The Washington times., 1908-09-13
FrohmaneSque
Is Broadway
Theatrically
The MolluSc" One of Clev-
crest Plays in Years-Bil-
lie Burke a Winner.
By A. H. BALLARD.

New YORK, sept. L.
~ ROADWAY. Electrically, is get
X ting to be itself again promptly
this year After the few early
season weeks that have just
passed. you may find whatever you like
comedy. farce. music. tragedy. nom
sense seriousness. Take your choice.
You will notice that the Rialto Is
largely Frohmanesque thus far To go
each evening for a week to see the Of
ferings Of a single theatrical producer.
and check them off one by one accord
ing TO their theatrical measure. is TO
discover that the good Of the Frohman
offerings surpasses the bad But the
events. viewed in their entirety, are i'm
mensely Impressive 10 me as indicating
the enormous energy and excellent pol
Icy of this famous FrOhman In on,
American loyalty we may not relish his
English preferences, his leaning for
English vogue. his English tincture IN
all his work, but the tone and distinct
refinement that characterize his every
public stage deed constitute one Of the
most propitious elements of todays
amusement land.
The Molluse," which Charles Fpoh-
man brought out at the Garrick Thea
cleverest play we have had for years.
1t proves and clears up so many mat
ters. ideas deductions, theories, and va
TiOus considerations, that one falters
in selecting the place to begin when
we want to talk about it. First. it is
a simple comedy with but four in the
cast-a wife (the ''mOEusc'D her hus-
band, her brother, and a goveness; and
n1n @ ~ Frr- ri fv,fr IA 10
conversational story Of a day and half
are portrayed in the living room of a
country house. The wife, played by
Alexandria Carlisle. who has been hap
PLY IMPORTED from England, is the ut
terly charming woman. who. because
she IS so pretty and sweetly naive about
1t. can make everybody wait upon her,
hand and foot She is as healthy as a
fat seal. but she is pampered TO the
point Of distraction, until her brother
comes from America and attempts. in
collision with the husband, TO cure her
OF her "mOlluscry." Davies has coined
a new and expressive word, and IL
has taken the road like wild fire.
Miss Carlisle's MoIlusc.
We are all mOlluscs to a degree. We
want people to do things for US We
hang on TO a good thing with greater
tenacity than any mollusc in the briny
deep and Mrs. Baxter IN this play
is the supreme human type. She is
drawn by Miss Carlisle in a way that
one cannot forget. A luscious woman
in her prime, she Is the kind that eX-
periences her greatest Joy by lying in
bed 10 be waited upon, when she knows
that she is strong enough to be up. The
way she has her household leashed to
her service is a caution Her brother
finally cOnquers her stubborn determin-
alton to be waited upon by melting her
jealousy. The wonder of the play is
that Miss Carlisle makes Mrs Baxter
such an adorable fool. She is a shall
low woman, simple in everything but
her one tenacious determination to loll
about and command the services and
attention Of those about her.
II brings up the entire philosophy that
deals with humanity's inclination TO
shuttle burdens upon another's should
ers- It goads us as 10 our habit Of
avoiding and Sinking hardship It
subtly brings a mood Of Impotence
with all who do not tackle difficulties
with VIII and a stout heart. In fine,
it makes you think. It is Satire in an
agreeable manner. true to life, convinc-
ing. complete with artistry of a high
sort 1t has gripped the attention of
everybody, and 1t is in for an extensive
vogue. Davies, who wrote it, is en-
joying a big popularity in England. The
play is a remarkable instance of the
sure success Of merit. 1t has none Of
the characteristic, usually relied upon 20
put over an attraction" 1t has a
very small cast yet it IS genuine.