New-York tribune., 1908-12-24
THE DRAMA
MAUDE ADAMS AT THE EMPIRE.
What Every Woman Knows. .

Knows had its first representation In America
Miss Adams gave proficient. serio-comic' some
times pathetic performance representing. IN a as
tiuctly American manner. a peculiar and interest
ing Scotch girl. and Mr.. Barries play proved TO
be clever and amusing. There is not and there
never has been IN the acting of Miss Adams any
attribute quality OF a phenomenal or even an
extraordinary character. II shows. and IT mas al
aay= shown talent refinement. sensibility' per
ceq .on. and winning charm OF a nature at once
resoICte and gentle. piquant and demure. At this
time. naturally. 1t shows also the results OF long
continued professional experience MI Barrie
pay.-this time, is somewhat more play and some
what less ''phantasy'' than has been usual with
his dramatic PRODUCTIONS The dramatist has told
story by means of action-the action being
interpenetrative of the dalogue,-and in tell
ing the story, has evolved character some
times much exaggeI ated for comic effect and
has touched the springs alike of laughter and
tears The fact that every woman knows IS the
fact that is. in the order Of nature largely
dependent woman and that without her assist
ance he would accomplish little If anything. That
truth is illustrated and enforced by a fancful'
humorous extravagant, and good-naturedly satiri-
cal exposition Of Scotch persons and Scotch do
mestic life. Mr.. Barrie's method of stating his
self-evident proposition is. of course quizzical-
for the QuizzcaI attitude Of observation seems TO
have become the fixed, inveterate habit of his mind
The formula is bIithey stated by the heroine:
Woman made out of Adams rib.
but out Of his funny-bone" That heroine, lag
significance, 2 plain girl, the sister Of
three thrifty Scotchmen Alick Wylie David
Wylie and James Wylie.-aT resident in a
Scotch town. The Wylies possessed Of a
library. There railway porter named John
Shand. who had "a soul above buttons" and who
wished to improve his mind by reading. With
that purpose in view he surreptitiously on various
occasions entered the house Of the Wylies, by
night in order obtain access to their books At
last he captured. burglar. but, on being
apprised of the motive of his singular conduct and
of his ardent desire for mental Improvement. his
captOrs agreed pardon his burglariOus incursion
and provide for his education. if he would agree
to become after Interval of years, and in the
event Of her commemorative husband Of Maggie
Wyie. To that condition Shand assented. and in
due time,-Maggie coming to know and to love
him. while releasing him from his promise.-the
marriage occurred; and thereafter Shand. con-
tnually guided aided by his wise, sweet, SEN
sibIe wife-without any knowledge on his part Of
her influence, embarked upon the flood
tide of a prosperous public career Then.
| a sometimes happens with clever men, his
head was turned by fattery. his vanity got
the better OF his judgment. and he became
infatuated with a sparkling. worldly woman,
by name Lady Sybu Lazenby. His wife. Maggie.
in the natural course of things, perceived her nus
! bands weakness and folly and mortified and
grieved. She followed. however, an unusual and
absolutely unnatural course,-providing that Shand
should be thrown into the society Of his shallo"
charmer. the comparative seclusion Of
country cottage: where presently. common
sense supervening upon irrational sentiment. the
lover and the lady found themselves mutually
bored that Shand glad to come back to his
Maggie. and humbly TO recognize and avOUCh the
infinite obligation that rests on any man who is
so fortunate possess the love Of good
/ There many details in the play all
deftly if little wildly devised and all
: concentrated bear upon the illustration of
/ that central truth but II is not essential to
them. The spirit is pure; the touch is light;
the satire is playful the colloquy is neat and hu-
ent: the characterization. If sometimes violent. is
distinct the sequence of situations is cumulative
| notwithstanding that the first act, with its audaci
! ty fancy. is brilliantly contrived and more
hun )rOusy written than either Of the three others
and the method Of impairment OF meaning is.
rightly, that Of suggestion and not that of didac-
ticism. most respects the play is charming. and
its successful production here is more than re
/ freshment it is a positive blessing The dramatists
! who have the greatest and most enduring
! vice to the drama in the present period Will
! lam S Gilbert and Henry Arthur Jones: both Of
! them possess. in addition to many other faculties,
! the attributes Of passion and power: but
Mr. Barrie has enriched dramatic literature
! with delicious creations OF whimsical fancy and
! gentle humor which could not be too much com
/ mended and for which he merits the gratitude Of
( every lover Of the stage Miss Adams and her
professional associates will be in this
/ new pay-and. It should be hoped much more
/ Scotch-now that the perturbation OF the first per
! formance of it has passed away Miss Adams en-
/ tered thoroughly into the spirit of the part OF
! Maggie WyIie-the spirit which combines good
ness, tenderness. magnanimity, pride Motherhood
and pitv with some little dash Of tartness,-and
gave performance which only needs fexibihty
and more essentially Scotch character TO make 1t
as entirely enjoyable 1t is artistcally CON
sistent. At the moment when Maggie destroys
Shand.s written promise Of marriage and again at
the moment when she gazes on the beauty VINO
has bewitched her husband Miss Adams attained 10
the Ioftiest height she has. professionally reached
in the expression of feeling. The only Scotch per
formance was that of David Wylie by Mr.. Tor
rence-correct and admirable in every particular
, The mart of Shaud is technically so good thougn
! no man could be so insensate under the cir
7 c,,,stances shown that it would carry any actor
- ov,eriance-and II carried Mr.. Bennett. He was
NOT IN the least a Scotchman, but he should be
credited with a consistent, sustained. and effective
.Tarformance. The enthusiasm of the audience was
p great and the success Of the production-beautl-
. F,,1I,- sat-fs not for Z moment TO be doubted
". ".