Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1907-07-14

IN years has aroused the discussion
and given vent to the divergent
opinions that have hedged about
peter Pan" Scarcely two persons
have seen 1t exactly alike, and the
views enunciated vary from the most
rhapsodical praise to the fartherest
degree of disgust.
Yet scarcely ever has Los Angeles
had a play wherein the trained critics
of the various papers so heartily and
unanimously rejoiced, or one over
which they have been so enthusiastic.
Without a dissenting voice the expert
writer's on things dramatic have lined
1ip in paeans of delight. 1t has en-
tranced, enthralled, thrilled and salts
fed these usually captions and caustic
Gentlemen, and they have fairly I'M
loosed the foodgates Of their rhetor-
ical encomiums.
~ These two propositions in them
selyes establish Peter Pan" as play
extraordinaire. For not only does the
general public usually strike an aver
age and denominate drama briefly
as good" fair or rotten" and let
1t 20 at that as its consensus Of
opinion, but the trained writer's for the
press almost always find, each for
himself, faults of construction, tech
knioue. production or depiction-aS we'll
fas, on the other hand, causes OF
i|praise In varying degree-which each
proceeds to thrash over, elaborate or
excuse, as his personal bent or inclina-
lions may tend. Thus. one gets the
play passed upon from the inexpert
Viewpoint of the casual playgoer, in
brevity and usually in unanimity. and
from the expert side of the skilled ex-
positor of the drama in variability
and idiosyncrasy through the daily
press. In this case the matter is d.
rectly reversed; the critics are the
united enthusiasts free from all bias
or Individual like or dislike, While the
public itself is utterly at sea.
The reason for this is peculiar-and
at the same time is a most excellent
defense of the functions of the trained
critic, whom many affect to despise.
The general public flocked to Peter
Pan" without having previously IN
formed itself in the slightest degree
as to what it might expect therefrom'
The magic drawing power of the name
of Maude Adams was talisman In It
self and had she been billed in a
"Tom show" she would have filled the
theater just the same. True, Peter
pan" had been heard of, but only In
the most vague way; 1t was known TO
he a fairy play'-so, one may say.
is "a Midsummer Nights Dream
and was considered more for groWnupS
than for children. That's really all
the public in general possessed III the
way of knowledge of it.
ON the other hand the crttics-at
least one, and probably all, for they
must SO do to be successful-had been
reading about and studying up on
peter Pan" for these many months
past. Its first announcement was
enough to arouse their attention; they
ton md rf
success in London and in New York;
they absorbed the synopsis of it, had
e1inpse of its atmosphere, knew Its
import and were in a measure pre-
nared for it. They must do this; 1t
is mart of the routine of conscientious
critic to know not only of and about
dramas that he has seen. but also or
those he may see-and even OF sucn
as he never can hope to witness, but
which form a part of theatricals as
such. Thus he is in a way in touch
with the whole mimic world Of the
stage: his faculties are kept In train
inc nv almost daily familiarity with
new offerings, and when he is called
upon to estimate one coldly and calmly'
he is seldom taken by surprise. lie
and his confreres may differ-they
view from varying angles. But he can
give reasons for the faith that Is In
him. intelligently and honestly. He
&c not surprised into incoherency.
Had the playgoers possessed any
real comprehension of Peter Fam
they could have gone in the proper
spirit. enveloped in sympathetlc at
mosphere. and witnessed one of the
most fascinatingly dainty and appeal
ing stage productions ever made,
with hearts open to its beauties, Its
charm and it's clevernesses. Most OF
those who saw it early succumbed to
its compelling entertainments, and they
are the ones who came away clamor-
GUS in their enthusiasms. The rev
never got within it's ken; they left
early, sore and Disguised; they saw
nothing but gibberish nonsense In IT.
and they hope never to be similarly
afflicted again. The former are Peter
Pans" staunchest adherents; the lat
ter condemn it utterly. There is no
middle ground-such seems to be i'm
) And the more it is discussed the
wider apart the two classes are; this,
too, is the expected for its charm is
too intangible to describe. Those who
love it as a blessed memory know that
they do, and never can be convinced
to the contrary; those who dislike 1t
hate 1t with the deep seated, inbred
hate of the uncomprehending. So 1t
has been here; so it has been every
where it has been presented.