New-York tribune., 1908-09-26
STAGE AFFAIRS
SAVOY THEATRE.
Isabel Irving's Success in the Clever Com
edy of Mater"

At the Savoy Theatre yesterday afternoon Percy
MGcKaye who until then chiefly known for
disgusting piece of blank verse. "Sappho and
Phaon,' showed that he made of better stuff,
and in delcatey framed comedy called Mater"
gave his friends reason TO be proud of him and
the public about the most wholesome play that
mas been presented any stage this season.
Mater ought to be successful because it is good
comedy, and, unlike many of the straight come
dies, it is substantial: It ought to be successful
because Il shows young Mr.. MacKaye in better
light and gives promise of something enduring 1t
Is the product of level head. of healthy brain.
There are three acts in it, five characters and one
set of scenery. The dominating character is
CHEEKY, attractive widow, whose children call her
Mater" with the long accent the first syllable.
She is the mother OF Mary and Michael Dean
specimens that be found in the sentimental
districts of any large city. Michael is educated
dreamer; his sister affects millinery of sombre
hue, and her general appearance Is that of pretty
little socialist minus the fighting qualities of the
'sufragette"
Mater is described by Mr. MacKaye as an
American study in comedy and the action is
supposed to occur in city OF the East. Act dis
closes Mary Dean and her lover Rudolf VerbeCk.
in the library. It is the of election. MI
chael has been nominated for the Legislature. He
mas sworn to Overturn the existing form of gov
ernment to drive out the "grafters and substitute
the personality OF Michael Dean Michael Is
cellent specimen Of young novice, who by the
observance of certain prescriptions, has passed the
first stage of Christian perfection. There is per-
fectiOn earth elsewhere that is not vested In
Michael Dean. and those who would live honestly
must follow the light emanating from his efferves
cent BRAIN And Mary is MichaeI's disciple, his soil
tary hope at home his tower of strength abroad.
It's dreary scene until mother arrives. The only
human thing in the Dean family is mother-Mater.
She knows her has taken wrong view of life
and living, and begins to teach him lesson and it
is in the application of that lesson that Mr.. Mac
Kaye reveals himself as keen. incisive satirist.
Mater comes sweeping in like a girl of two and
twenty. cheerful, buoyant, appearing to humor her
children while driving the lesson home. She had
TO humor their father in the way she proud
iy confessed and Michael living image of
his father Michael deeply hurt when told he
must advance S4.ooo for campaign expenses. He
called it bribery. Arthur Cullen, politician said
it was necessary and earned the name of cor
ruptionst' from the young reformer. Cullen be-
came fond of Mater. He thought she Michaels
sister, and Mater encouraged him in the belief
until she had attained her end
She had promised Michael to make conpro-
mise for his sake with that scoundrel Cullen"
The politician is not bad fellow after all; he
enjoys Matters humor. commends her personal at
tainments and offers to her sons election for
one consderation-herself. He declares his love
yehemently Mater encourages him, and the love
token is a thimble. Michael is elected, affects a
rage when he hears how his election had been ac-
compished. but gradually the clear daylight pene-
trates his BRAIN and he acknowledges the wisdom
of Mater. Cullen is too gallant reprove such a
mother. When Mater calmly but cheerily assures
him she is quite content with her children he re-
tires from the field.
Miss Isabel Irving achieved a personal success
a Mater. She acted with a cheerful naturalness
that dispelled the heaviness created by the pres
OF the young reformer. less clever player
would have made Mater dull performance.
Charles A. Stevenson the politician. and i'm
personated that character with a fine sense OF the
intricate qualities Mr. Mackayes comedy is not
without its weak points. He has wisely refrained
from forcing his humor and satire. He gives the
audience credit for intelligence. but his
humor is that OF the academician. II is too
academic. In some instances the observations made
by Mater nonsense. The objection 10 academic
country who may have been fortunate enough to
get smattering OF the classics have forgotten all
about them by the time they begin TO attend the
theatres and the majority OF audiences make no
pretence OF familiarity with the ancients Many
person OF ordinary intelligence would be puzzled
divine what Mater means. for instance. when
she observes that while mending the heel Of
Achilles. she had forgotten the OF Paris,
OF course, John knew and Jane could follow
Matters eyes and grasp the humor-but there
dozens OF persons In American audience to
whom such humor would appear to be mere af
fectatIon Of learning the part OF the author.
THE CAST
Hon Arthur Stevenson
Michael Dean FREDERICK lf~s
Rudolf Nerbeck .John junior