The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-26
AT THE THEATERS LAST NIGHT

Mrs. Fiske I'm "The New York idea"
at the BeIaseo.
In the glise OF comedy. whose Incl
dents would be broadly farcical if worked
out by a less skillful playwright than
Mr.. Iangdon Mitchell. or presented by
less accomplished players than those to be
seen at the Belasco. Mrs Fiske and her
Manhattan company last night genteelly
frollcked through one Of the cleverest
satires on divorce ever presented on the
American stage. 1.-THE New York Idea" is "A
masterpiece Of It's kind. mixing up two
divorced couples belonging to the swift
smart set Of the metropolis in a series OF
the most delightfully."- absurd situations.
and finally reunitlng one couple that had
really loved each other all the time in a
finaI scene Of exceptional prettiness and
piquancy. The dialogue of the piece
fairly sparIllcs with epigrams that hit
mercilessly at the evils of thoughtless
marriage and easy divorce and the gen
eraI Igntncss with which the marriage
relation is regarded in certain circles Of
New York society.
The satire is intensified through the in
PRODUCTION Of an impossible Englishman
who goes his American acquaintance
several better in the game he sees going
on around him. Nearly every character
Of the piece has the gift of smart say
ings. In fact. e. IS the land Of episram
Mr. Mitchell Introduces us 10. a land
where the chief end OF man and woman
is 10 be clever at repartee whatever else
they are 1t is an impossible land, OF
course, but il serves capitally the rur-
pose Of satire. and the incidents that
make the play are covered by the same
license. These incidents are So deity
worked out by tine playwright and so
plausibly and cOnvincingly rendered by
Airs. Fiske and her admirably selected as
s0ciates that they make an entertainment
as completely satisfying as one could de-
sire. The audience flied the house and
was one Of the most distinguished Of the
season. IL was kept n a mood Of Keen
enjoyment from the rise 10 the fan OF
the curtain, and went away feeling a new
debt Of gratitude 90 Mrs Fisllc vino las
enriched the American stage with 81
many fine and artistic productions during
her career.
In the role 81 Cynthia Karslake. sup
posed divorced wife OF John KarslakC
Mrs. Fiske has "a part that brings out
all the delicacy and quiet force OF comedy
OF which she is mistress. She is gay
impulsive. hooking young. woman, fond
of society and Of horses, and IN a mOmeu,
Of pique al a fancied slight from her
husband she rushes away TO Dakota and
gets n divorce. The first act introduces
her on the eve Of second marriage 10 a
middle-8ged and heavy judge, who had
divorced his wife for what was considered
good reasons. But the judges former wife
and Cynthias former husband are thrown
in with them with reckless abandon. 50
that In the end it is brought home "a
Cynthia that her love for her first hus-
band is after all the controlling influence
of her life
She cannot go on without him. and in a
scene of the strongest satire. she throws
up her agreement 20 marry the judge as
the wedding party is forming TO move
TO the improvised cItar in the Judge.
home. The cOmplaisant society preacher
is there the supplied choir is ready tC
begin intonation OF the wedding hymn
but Cynthia announces she can't do Il
and rushes away to save her first hus-
band from 4 second marriage. She finds
Jack at midnight in the room in which
had occurred the quarrel that led 10 their