The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-10-10
New Play Misses Fire in
Failing TO Have a Clean
Cut Purpose.
VAUDEVILLE WAS
THE REAL DESSERT
New Behman Show Overthrow;
Certain Traditions Concerning
Burlesque Demands.
By ]. R. H1LDEBRAND.

"The only Law" received a cold re-
ceptlon from the critics and a chililel
welcome from the persons who pay theil
money at the box office.
The play was accused Of one thins
OF which Il was not guilty II was not q
weak imitation OF Eugene Walter:
plays. II wGs something more thar
an attempt to drag tabOoed topics tC
the footlights. 1t aimed at realism ano
because il did not fulfill its mission f
offers an excellent example OF the dis
tinotion between the genuine article anC
the bogus brand.
Everywhere those who saw this play
have been comparing il with Walters
The Easiest Way" The aim Of the
two plays was similar. There the
analogy ceases. 1t was not wholly be-
cause the public is tired of the subjects
treated by these plays that the latest OF
them failed IF THE Only Law" had
been as good a play as The Easiest
Way" or as Salvation Nell or as
paid in Full the public world have
overlooked the bad odor for tie sake
of the good play.
The text OF The Easiest Way was
consistent and unerring. Whatever
salacious details were found in 1t were
there OF necessity. The theme of the
The Only Law" was extremely hazy
and the course of the play was ike a
zig-zsg line. Each OF the characters,
in themselves, was eXcellently conceived
and many Of the lines were bright. That
was why il was so hard to put a finger
on the fault OF the play. And perhaps
by these things the producers hoped to
hide the absolute futility of the plot.
Bogus Realism Ahounds.
There was realism in plenty. Both
chorus girls were well portrayed and
typified 10 a nicely the two classes OF
that calling. The cheap hotel was
as well worked out, In it's way, as
the famous Bowery scene in Salvation
Nell" There were innumerable touches
that would have done credit to the
stagecraft OF Clyde Fitch.
But these had as mitch TO do with real
ism as the PUMPING of real water from
q well in THE Old Homestead or the
Smelling OF peas in isis Hopkins"
Keep in mind that Il was not the IN
pleasantness of the subjects. They were
just as unpleasant in Salvation Nell
But the picture Of the slums, while not
inviting, was a touch Of real art in the
developing of the theme. The barroom
was almost revolving. but # had the
beauty OF symbolism, and that justi-
ned IL
But the touches in The only Law
could ind no such justification. Per
haps they bore on the theme, but the
theme was too indistinct TO make this
bearing clear. The pianola has as much
10 do with Chopin, or a snapshot with
a Dutch genre painting as this bogus
realism has TO do with real dramatic art
Vaudeville Offering.
With VIA wireless at the National
which had been seen here before. and
The Newly Weds'' at the Columbia.
which was not wholly entertaining. tbs
public looked in a large measure 10
vaudeville for entertainment. Thev
found it in an unusually good bill al
Chase's.
There the circus acts were reduced 10
minimum and their places taken BY
numbers that furnished Intelligent en-
joyment. They included "Cherie." a
One-act play which was not new hint
which stood repeating, another musical
playlet or the type which is BECOMING a
fixture in vaudeville. and Nonettee .
Violirist whose technique was not re-
ing.
A feature that aroused wide interest
was little glimpse behind the scenes.
the curtain was kept up while the stage
hands prepared for the final act
Old Theory Exploded.