The Washington herald., 1908-03-29
NEW YORK THEATERS.


event OF luc week was lte MSl per
formance. Monday afternoon. at the sa-
yoy. Of Charles Ram Kennedy's widely
heralded modern morality play. The
Servant IN the House" with Edith Wynne
Matthison in the leading female role.
II IS hard to gather any consensus Of
critical opinion. Reducing all that the
papers say of il to the smallest sum.
it is evident that the critics have been
completely stumped. and only few ven
ture a conclusive verdict, and that of
conflicting character.
The new play offers a big vital theme.
a daring attack on hypocrisies OF con
ventional religion. makes a deep impress
sion, but it Is not likely 10 entice future
audiences who look only for amuse-
ment,' declares the World. The play
was acted exceedingly well" says the
Herald, and the stage management was
admirable; but the play itself is largely
a sermon. and the one really happy
moment Of it is its close Kennedy
has handled his theme with delicacy and
reverence" asserts the Press, but
strength Is lacking" And thus the Sun:
An absorbing human story and power
ful Christian Cor SoCialistic) sermon.
beautifully acted, and greeted with en-
thusiasm. Surely, 1t cannot fail. That
would stagger all belief" a remark
able play in many respects" opines the
Telegraph. 1T has been freely hinted
that il would provide a surprise, says
the Times. but it was hardly to be ex-
pected that the surprise would take the
nature Of such an excellent piece Of
dramaturgy." The Evening Sun: Judged
as drama only. the fine acting Of the
company kept Il from becoming fear
fully tedious long before the end OF the
drama" The Globe: 1T has little TO
recommend II but the good intentions OF
the author The American: 1t tries
70 be mystic. symbolic, Ibsenic. Maeter-
hnckian. allegorical; and 'mOrality-wlse
It's meaning al times is very far from
clear, II Is dinuse; II wanders from its
issue, II Il has any; It's serious appeal
Is shockingly marred by low comedy;
It's low comedy appeal is hOpelessly in
jured by prolix and bafHingly tedious
speeches. Bathos occurs-rude. loud. dis
couraging bathos. Yet, il has its mo-
ments Of appeal" And thus William
Winter. in the Tribune: The piece Is
curiosity. II inspires a certain languid
interest 70 know how the tangle viii be
Strengthened out. and the acting in IL
is generally excellent Probably II will
nave career-as something above re-
proach and a little out OF the usual rrt."
Incidentally. Mr. Winter characterfzes
the philosophy OF the East Indian bishop
who comes unrecognized into his broth
er's house as a butler with a carefully
drawn resemblance TO the Son OF Cod
as the most obvious and irreproachabie
platltudes that mental mediocrity could
devise or stOggy dullness admire"
The case Of The Servant in the House
is obviously one where the doctors dis
agree and where the patient must work
out his own salvation ANY offense
against the conventional form Of dramatic
workmanship, even when, as in this in
stance. the dramatic unities are religious
~ observed. Is usually resented BY the
public. II must be accepted in the spirit
OF modern morality play; II is much
ado about not much: II is a beautiful
sermon in dramatic guise: and. with the
acting Of Tyrone Power. in the role OF a
rough. half-savage English workingman.
and OF Arthur Lewis, as the corrupt.
haif-blind. and half-deaf BishoP-ef Ian
cashire. i afforded an entertaining diver
sion for the large audience Of professional
and college. people, from Mary Garden
and David Warield 70 Prof. Brander
Matthews, which witnessed the first pro
oCctson. Il was lucky stroke Of Henry
Miller 70 give the critics an opportunity
70 stay It out The big things happen in
the last act.
Nine Komisarzhevsky. the distinguish
ed Russian actress. who in private life is
the Countess MouraviefT. and who com
pleted her three weeks engagement at
Days Theater last Saturday night. will
have tale 10 tell of her American ex-
perience when she returns 10 ST. Peters
burg with her company. During her. stay
at Daly's she had trouble with several
play agents, who contested her rights 10
sUadry plays in which she was announced
70 appear. Then she entered into a con-
tract with Manager Michael AIintz. Of the
Thalia Theater. which. since the German
company abandoned this historic play
house on the BOwery. where at one time
all the greatest tragedians Of the past
and Of different countries scored notable
tT!Umphs, Yiddish players have been hold
ing forth. Manager Mintz announced that
the Russian actress would appear under
his management for limited engage
ment, part Of the time on tour and part
OF the time at the Thalia. As soon as
this announcement was made. the Yiddish
company attached 10 the Thalia held an
Indignation meeting. They contended that
the madame. not having Joined the union.
was taking the bread out OF their mouths.
and they posted her as a miserable
"scab.' Circulars were issued calling
upon the public 20 boycott the visitor.
The pronunciamento ran something like
this The Russian actors are Scabbing
In the place Of Niddish performers. and
TO make room for them the Thalia Thea.
ter has locked out its old players Every
one in sympathy with the Hebrew Actors
Protective Union and the United Hebrew
Trades is asked to keep away from the
Thalia Theater, Decent people should not
patronize a theater where scabs are play
ing"
In the meantime the Russian actress
opened her short road tour in Williams
burg on Monday evening The play had
not progressed to the second act before
three policemen appeared on the stage
and demanded TO see the license under
which the house was operating The the
ater IS a new one. and the manager was
unable TO produce a license. He pleaded
with the police to allow the play to go on
TO the end. promising TO procure a license
on Tuesday. The actress joined her ap-
peal 10 the managers. but the police were
obdurate. The audience hissed and the
madame waxed indignant, but there was
nothing for 81 but TO dismiss the large
house, while the police maintained pos
session of the stage.
This very question of strike and lock
i.
three acts and thirty scenes at Liberty
Hall. roomy theater in West Hoboken.
on Sunday night. The piece bears the
striking title Of II Krumiro; Overro IN