The sun., 1907-03-10
MRS. -EARREN'S PROFESSION.
SH AVIS SUPPRESSED PLAY GIVEN
WITH LEGAL SANCTION.
Interesting as 4 sOcIalIstIc Tract and Bril-
liant as DialecIlcs. but IBsubstanti
aS the Dramatic Embodiment OF a Dark
Theme A Mediocre Performance.

interesting as q SOctallsttc Tract anu Bril-
liant as Dialectlcs. but ubstantiaI
as the Dramatic Embodiment OF Dark
Theme A Mediocre Performance.
Ex-policeman McAdoo must now be
aware that the tenure OF human authority
is brief A year ago he closed the doors
OF the Garriok on Mrs Warren's Profess
sion and arrested the actors. Last night
Bernard Shaw greatest pay" as the pro-
gramme called it, was given at the Man
haitian with full authority Of the law. And
that is the least interesting feature Of the
occasion.
When the piece was first performed the
house was crowded to the doors and the
roof with the elite Of those who professed
with Mrs. Warren and those who profsssed
with Mr.. Shaw, while on the sidew ak tickets
sold to an eager crowd Of Peeping Toms for
az high as $40. Last night there was the
same bunch of spectators, but they wore
out their sole leather on the tagging and
shouted their wares in vain, unable to sell
them even at par Inside the audience was
of such dull gray mediocrity as to suggest
that the disappointed hawkers had been
driven to waste their wares on self and lady.
year has brought counsel. The wise
now know that the play is neither as wicked
nor as diverting as it appeared in that
former fever of prurient Imagination.
1t is an able socalistic pamphlet, with
here and there a brilliant bit Of dialectics,
and as such it is well worth the attention
of those to whom the darker themes Of
society and morals are of interest. Rut II
lacks the firm and deep grasp on human
character and emotion that is requisite
to raise such a subject to the plane Of really
momentous drama. IL is well for human
freedom and such ghtenment as de-
pends on liberty of speech that it should
be permitted, but it is not a thing that
demands attention OF can be recommended
to the general public.
The acting was no better than that of the
first performance, which was far from dis
| tinguished. Miss Mary Shaw, who again
took the title role, wore gray instead OF scar
let, and her mimicry was subdued in proper
| ton; but she still failed TO get into the skin
of the part, If indeed il has any palpable in
tegument. Ii is a character that would put
a severe strain on any actors power Of inn
peTsonation, with it's rapid shifts and alter
nations between downright frankness and
cheaply romantic emotionalism. Like
many of Shaw's major characters, Mrs.
Warren seems deduced from rather fanci-
| full theory instead Of being studied from real
life. The most that can be said is that on
the whole Miss Shaw's present performance
| is an Improvement.
That is not the case with the remaining
parts. The Virie of Miss Cathrine Countiss
was crude and overwrought; the Prded
Of Dodgson Mitchell rumbling and robustu-
| GUS. John Findlay as the Rector and +. j.
Ratcliffe as Sir George Crofts were no more
than passable As Viuie's Frank Walter
Thomas was not disagreeably hippant.
The gallery was more demonstrative
Of appreciation by far and more partisan in
applause than the floor Of the house. though
| somewhat crudely unintelligent in the
| timing of its outbursts. The chief signi-
| ficance of the occasion was that the play
would have died its own death long ago
il it had not been for the illadvise1 attempt
| to kill it.