New-York tribune., 1907-10-27
on THE LONDON STAGE
TspO Problem Plays, F'The Barrier"
and Irene Wycherley."
London Octni,A.

o+her black mephitic and sitting Ono is ..1rba
Barrier" by Mr. Sutro. at the Comedy Theatre
where one Of the most charming and versatile
actresses Of the time, Miss Tempest makes q
desperate plunge into emotional drama as a self
sacrificing heroine with a past The other L
Irene Wycherley," at the Kingsway. a work b,,
6 new dramatist. Mr.. Anthony P Wharton in
which Miss Lena Ashwell enacts with excep-
tional power and brilancy the part of tort
ured wife Of a hcentious and bestiaI brute
Neither play presents a problem which has
any relation TO life as it is known anywhere on
this planet even in degenerate age; and in
each the characters are not real men and wonn
On. but stage puppets invented for theatrical
situations The dramatic schemes are variants
Of wornout designs which have been frequently
employed on the French stage. Human nature
is not closely observed in either instance; the
plot lacks plausibty and the dialogue SINGER
I;y the problems are artificial and are not
worked out with hrmness and decision. and the
bewildered spectators are left in the dark either
choking with morbid sentiment or nauseated
with coarse realism
The principal figure in The Barrier is an
actress Of thirty. who has fallen in love with
dull lnIpressionable prig. the younger son of
pennIless duke. She pays a visit TO Dumaray
Castle and fascinates every member of the ducal
household. The barrier to her happiness is a
South African millionaire, who behaved like
blackguard when she was inexperienced
young girl He appears at the castle
suitor Of Lady Alma Dumaray, the sister of
LORD Ronald Dumaray, TO whom she is herself
engaged. She determines to prevent this mar
risge and deies the millionaire 10 do his worst
He takes vengeance upon her by telling the
truth about her dishonorable past. The senti-
mental duke becomes her champion when she
has confessed her guilt. and while the million
sire is turned out OF the house. she is welcomed
as Lord Ronald's bride. Mr.. Hanks. a benevo-
lent draper. burns the mortgages on the dukes
estate so that there may be no difficulties of
financial nature in the way OF a marriage. Lord
Ronald himself takes a serious view Of the mill
ioneire-s charges and the broken hearted
actress releases him. One source of consolation
renains-the friendship Of middle aged eo-
-,irer. who has been set aside in favor OF the
sba1lov, Young nobleman. and although he at
.s-,-+s n breax away from her and TO forget
her IN India q pathetic sigh from her orlnss
him hack ike faithful dog. If the intlmatohs
Of ultimate marriage were more olrecI 1t Hiis
:. ,,4arred that the moral Of the piece was tilaI
<s..;-.+;-- actresses should mate with middle
egsd e7,itors of their own class ana not hl' "i'n
-+=sa.,t,rie voung lords and with this gloss IHe
=. --o,,,d rereive the special patronage ol lii7
-a.esa As this Interpretation seems spe-lous'
=. ,o,s+ fall back upon the French stage iue"
.bs. nrevious lapses from virtue 90 ho' -
,hera 5s q conflict between love ana outS
- .,,;,+z woman shows her capaclIg Iol
g -..-ieoe That is the stale old soclal piOO
L. that has never convinced any
-.ersan in or out Of the theaue' . r.
e,-+-o does rot appear TO be IN earnest -
- -,a+tng or solving any proolen
.,.s;z ,ha- one slip more or less uO7e--
l. oan he retrieved by outspoKeh tr''li-
t-.--. - ,,,selHshness is simply conFeh-
- - srsblfng him to provide theatrlcai
-, When il comes in the third act anu
= --+ between the actress ana her loIii0+
-. +e fought the dramatic erect haheS
-7,,a Grand tablesu is formed, but there 10
--,.-a5 silence and nobody seems 70 la'7
a.---i-e 70 say OF TO know what TO 40
-F. .--frf.oraire has been expelled ana 'ile O.
-- s-,,,+s have been condoned by the ducal
rs-r- fn an ecstasy Of emotchal
+-e-a +sa distinct effect Of anti-clirnaX IN Loro
Roads sudden spasnn Of sense ana III 'iie ~
rre5fa-- ae1eptance Of the middle ageo soiuie'
a. . -,-rzrfrr5te These are stage made scenes
,.- -,,s r7aractere do not act ike reasonaoie
rs,-gs endowed with the breath OF NE Inc
bi-5 loving duke. sweeping and dusting MS Fooi4i
and living in abject dependence upon the ->oi
'conf0ruist draper; the sluggish MARQUIS Uoiiii
,.os t,- his Furitanical middle class wife; the
rnagnanirnous man of business. who burns the
mortgages as easily as he supplies cigars lot
the family. and all the other figures IN 'he
drama seem to have been created for stage puI-
poses and not to have been observed from me
The acting nav be clever. but IT cannot be con-
vincing when characters, situations and prob
lens are stage inventions and lack the inspira-
tior of real life. Such interest the perform
snca rossesses really lies in the restless enoT'
of Misc Tempest TO broaden her range ana 10
rro,a that she is an emotional actress as well
as q charming comedian Of exceptional natural
ness and vivacity She does her work exceed
tngly well: yet many OF her characteristic
qualities are missed, and most Of her admirers
will rrefer TO see her in comedy parts such as
she has ordinarily taken. As for Mr.. Sutro'
there wili be general regret that this play Is
inferior 70 The Walls of Jericho" "A Maker
Of Men and John Glaydes Honor" and that
his art as playwright is not improving
The drama in which Miss Ashwell has secured
a great triumph at the Kingsway Theatre mas
q plot distinctly resembling Dumess 'L'Etran-
sere" Irene wycherley. separated from a
brutal and licentious husband. has an innocent
love affair which his friends seek TO break on.
From q sense of duty she returns 70 him when
he is reported TO have been the victim of
shooting accident; and. manned. blind and ter
riby dishgured. he takes her On his knee ana
makes love 10 her so coarsely that she breaks
away from him in disgust. He has invited the
eummers his former mistress and her husband
70 visit them, and Irene's own lover Is witness
OF her humiliation. Gradually the truth Is
learned that the shooting was not accidental
but was done by Summers in a freak or jealousy
and when the woman has been turned out or
doors by the indignant wife, two shots are
heard Summers has killed Wycherley and him
Ia ma