The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-24
The Secret Orchard.

Opinions are greatly divided as 70 the
merits Of 1.-The Secret Orchard, which.
after its unfortunate experience on Mon
day night when II was unable to open
owing 10 the fact that its baggage had
gone astray on a railroad, played the
rest OF the week 20 excellent audiences.
These differences Of opinion have existed
ever since the play first was presented
they were marked in Chicago. less so in
Philadelphia. but in Washington. again,
there were enthusiasts and doubters.
The play IS a problem play. Of course.
and the problem is hardly a new one.
Something very like the same problem
is presented in Pinero's The Second Mrs.
Tanqueray.' only Pinero is too great.
too clever. and too true an artist TO in
sist-for the sake Of what is deemed the
demand Of audiences-on a happy ending.
The play is made from the novel OF the
same name by Agnes and Egerton Castle.
who are artists in fiction, and who saw
their story clearly to the end and worked
it out TO its logical conclusion. Mr.. Pol
lock, who secured the American dramatic
rights TO tho tale, deemed that the end
Ing provided by the Castles was inartis-
tic. and has changed It.
In the book, when the duke tries 70
palm off the young girl whom he has
ruined on his American cousin, and the
girl denOunces his cowardice as an out
rage. the American promptly smacks him
in the face. fights a duel with him and
kills him. That. one can conceive, is
what would really have happened in life
as It is lived. Mr.. Pollock. to make n
happy ending, stays the wronged girls
passionate defamation and denunciation
at a critical moment-the stage effect Of
this is very good-and allows the chiv-
alric American TO marry the girl and
leaves It 10 the audience to imagine that
the duke is forgiven by mis- wife for his
sin and that they live happily ever after.
The result of this childish appeal 10 the
sensibilities of the audience is TO leave
the play in an unfinished state. The
audience goes out Of the theater wonder
ing what the end really has been-what
it is to be. The play is not done In
deed, q clever playwright might begin
new four-act drama right at this point.
for surely nothing could be more dra-
and his wife and the working out OF their
after-lifs on a basis that would allow
each of them 10 live decently-not 70 say
happily.
1t will strike most observers that Mr..
Pollock has not quite had the courage
OF his convictions. He has tried to take
a subject that needed handling without
gloves and treat It conventionally-gl
It over with a semblance of responsibility;
try TO make It appeal at one and the
same time to Mrs. Grundy and TO the
person who thinks and who doesn't care
a hang for Mrs. Grundy- The task IS
an impossible one. The play in its motif
Is so strong, il leads so inexorably TO
its bitter conclusion that a much older
and a much ADLER dramatist that Mr.. Pol
lock might have tried in vain TO turn the
current aside. You cannot lead people
into whirlpool Of the deepest emotions
and expect them TO look pleased If you
ask them to have a dish Of pink ice
cream. If you are going TO stay on the
nice, safe. respectable ground OF the
afternoon tea table. then pink ice cream
is all right and fitting but If you lead
people to the heights OF tragedy and
pathos they are not going 70 be satisfied
with a pink tea ending 10 the adventure.
This is not 20 say that Mr.. Pollock has
changed the ending OF his play for the
sake Of HIS public Indeed. It would
have been much easier and perhaps more
popular to have stuck 20 the tragedy.
Certainly the new ending he has provided
IS unusual and it sets people 10 thinking
and-they may 90 home, think It out, and
end the drama their own way. One thing.
however. IS certain, and that is 1.-The
Secret Orchard IS n play to reckon
with 1t is strong. vital. appealing, and
it is by far the best and the truest dra-
matte work that Mr.. Pollock has ever
done. It is a genuinely honest piece OF
work and Il deserves success.
Now that Mr.. Chase announces a raise