New-York tribune., 1907-12-08
THE DRAMA In LONDON.
,.rcgular Censorship Tcsts-Mati-
nrc PIays-Shasc.
London. November %.

shp
o'' orobibited by the Lord Chamberiain's
nav s another is the revival of dramas
o1'ce 60 considered equally objectionable by
Nfh0' ,.S ce1sors Both tests have been
sea-. .n;s week Mr.. Barker's Waste has
sPp., enacted by the Stage Society and a small
0e'. has been at liberty to express its dis
sun, Of Nr Redford's intolerance in declin-
slP' ,,,o,se II for public performances at the
Hs ,, charles Brookficlds farcical comedy,
sap' ,-.,,oo- has been revived at the Naude-
Afr Charles Iawtrev and an excel
Va .or,,any of comedians. and the partiSans OF
,,,r,e, and Mr. Garnett whose works nave
e7ciaIIv condemned in the interest OF pub
ooraiity have the opportunity for re-
..,rinc the censor for Inconsistency. When
ao this. however, they assume without eN-
"'- 80. or authority the functions Of censorship
= indirectly discredit a work which has been
rs+ei by Mr.. Hawtrey in a broadly comic
-. and as deIicatey as the text allows him
= ..,roduce it. An irregular censorship Of this
- based upon comparisons with prohibited
- 1il,e Maternity ''Alonna Wanna, Mrs
f.,.s Profession" and Waste" is highly
.,,,-oversial II is also unconvincing. since
.s.re is no approach TO unaninlity among critics
and moralistS. ..,,.
- 5ependent upon public favor do not wish
- no cxnosed 10 inQuisitions OF this kind Nat
.bex, r,refer the existing censorship, be-
:. * more definite and intelligible. Mr..
..-5- soas not condemn one play and license
>sed dramas without having fixed pr1n-
,a miles for determining his action
- co,,ld be readily illustrated by COM
e-.on of the plays which have been mentioned
= ,,,nleasant and Improbable undertaking
,-na-4enced managers understand what ne con-
,,sers objectionable, and are seldom surpriseo
~ his decisions. They make him tne Keeper vi
= , s,onscjences and the regulator OF
rr1ic decency. and when exposed 10 cllli-
-, fo- their productions they can screen
themselves behind his official skirts, Win INC
2 ..,.r,-roinr vindication that what has peen
,io,,.ed IS good enough morality IheE oush''
xs,e- N be grateful TO him for neSiecuhs 10
-.rs deputies to the theatres TO compare tne eA-
80 ,.e-s,ons of musical comedies and farces
NTH the original text In the Ordinary course
long run q popular drama Will often be
,rsnsforrned by interpretations ana ne" pu''ii1s'
- ,,c;dents and vulgarized beyond recosni-
,;on vet it has been licensed and fourisnes uh-
s,- an Official certificate Of good character Ihe
,..- ,e-so-sf1fp ought to be made more ef-
..,,,e IN as to preclude much that is oojection-
& ..,r5 DEGRADING in the unauthorized versions.
70, a,n,sv as il is under flexible management
., safeguard for the maintenance or puohC
a.,,,cx and If !. were abolished at the ihsl1-oe
81 sre,,stic authors sou7e substitute ~oulo naNo
- le found Cor 1.-THE County Couf1Ch OF tHe
no,;ce or the common inforTner NeilHe1 au
,he-s nor managers are willing 10 nave pays
censored BY pedants, doctrtra'res OF So0'iO
-,onesrs nor is .he7e any chance or an sppea'
ga -he Lord ChaInbe-iain's Office 20 q Minister
as r9ne Arts or a high commission OF elii'e0-
c.rsrts Mr. Redford ~-ill have to be toiera'ed
rs ~esder ard licerser of plays. And "ilhou'
5orh. he British stage under his supervisor
:, o,o.,-.- and more reputable than IL would pe
xitho1.t the censorship
III, r-.-,;oe Of giving special mafineeS
ui,b : different piaybil from lhal oi '
.,irr rerforrnances is becoming coiilllioi''
Nr ga-xe- introduced il at the Court ihea
,re afhen he was proving last year tnd' -ai'
shsz.s works had sufficient drawing po"N.
for HrIine 2 playhouse of moderate sI@e' anu
~ c. has continued the innovation with
marked success. Miss Lena Ash"eh 10 "
,r,.,, -. exne-innent At the Kingsway, and
Mr.. cyril Maude has also mace sPe0id'.y
If !. al the Playhouse. 1t is always easy 10
-. :. ,o,-,,snv of experienced actors Tor d
limited number OF matinee performances o'i
-res5.,rs and Fridays since there is no inter-
fs-snoa -.-;.F, their regular work in the even
i,rs ans "Wednesday and Saturday ailei
noons. and -here are audiences to be attfac'-
ed nv bright and thoughtful novelties MI
Naude's double bill-Mr. ETC Lewis
Lesson in Shakespeare" and F1do. MISS 1F
Anstruther's judicious adaptation from W
aaln's French texts an excciieii' ohe.
brings hack Miss Winifred Emery 10 ihe S1ae1
m part enabling her TO reveal poln Chain ~
power II also enables Mr.. Maude hinset 10
take I'D comedy again and tovary MS stsie- iNe
ludicrous farces in which he has been appear ins
for q long time have been nighiy au0CeS'i
from the box office point Of view puA MANY 'I
his most ipd,cious admirers prefer TO see him
in legitimate comedy parts, for ~nlch ne iiaS
has brilliant talent and delightful personality.
This performance is a good example OF MS oiN
fashioned style in eccentric character- liz repre-
seuts the maximum of effort, whereas MI. Ha"-
trey. his principal rival in London, stands for
The minimum of byplay in part ike hugh
-Farrsnt tn The Cuckoo Mr.. Maude produces
his effects by an incessant play OF gesture Ia
csl expression. pose and mannerism' YET tne
touch is light with all the exaggeraffon ano inc
whimsical spirit illumines his WORK
'srido'' IN its present for1n-and the adapter
has succeeded in avoiding a thin masquerade
o. French characters under English names-is
marriage play with the familiar moral tiia@
ths wife must have uninterrupted spprecia'ioh
from the husband or she Will be tempteo 'o
look for Il elsewhere. The grabbed, prosaic nus
hand returns TO his wife and nieces In tne nay
With the startling intelligence that an oio schooi
friend has invited himself to dine Win tnen
~hen the servan. is out and there is meagre
isre. and the intruder when he comes is 80 ,oViai
and axreeabe-c. W France enacts the part
With effective -calisu,-that the wife becomes
most friendly and induces him to take the nat
underneath and hfs meals with the family. The