The sun., 1908-09-13
new PLAYS GIVEN IN LONDON
BARRIE WOW THE GROWING
TRIUMPH OF THE WEEK.

JeTtWc h. JeroHe-rbu Sshe
Pieasos-Evelyn Milisrds Venture
LONDON, Sept. 5.-The London theatri-
cal season opened on August,2s and after
a month of theatrical stagnation the
critics and first nighters have had their
energies taxed to the uttermost to keep
up with the procession Of new plays
crowded into the first week Of September.
Managers, too, have been sorely tried
In the effort to find a night when they
could produce play without conflicting
with any other production, but finally
the nights OF the week were 30 appor-
toned by mutual agreement that only
on Thursday did productions clash.
when MIR. Frohman presented j. M.
Barrie's play at the Duke Of York's
Theatre and NJ. Frank Curzon opened
the Prince of Wales with new musical
comedy.
On August 20 q tremendous audience
gathered at the Lyceum Theatre to see
the first performance Of Pete which
Louis N. Parker and Hall Caine adapted
from the latter's book "The Manxman.
1t was an audience prepared for melo-
drama, prepared to cheer the hero, weep
with the heroine and hiss the villain.
1t was practically the same audience that
saw THE Christian" many times and ao-
claims Hall Caine as prophetand teacher.
Pete" was undeniably dull, the drama
tization was not as good as the one Wilson
Barrett made of the same novel some
years ago, but the Lyceum audience felt
only the heart interest OF the plot, and its
enthusiasm showed few II any indications
of wavering even though the final scene
Of reconciliation between the hero and
the heroine was found almost to coincide
with the advent OF, midnight. Hall Caine
was not altogether pleased with the
notices his play received and as, ike
Bernard Shaw, he is never averse to CIV
ing his opinions of the press to the press
no has openly eaid what he Thought OF
the treatment Of his work.
sYou tell me there are writers who say
that the subject OF pete Is claptrap.
that its characters are stupid and talk
too much and that the vast audiences
that applaud them and laugh and cry
with them are illiterate simpletons who
know no better he remarked. There
are people like that-people who cannot
listen to any body but themselves. Some
times ou find them in newspaper Offices.
but generally in asylums for the imbe-
cile and insane. Let the little literary
eunuchs bark and bite and rail and foam
at morally healthy, wholesome, properly
constituted human beings. for us their
nature to-"
On September ? Forbes Robertson and
Miss Gertrude Elliott began their season
at the st. James's Theatre. with Jerome
X. Jerome's adaptation OF a short story
of his called The Passing Of the Third
Floor Back-An Idle Fancy. IL The
Message From Mars" and aThe Servant
in the House" had never been written
Mr.. Jerome's play might come as az ieast
a new essay in laywriting. but y iaoors
under the disadvantage OF continually
suggesting the one OF the other OF these
two plays.
The plot is very simple. In Blooms.
bury boarding house are living a number
of ordinary middle class persons. selfish.
snobbish. weak. dishonest and malicious.
The landiady. who has Of course seen
better days. cheats her boarders as aey
cheat her when they can. and the small
slavey, Miss Gertrude Elliott. lies and
steals whenever it suits her to do 80.
In this atmosphere comes new fig-
ure, a traveller. acted by Forbes Robert.
son, who wishes a room and secures the
third floor back. When the andlady
asks him an exorbitant price he agrees
to it and begs her not to cheat herself
or 30. With all the boarders his attitude
is the same. He insists upon seeing only
the good that is latent in them until they
seek that good.
Thus a quarrelling married couple
become united, a Jew who tried to drag
the third floor back into a bad invest
ment aud an old maid whose evil tongue
is feared. a girl about to sell herself and
an artist who is degrading his art-all
feel the travellers influence and often
unconscioisly toward one another and
the world in general. When all this has
been accomplished its instigator, who
has told them he is but passerby. takes
his leave quietly and the little slavey is
the only witness OF the Hood OF light
which streams into the room with the
passing Of the third floor back.
Forbes Robertson was very restrained
and forceful in this difficult part and his
and wonderful voice helped
to impress the audience almost to the
point Of accepting him as the bloomsbury
boarding house did, but even his art could
not make Mr.. Jeromes supernatural
convincing.
Miss Gertrude Elliott was, in spite OF
Cockney accent far more
American slavey than an English. one.
For the rest the parts were exceliently
played. What little comedy there was
was made the most OF.
The play was well received. and
fOTDeS 0OOeTtk3Ou DShcNCS ~ VIII tIC
whole OF his London season.
On September 4 Miss Evelyn Millard,
a very popular English actress who has
long been leading lady for Beerbohm
Tree George Alexander, DC. began her
first venture as an actress manager She
chose for beginning Idols a drama
tization Of w. j. -Locke's novel by Roy
Horniman. The book was much altered
to suit the exigencies Of theatrical pro-
duotion and is frankly drawing room
1t was received with en-
thusiasm. tribute given perhaps more
to Miss Millard q personal popularity than
to the play or the acting.
Thursday evening brought the weeks
crowning triumph, j. NJ. Bafrie''s What
Comedy srsy Which which reveals Barrie at his
whimsical. subtle, charming best. He
mocksa like at Englshman and SEQ lehman.
what every woman knows is that men
are big boys only and must always be
looked after by their womenfolk. and Mr..
Barrie being believer in this same
theory sets out to demonstrate It.
In the first act the Wylie family are
seen In their simple Scotch home. Atick,
the father, and David and James, the sons,
are Joint owners OF a successful quarry.
but they are uneducaGed. though they
have purchased ten yards Of the most
learned books in the country to add to
the appearance of their sitting room.
Maggie, the only daughter. Is the true
Barrie woman. combination OF Peter
Pans Wendy and Sentimental Tommy's s.
Grisel. born little mother. But she has
and brothers grieve for her. though they
,,xoto. 4 t,, ;rnora har fa;b,ra Dat che