Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-21

~ LADY dear motherly looking soul.
proffercd the query: Have you seen
the morgue?' She sighted the aspiration
in have and mellowed the ''r' in
''morgue'' with the serene assurance char
acteristic of the people vino have known
the English language longer than We have.
and therefore feel warranted in taking
greater liberties with 1t. 1T is n very nice
pace" said she, mot at all Oisagreeable.
] was there and found 1t quite pleasant.
II was an expression nalvely English; and
Henry Arthur Jones. who wrote THE
Iyprocrites," is an Engllshman. He has
spent some time studying the closeted
skeletons Of society. and Is constantly as
surfing people that his charnel house is
quite nice. and inviting them to visit it.
The only reassurirg feature Of each per-
formance at the National Theater last
week was the audience These congrega-
lions might be accepted as proof that
human happiness is more general than pes
simistic playwrights would have you sup
pose Here were scores Of people with no
family troubles Of their own ready to pur
chase them. or rather to rent them. at
the very liberal rate Of 81 apiece. The
attitude Of mind which insists on regarding
the the alter entirely means of diversion
could find no better argument in It's favor
than play like The Hypocrites.'' Its
assumption Of educational purpose is itself
an arrant hypocrisy. its effect on the mind
depressing. and It's moral influence abso-
lutely nil The unfortunate situation with
which ii deals is presented with a blunt
indelicacy which makes appeal to the better
sympathios impossible. The idea is one
which has been used often and effectively
without the shock which the dialogue Of
this play crudely and deliberately
causes One need be neither a prig nor a
prude to resent IT. There are topics which
even the most worldly admit should be
handled with the utmost reserve in mixed
asscmblages.
1t Is not surprising that Mr.. Jones should
have chosen to present this play for the
first time in America rather than in Eng
land. They have a nasty habit in London
Of boolng which Is unknown on this side
Of the water. And there is over here a
considerable disposition to accept crafts
manship as the deciding quality even when
the offense against propriety and taste is
obvious The great skill displayed by Mr..
Jones in character drawing and in attaining
climax al the crucial point of plot inter-
est has constituted a sufficient apology OF.
rather. a complete justification. for the
piece in the minds of many observers of the
stage Only such purely technical consid-
Grafton OF it could have inspired its mana
gers with the courage necessary for its ex-
hibition outside of New York city
But who knows? Perhaps in another sea-
son dramatic daring will have interviewed
which will make The Hypocritcs'' seem
like an innocent idyllic romance. Man
and Supeman,' which was at first regarded
with great suspicion because of the free
dom Of its discussion Of unconventional sub
JectS. now comes to US like a merry. harm
less farce. To which people flock with I-uile-
less enjoyment. unterrified by the fear of 4
single unpleasant afterthought True. there
are people who still resent Mr. Shaw's ex-
uberant audacities, but they are not the
hlbitual thcatergOers: the Ostriches who.
having dined. perforce. on car springs and
scrap iron. accept a bit of neatly embossed
leather as positive luxury. We are de-
vcloping wonderful moral digestions II
looks as il Mr.. Lorraine could 40 on playing
Man and Supernan" for the rest of his
natural existence There was a time when
his services as an actor were held in bat
moderate esteem. but this single play has
placed him among the most distinguished
Interpreters Of the modern drama. And he
does his work So well that his admirers are
not in the least disposed 20 worry about
whether lie could do something else or not.
The kreUtzer Sonata" presents tina.
truly eminent actress. Bertha Kalich in =
powerful emotional role. Her English cnun-
citation has greatly improved and her tenn
perdmental quietude is even more COM
peiing than before. The company sur
rounding her is GOOD. These considerations
present about the best arguments that can
be offered for The kreutzcr Sonata's" rea-
son Of existence. The play itself IS about
as inspiring as Il Hypothetical question in a
celebrated case in court. II is another of
the problem plays which have no answers.
II Is not great enough in poetic quality TO
lit II out Of the enormous rut of similar
material that has been crowding the .heater
FOR some time past. It's recital Of promis
cuOus and Illicit attachments sinks TO the
level Of commonplace gossip. and CONVEYS
no sociological significance. Perhaps. on
the whole, 1t is better that piayrlghts should
provide theatergOcrs with fictitious scandal
10 discuss than to leave them 10 their own
neighborhood resources But this Is =
rather far-fetched Condonement One can
not help wishing that when playriglts get
troubles Of this sort on their minds they
would, EXCEPT when inspired by real genius.
consent To follow the music hall singers
advice. and tell them to . policeman in
stead Of vociforously Confidng them 10 play
gocrs. As a rule. the problem play is merely
a terrible reminder Of the what 's-the-
usencsS' OF life-the very thing that the
average playgoer is seeking to forget But
SO long as the problem play must be- it is
just well to have il in mildly Epidemic
form, as IL came last week, and get il over
with. The somSerness which IL lends 20 the
closing season will give but added cnthu-
siasm in following the advice Of Old Omar
TO All the cup. and in the fires OF spring
the winter garment of repentance fling"
After so severe and penitential period The
more usual forms Of amusement Will come
with all the greater cheer. 1t is true that
Miss Nethersoie is yet TO give us 'Sappho'
and several other sOul-ringing heroines, but
these hold no tumultuous and overwhelm-
Ing surprises. Her plays are emotional dra-
mas designed for the display OF an actress
individual talent. They present situations
rather than problems, and command the
same respect that condition does as COM
pared with a theory.