The Washington herald., 1907-10-27
Peter Pan"

NO more striking evidence that the
heart of the American tbeatergoer is
sound, and that he will not only choose,
but literally patronize the best when the
best is offered. could be desired than the
fine success Of J. VI. Barrie's Peter Pan"
at the New National all last week The
combination Of Peter Pan" and Miss
Naude Adams served to keep the theater
crowded and almost as beautiful as the
play 1t was 10 watch the happy faces OF
the many children who were taken To
the tEeater TO see-brought to Hfe-those
dreams Of the chiId-world of which in
creasing years and experience OF worka-
day life are unable. entirely, 10 rob any
of us
Right from the nursery, around which
so many helpful and blessed memories
cluster, comes the grim old pirate vessel
which Peter Pan and the children cap
ture from Capt Hook and his merry men
in hand-to-hand combat who are YOU.
PAM" cries the bold pirate captain as
they fight. The mimic swords clash to-
gether as Peter Pan. an exultant note
I'm his fresh young voice. cries Il am
youth eternal youth I'm the sun ris-
ing. I'm poets singing. I'm the new
world. I'm joy, JOY. joy
It is a triumphant declaration that sings
its way right into the hearts Of those who
hear. and finds an echo there. As a PLAY.
Peter Pan" stands by itself About
every law Of dramatic construction is vio-
f.4--I- "a
disregarded; the piece is original; a law
unto itself II bears about the same
relation to the conventional stage story
as Walt Whitmau's poetry does to the
highly polished sonuets Of Sir PHiup
Sidney, but in its own way Peter Pan"
is perfect.
The play appeals 10 the ideals that are
IN every human heart. II recalls to all
who see il the memories Of the happ!est
periods Of life; the time before contact
with the world had dulled the finer sense;
when q ready belief in goodness and vir-
tue was not only possible. but instructive
The time Of times when hands that we
shall never clasp again were held out 10
guide US, when lips that nevermore shall
speak 10 us made vibrant music Of love
and sympathy; when eyes. now closed
forever. shOne on our souls with a light
as from heaven. The days that are no
more" il is with their voice that Peter
Pan speaks to us; the days Of lost youth
and hope and JOY.
They speak often Of this beautiful play
Of Barrie's as if it were written for chill
dran. but its appeal is equally as strong
10 the children Of a larger growth. He
must be insensible indeed who can not,
as this beautiful fantasy of youth is
worked out before him. shake off for a
time the sordid enxieties and perplexitles
Of middle age, and ind himself dream
ing, dreaming, and hoping, and trusting,
with a childs faith and confidence.
Life can destroy most of our illusions;
shatter many OF our castles in the air;
chill some Of our dearest and best be-
neis-but as one follows the fortunes Of
Peter Pan and the Children; of Wendy
the little mother; and John, the dark
eyed; and little Michael, Of the golden
hair, he comes TO see with clearer vision
AtaiN A44N tN4 lEA9 anu A'lLElti@ va illlAA-
hood, the dreams, the castles, the hopes,
the fears. were very real indeed. OF
course there We're Indians and FAIRIES and
pirates. and IN some far-Off dream each
innocent child-heart has set off on the
perilous journey 10 the Never Never
Land Grizzled hair and Grabbed age may
try with all the might Of its materialism
to resist, but as it sits through Peter
Pan it comes to know and believe IN
Tinker Bell, the fairy that was only a
flash Of light, and whose voice was only
the sound Of bells. so that only those who
really believe are privileged to under
stand. Why, it's not nearly so hard 10
believe in Tinker Bell as it is in wireless
telegraphy.
1t would be hard to determine how
much of the beauty Of Peter Pan" is
Nj Barrie's and how much belongs 10
Miss Maude Adams. Indeed, Miss Adams
is a great artist, and undoubtedly much
Of the illusion is due 10 the fine spirit
in which she plays the part Of this youth
who Will not grow up Miss Adam
power over her audiences is finely shown
in that passage Of the play where the
pirates have driven the Indians away
and Hook has poisoned Tinker Bell
When Peter Pan gets back, poor Tinker
Bells light is very faint and it is grad
uaIly growing DINNER How unreal and
fantastic the idea is And Vet. Miss
Adams. with a heart-rending note in her
voice turns from the fading light and
cries that Tinker Bell is dying. that he
viii surely die unless those in the audi
euce really believe in fairies She runs
10 the Iootlights and stretches out her
arms:
"Oh. won't you believe in fairies?' she
cries, IF you do really believe won't
you wave your handkerchiefs for a
sign? II you believe, clap your hands. g"
And the appeal never fails. OF course,
the children clap because they do really
believe God bless them but the oldsters
clap, too. and stamp their feet to make
It sure, and as Tinker's light comes back
and Peter Pan cries out that she is
saved and runs of to rescue the boys
from the pirates, It is not only the chill
dren and their happy laughter that testi-
hes 10 Miss Adams power: il is the old
heads nodded wisely in perfect satissac-
ton. and the foolish, but happy. tear
that is furtively wiped from dim eyes
behind the spectacles.
All. il was good to have been a boy
again, just for an hour! Good for the