The Washington herald., 1907-04-14

A HE most attractive play, the most
serious IN purpose, and the most
carefully played during the past
week was Charles Klein's THE
Lion ana the Mouse" which drew packed
houses to the New National Theater. This
was nothing new. for this same company,
to all intents and purposes. has been
playing to packed houses ever since the
play was first put on in New York. A
second company. with Mr.. Arthur Byron
at its head. is repeating the great success
of the original company in the Middle
West. The play ran for two years in New
York City. closing its run at the Lyceum
Theater. TO move to Washington. When
it gets through with its tour Of The large
Eastern cities there is little doubt that
it can go hack to New York and still
find many patrons.
Now there must be some good, sound
reason for The success Of this play-such
an unqualified success. a success not only
from the b0x-ofice standpoint but also
from the standpoint of the audience. for
those who pay their good money TO wit
ness the performance were made TO feel
grateful for the opportunity they had had.
The play is not particularly an amusing
one. There are one or two comedy situa-
tions at the most and only half dozen
lines that can raise a real laugh from the
audience. But 1t is a drama of human
life that grips hold Of the hearts OF the
audience, awakes the intelligence. rOuses
the sympathy Curious. too, because the
character against whom all the sympathy
is turned is that idol Of the American peo-
ple-the typical millionaire. It is all very
WELL our railing at him in the nwspapers.
or undertaking him in the popular maga-
zines. he represents. IN spite OF all, the
goal 10 which most of US would attain If
we could
As in the old days. when the hero was
always good and the heroine always beau
tifuI and virtuous. we enjoyed seeing them
IN drama, because we all like to see our
ideals-very often mere children of our
dreams-take tangible and visible form.
even If it IS only IN play. And there
must be something OF the same thought
back Of the large popular appeal OF "The
Lion and the Mouse" It seems TO suit all
tastes-the rich man likes the play as well
as the poor man; south as well as age.
The play has obvious faults Of con
struetion, but in relation to the whole
theme Of the play these are so minor
that they are hardly worth taking into
account. To any one knowing anything
at all about dramatic construction the
thought must come, on hrst seeing The
Lion and the Mouse" that the play IS
so good it is a great pity it were not a lit
tie better. The first act is very we'll ar
ranged indeed. but thereafter there is a
good deal of strain put upon coincidence
It is very well that Shirley Rossmore
should be a writer and should have
chosen her sweethearts father as the
hero OF her novel, but it is more than a
coincidence that Ryder should send foI
her. out of al the women in the world
TO write his biography. The intrusion OF
Bagley into the play also seems 10 be
unnecessary, and although it is always
popular TO exaggeTate certain traits
which the EngliShman of family is sup
posed TO possess, Mr.. Klein has made
rather too silly an ass out of this chap
If he had no more brains than Bagley
shows. what possible chance would ther,
have been for him 10 have become
Ryder's confidential secretary.
But tile play as whole is big enough
10 make us forget such things as these
The dialogue of the second act is in
tensely and finely dramatic. Ryder is s,
strong; Shirley is so weak, and yet al
ways she dominates him as, the worlC
over. a pretty woman has always domi
mated a man. She holds the mirror ~
10 nature and shows Ryder his CIV,
features, and he does not quite like III,
view. What true chord is struck whel
Ryder-whom We have already Learned
has bodyguards who watch over him a
If he were a crowned head-quotes from
Shirleys book and reads: d" With all hi
physical bravery and his personal c0ur
age. John Broderick was intensely afrait
of death. 1t was in his mind constantly.
Who told you that? I've never men
toned It 10 a living soul" The ansWe
OF Shirley goes al the root OF things
Most men who amass money are afrai,
of death, because death is about the enl,
thing that can separate them from thei
money" And that is the true logic of II
The play throughout IS elemental il
its emotions, It is mawlish nowhere. bu
It IS at all times pathetic, and with tn
brave fight that Shirley Rossmore i
making for her fathers honor, every on
that hears must feel the deepest and mos
tender sympathy. She wins in the end
OF course, but the fateful thing is tina
she wins, not because her cause is just
not because truth is truth and will no
down; not because wrong is bound to b
w0rsted, right to triumph; bat simply a
the wave of the hand, the simple pleas
ure. the vhim of this multimlllionaire
who chooses, for his own good purpose, [
allow this upright judge who has futter
ed into his dishonest net to escape. Tn
taste the play leaves in the mouth is
bitter one, and no thoughtful America
citizen but must ask himself Il this
really true-have We reached that stat
where money is all powerful? The answe
each man must find ont for himself. but
debt of gratitude is owing to Mr. Kiei
for having presented this, one OF tn
vital problems of our vest country-s
full OF problems 90 be soIved-in such
way that "he who runs may read" Thi
is the function of the drama in its bes
estate.
Louis Evan shlpman's "on Parole"
not the best war play ever written. but
IS sufficiently meritorious to deserve eve
more generous patronage than was az
corded it at the Belasco the past weel
It scarcely can be compared TO "Secrt
Service" or '"The Heart of Maryland.
for instance. but 1t is nevertheless we
worth seeing lis picture of rnral VII
ginia in the closing year Of the war be