The Washington herald., 1907-04-14
THE WEEKS PLAY BILLS.
The New National, The Hypoerites,
By Henry Arthur Jones.

-FEAA 4HAAAg-A-sA7 AAE 80 Z
By Henry Arthur Jones.
That Henry Arthur Jones is one of the
foremost playwrights of she English
speaking world there can be no denial,
and when his latest dramatic work. The
Hypocrites." was presented at the Hud-
son Theater. New York City. last August.
by Charles Frohman, Mr.. Jones paid the
United States the compliment Of believ-
ing that its people are more advanced
and appreciative than his own country
men, for he has put himself upon record
as saying chat London is so abandoned
to the banalities OF musical comedy and
kindred entertainment that it IS incapa-
bic Of eomprehending a serious play.
THE HypOcrites" is this authors master
piece and it ran in New York for seven
months. There is said 10 be tremendous
strength in the story Of "The HypOcrites, -
aud the author has successfully bestowed
vitality upon the story of the girl who
has trusted too implicitly 10 the word
OF her lover. Society stones her. yet down
in its heart it must recognize the injus-
tice of Il code of morals thh puts the
woman III the dock and sends the man
free to live his life in fun honor and In
the odor Of sanctity. In selecting the
company for ''The Hypocrites." Mr.. Froh-
man picked his players for a special re-
gard for their fitness in the various roles
they were called upon 10 interpret, and
it is stated that the result is a company
so well balanced that even New York.
used as it is TO big casts. sat up and took
particular notice. Mr. Jones has told his
story In four acts A young man, Len
nard Wilmore, has deceived a good young
woman, Rachel Neye. prior to the open
/ ing Of the play aud on the rise OF the
curtain the audience learns that he is
about to marry an heiress, Helen Pluge-
net. Young Wilmore's father. the lord
of the manor of Weybury, "a small Eng
lish village which is the locale of tie
/ play, is a loud. outspoken, hypocritical
moralist, who would even endeavor 10
force the eurate of the village TO ex-
pound from the pulpit his. WiImore's. no
4 tioHs Of the pr0prietles Of life. and incl
/ dentally to expose a village scandal.
/ When confronted with his sons immoral
conduct. the elder Wilmore promptly en-
| deavors to bTibe the curate TO assist in
| plot 10 cover up the scandal with
which the Wilmore home IS threatened
/ and to persuade his son that he must
not marry the girl ne has wronged. IN
/ this he has the unqualified assistance
/ of his wife. and the legal advice of bis
astute family solicitor. The curate, how
ever, has positive views Of his own. and
( combats the opposition TO his declared
/ principles. even to the extent OF sacri-
! ticing his living. for which he is de-
pendent upon the elder Wilmore, as well
/ as possible advancement IN defense OF
! the position he manfully assumes Pos
! sibly the great scene OF the play occurs
/ In the third act. The future father-in-
/ law-to-be Of young Wimore has heard
/ the scandal The young mans parents
! have prevailed upon the wronged girl tC
make a denial in wriu-g which absolves
| their son, Rachel doing this and making
| the sacrifice Of herself TO prove her love
! Her effort ia giving testimony 70 heIT
the young man is so great that she
| swoOns under the ordeal. A moment be.
/ fore, Lennard has boldly a1ronted his
/ acCuser the Curate. given him the lis
! with the effect that the young clergy,
/ man. completely defeated in his efforts tC
! right the great wrong which has been
I done, is ordered from the house, bat
! upon the swoouiug Of the girl he has
| wronged. Lennard is so overcome that he
l rushes 20 her side, and catches her ir
| his arms as she is falling, publicly con.
4 fesses his sins, and begs forgiveness from
/ the curate whose manly cnnduet and
( fearlessness have done so Inuch to move
him 10 cand0r ana repentance. The prin
! cipal characters in the play are in III,
hands Of Leslie Faber the young curate
Doris Deane, the wronged girl. Richard
Bennett the young man: Jessie Mil
ward and !. II. Barnes. his parents. Tn,
presentation Of this play az the New
National Theater tomorrow night for {
/ weeks engagement should prove one ot
the great dramatic treats Of the year
Matinees VIII be given on Wednesday anC
on Saturday.