The Washington herald., 1907-12-01
NEW YORK THEATERS.

rick Monday evening II was "The Toy
maker Of Nuremberg" by Austin Strong.
and the impression il created is not easy
of analysis, for whether Mr. Frohman's
exultant announcement some time ago
in London that he had discovered new
American playwright who would throw
other native playwrights In the shade. Is
10 be confirmed by this evidence Of Mr..
Stroag's genius. must ultimately remain
with the public The press is glaringly
divided regarding the merit of the piece.
though my own opinion is that the TOY
maker in better hands would have shared
a kindlier fate
The central figure. assumed by w. J.
Ferguson, is a simple old toymaker like
Caleb Plummer and a sweet. innocent
personality like Tom Pinch. In this set
ting ne lives high up in a commodious
garret facing the great town clock. OF
Nuremberg. which looks boldly into the
window with It's Illuminated dial. The
Old teymaker is experiencing the Ameri-
can invasion In the form OF Teddy bears.
which are driving HIS dolls out Of the
market. and his doom is sealed when.
in his own childish simplicity and in his
own fantastic inery. accompanied by
Nebuchadnezzar. his dachshund and alb
systematically carrying his shoes in hrs
hands. he repairs with his younger son
10 the home Of his rich EMPLOYER and
patheticaIly asks that inflated worthy 10
bestow the hand of his daughter upon
his romantic offspring II furnishes proof
positive that the old toymaker knows
nothing OF the world. for his suit is re-
tected and on top of IL he is basely ac-
cused OF being a designing schemer and
ambitious fOrtune-hunter.
Stunned by this turn Of affairs and re-
lieved OF his last means OF making a
livelihood, he and his son pack their be-
longings 10 make a counter invasion of
the realm Of the Teddy bear across the
waters. face the tabled Teddy-bear-I1in
in his lair and repair the damage by ac-
Quiring a fortune, not as toymakers. but
as cattle raisers. With fortune in their
grasp they plan 10 return. shame the
proud employer, AMI make IL possible for
two young people 10 become man and
wife.
AZ this juncture there is heard in the
street the significant "tOot-toot" Of an
automobile and a moment after there en-
ters upon the scene Of sadness a strap
ping young man in complete modern at
tire, who addresses the weeping toy
makers wife as mamma" and the next
moment folds her I'm his arms with ef-
fusiye tears and over-eIoquent protesta-
tons. Il is Adolp. the toymaker's son.
who disappeared twenty years ago. He
is the tabled Teddy-bear-kingl He has
lived in the United States and has be-
come a captain OF Industry by cornering
the market on Teddy bears,
II all happens just as IL does in one
Of GTimms fairy tales. There is no need
now OF the dear old toymaker emigrating
to America AdOlph Is rolling In wealth,
and few words from him on a card TO
the hard-hearted employer brings that
worthy 20 the old toy shop with his
daughter. and. seeing that his own
bread and butter depends upon the favor
OF the Teddy -bear-kiug he Is only too
complacent in consenting 10 the union OF
his daughter 90 the Teddy-bear-king'
brother, the old toymaker's son.
IL is a play OF cheerful optimism. with
incidents TO which you are asked 70
subscribe without question or mental res
eTyatiOn. just as you are expected 10 do
when YOU read fairy tales. II you do
not believe in fairies. you viii not be-
lieve in The Toymaker OF Nuremberg"
which is only chapter from that time
of legendary lore in which the childish
mind loves TO run riot. The Old toy
maker in the hands Of the late JoSeqa
jefferson. David Warheld. or Z. S. VII
lard. would doubtless have proved a bet
ter claim 10 recognition than in the IN
certain Interpretation Of Mr. Ferguson.
though his technical skill is above ques-
ton. His whimsical portrayal was anus
ing enough. but too artificial TO provoke
genuine sympathy. Aside from his very
clever technical performance. the hOn9rs
fell 10 Nine. Cotrelly. who distinguished
herself as the toymaker's wife. ihere
was much 10 admire in the play. and
the atmosphere Of the toyshop was
charmingly denoted. The very simple
ity OF the theme inspires interest, an
interest unfortunately marred BY consid-
erable bad acting. notably on the part
OF Harrison Armstrong as Adolph.
Mr.. StrOngs only previous contribution
TO the American stage was The Little
Father Of the Wilderness" a one-act
playlet presented by Francis Wilson.
Another One-act play Of the same author
enjoyed a long run in London, where Mr..
Frohman's attention was drawn 10 the
young man. Ar Strong has the pres
tige Of being a nephew OF Robert Louis
Stevenson and kin 10 Lloyd Osbourn.
He spent some time with Stevenson in
the Samoan Islands and has written in
conjunction with Osbourn.
Chauncey Oleott came 10 the Liberty
Monday evening in a characteristic Irish
drama Of Hibernian heroics Of the CrOm-
wellian period. and stOrmed every female
heart in the audience with his bIarney
and his songs. until boxes and parquet
seats showered flowers at his feet and
forced him TO the fore with q speech OF
| thanks. The new play is ''O'Neill Of Der
~, in which Mr. Olcott essays the part
of an Irish blade, who has served in a
foreign legion and returns to take part in
an adventurous intrigue against the gov
ernor of Londonderry for the sake Of a
lady's smile. II is typical OF the cloak
and sword, and is played with dash and
go that landed il a safe favorite. The
star sings "A Rose Of Old Derry" Nj
chael McGinty McGinity. Every Star
Falls in Love with Its Mate" and ''One
Little, Sweet Little Girl which consti-
tuted one of the principal attractions of
the performance. for aside from being a
clever actor, Olcott is a singer Of decided
charm.
At the Lyric The Girls Of Holland" " by
de KOven and STANCE, is in its second
week for limited engagement precedent
to the return visit of Ermete NoveIH in
repertoire for two weeks. The Girls Of
| Holland" met with a cold reception from
/ the critics. but some Of the numbers
! which de Noven has comnnsed for N nns-