Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-21
THE CAST
BY sIDLE LAWRENCE

A LARGE and socially distinguished
n audience saw Miss Mary Shaw
"a new play, 1.-The Whirlpool at
the Los Angeles theater last night ana
came away confirmed in the opinion
that the Donnay-Shaw work is re-
markable drama, though perhaps lack
ing in the elements calculated TO WIN
wide popularity. The play is drama
tization of viewpoints. 1t presents
conflict between the masculine ana the
faminine attitude toward sex relations
and il is brutal i'll just SO far as lhe
truth usually is brutal.
l do not know how large part MISS
Shaw has had in the construction OF
this play. 1t is certain, however, that
her work has been beyond that OF a
mere translator. The Ibsen influence
is apparent; yet, in the last act, some
one, either Miss Shaw or Nj. Donnay,
has yielded to the popular preJudlce
in favor of a happy ending. Perhaps
l have missed the plays message, but
to me this eleventh-hour solution
though skillfully reached, seems anti
climactic. A problem, once solved is
a problem no longer and personally
am Jealous of the integrity of my KS
Us and Is. l do not like TO see thenl
found out, classified and filed away
for future reference.
Since that unfortunate contretemps
in the Garden of Eden there has been
evidence, among civilized peoples, a
wide divergence between the sexes IN
matters of sex relation. And, as be-
tween the two, it has been much easier
for the woman-doubtless because OF
her greater adaptability-to appreciate
the mans viewpoint than it has beer
for the man to understand the view
point of the woman.
"Piffle" or "NerVes"
To the average man, did such an un-
fortunate individual unhappily exist
Georgette's attitude in this play of
'"The Whirlpool" would seem either a
case of piffe or a case of nerves
Nerves, to the masculine intellect, eX-
plains much. 1t is the final recourse
of masculine mental cowardice; and
it serves equally we'll to explain the
unexplainable and to dodge the truth
when the truth would be unpleasant
Most men who have a casual acquain-
tance with Nora Helmer doubtless re-
gard her as a nervous little fool.
Thus l believe the great stumbling
block in the way of 1.-THE Whirlpool s.
success. as recorded in theatrical box
offices. will follow the inability of hall
of the audience to understand properly
what half of the play is about. Per-
haps / am wrong. l hope l am, fol
"The Whirlpool" Is too virile a drama
to be sucked down into its own mael-
strom without leaving behind 1t q
feeling of abiding regret.
A Conflict of Ideas
The play presents conflict of ideas
so common in life that they are little
understood by the very people most
concerned. Georgettes complaint
against her husband Is not that he
has been guilty of actual infidelity
but that his fathfulness has beer
secured only through the reluctance OF
another woman to yield herself to his
demands
This is tho situation when M. Jour
nay. a friend Of the family, tells her:
1T is your self-lovc that is wounded
my tenderness she rejoins. "Youl
pride" he persists. my conscience,
is her reply.
There is fine amplitication of th'
feminine viewpoint in Georgettes IN
dignation when she discovers her hlla'
band has sent a present to the othel
woman at the same time he has sen
to her an anniversary remembrance
This she regards as an insult. Th'
man didn't think. 1t was just CO.
incidence"
Again, the husband tells the Other