat
''love is more than all the world pc
side" Ambition, fame, friends, all, ALL
are declared we'll lost for love. OF course
in the end such a self-sacrihcing love
tames the wild spirit of the erring wire,
and all ends happiy,--but with the olu
question really as unanswered as III tne
beginning.
Story of the Play
William Ashe, a rising English. politi-
clan, marries Lady Katie Bristol, pi-
zarre free-spoken, young f1rebrand whose
eccentricities are the talk OF LONDON.
Half fascinated by q picturesque ana TO
mantle poet -warrior-j journalist. Lazy
Kitty after her marriage, carries ner
irritation TO such ali extent that she rims
her husbands political career upon the
eve of his achieving high honor througn
the appointment as home secretary. Iiis
friends and relatives are anehateu
through the scandal, and to cap the Gil
max the foolish woman passes d oas
and over half a night in the company ol
the writer. although she protests when
she returns home to the waiting husDano
that she has ''done nothing wrong
trip abroad is arranged to allow the scan,
da TO die out, and during the absence ol
the pair book, satirizing Engiisn SO,
ciety and it's leaders, written ny III.
headstrong young Woiiah' -
anonymously. e
The authorship becomes known ana 1ur-
ther trouble is created, but through II
all the husband stands by ms Wile' ~
the end he brings her to reahzlns sense
of her shortcomings, tames her WIN
spirit and holds her to his heart' con-
quered by love. 80
The production of the play given US
nv Manager Ferris is in many respects
better tnan the play itself. The dram
atist has made the first act overlong ana
filed it with much meaningless dialogue
which in view of the uneiminatable es-
sentials were much better abridged. the
play is necessarily sketchy, covering
over three years in the five acts of ac-
ton, but tells -he story with taf au-
herence to the original text and is mucn
better than many of the book plays,
Miss Florence Stone as the fiighty
b11t IL believe
the protestations put in her mouth, never
-eally bad. is a delight. ChanSeful as
snring day. she is ever convincing in hei
moods and the artist always Also nei
gowns are the envy of every woman Wh'
sees them. These man may not describe
he may only admire.
In the part of William Ashe Josepf
J<ilgour has a rather unnatural unrea
man to portray, but he does much tt
vain for the character the sympathy OF
fhe audience without ever suffering Its
contempt. His presence is pleasing ano
his repressive treatment of the part suits
him well.
George Drlrry Hart seems hardly a
home as the poet Journalist. His read
ing of the lines, however, is far superior
TO his acting and he may improve the
latter when more at ease in the piece
walter Hoff 5eely made his debut az
Lord Parham, the prime minister HI
received an ovation, delegation from
AL Malaikah shrine rendering their ap
precation through bouquets of divers ma
lures. running the gamut from lemons
carrots and cabbages to real flowers o
the chrysanthemum persuasion. A
speech was demanded at the conclusion
Of the first act and the genial genera
manager" actor for the nonce, respond
ed with :. witty defamation.
1nt.Ira Nor I n n
ham. Miss Eleanor Montell as Mar.
Lyster, Harry Won Meter as Eddie Hell
ston and several others Of the long cas-
merit special mention.
Scenic mountings of rare beauty have
been provided, and although somewha
tiresome in spots the play is we'll wortl
seeing.