New-York tribune., 1908-05-10
PINERO'S NEW PLAY
NO DECLINE OF POWER.
"The Thunderbo1t" Holds a Large
audience Breathless.
Especial by French Gable to The tribune

copyright. 1905, by The Tribune Associano"-i
London May "a large and brilliant audi
ence at St James's Theatre witnessed to-nlsht
the first performance of Pineros play me
Thunderbolt" and followed every act with
breathless interest. There had been no hnal re-
hearsal for the benefit the critics, and as TINS
dramatist keeps the secrets of his WORK 10 the
last moment there were no clews IN advance
and every situation mad the effect or star'Irs
surprise 1t was a phosophc, yet grim anu
rather cynical study of middle class hfe' oe-
scribng the relat tions of series of husbands
and wives when a considerable future was a'
stake and making what the author entitled an
episode in the history of provincial family.
The first act portrayed the gathering of the
heirs of the Mortimore family with the solicitors
safter the death of a rich relative who is as
sumed to have died intestate 1t was remark
able for the skill with which the characterlstlcs
of a large group of middle class people were re-
vealed by bright. incisve dialogue. and their
sordd ambitions. narrow prejudices. petty JeaI-
ousies and spiteful resentment of criticism were
made interesting and amusing. After this Wv
idly constructed act the scene was shlrted 10
modern villa where Thaddeus and Phyllis Nor
timore are struggling to keep up appearances
and live down her reputation as woman Oh 10"
birth and there was an intensely dramatic
passage between them. in which she confesses
that she found the testator's will, leaving his
entire property to his daughter, Belem Thorn
HILL In Paris and secretly destroyed it
This was followed in the third act with an
other family council with the solicitors for MAX
ing arrangements for the administration of the
estate When no will could be produced Thad-
deus, assuming responsibility for his wifes act
declared that there A will and that he had
torn it I'D because the property was left TO an
unknown girl and the relatives were cut of 1t
was powerful scene. in which he was sub
iected to close cross examination and made
desperate efforts to protect his wife from the
consequences Of her criminal act. In the final
act Phyllis burst into a paroxysm Of tears and
told the truth and amicable arrangement
was finally reached owing to the legal difhculty
of esta ahlishing the validity of a will which had
been destroyed without proof that II had been
properly witnessed and by the good natured de-
termination Of the entire family to forgive and
forget and treat another generously
THE Thunderbolt' is one of Pinero'e most
deftlv constructed and intensely dramatic works.
Interest in the story steadily Increases with
a powerful as the dialogue is crisp and witty.
George Alexander played with exceptional power
and variety and has seldom had better part
Mabel Hackney, who proved herself really
great actress in THE Incubus" supported him
with realism and passionate intensity. and Louis
Calvert Norman Forbes and other members Of
the cast were exceedingly good. The play re-
veals no signs of a decline in the drsmatists $
powers and is really a great work.