The Washington herald., 1909-05-25
THE BELASCO.
s.The ReveIIers.-, :,

Qlng role 10 MS play, The Jewellers.
which he announces on the programme
more or less enormously as a comedy.
IN describing The ReveHers." II Is
only just to the authoT-actOr TO mention
the ancient prejudice which has existed
against actors writing plays. It is a IA
vcrite pastime &c declare that the actor
cannot write a play. because the actors
viewpoint is not the audiences. and vice
versa. The charge is made. and in very
many Instances Il has been amply sub
stantiated, that an actors play is all for
situations and dramatic episodes. with
little OF no literary element. and scarcely
any OF the playwright's technique These
two faults are perfectly patent in Mr
Eichman's play. but while the plot is
nleager in originality, there Is, save IN
one particular instance. a sustained in
terest that az times borders on intensity
The Revellers." as the title might
possibly suggest. is one Of the ultra-mod-
ern plays. which now happen to be max
ing a bid for. and in some cases reaching.
the popular favor The first two acts are
al that the name of the play indicates.
and Teveis Of various sorts hold the center
OF attention There Is very little in either
OF these acts with their frank pictures
OF vice, 20 suggest the seriousness Of the
last two Indeed, these two equal po--
t!cns OF the play might be parts OF en-
tirely different plays. so widely divergent
are they in respect 20 their purpose and
intent.
New York is the locale for Acts and
II. The demi-mOnde is shown in all her
glory Dorothy Dean is A poor little
upstate girl. who. somehow. has fallen
among thieves She has a husband who
has Iured her from her home and de-
serted her IN the great metropolis The
woman who befriends % her Is merely
acting as procuress for her own rich and
powerful patron. Jack Randolph CMr
Rlchman}. one OF the only two decent
male characters in the show. finCs
Dorothy IN this environment He is a
reckless youth. but the sweet purity o.
tbs country Eirl strikes some latent chord
in MS breast, and he feels the prompt
ings OF conscience.
Jack has had his eve blscked in a
brawI with a race track "welcher." and
the welcher Is no other than Dorothy's
renegade husband. Henry Van Cleve-
When report IS made that Van Cleve has
died Of his injuries. or az least that his
bcdy has disappeared. Jack is sobered for
good. and bids farewell 70 his evil assO-
ciates. he has a stanch friend IN one
Montgomery. who gets him a position.
and he starts his career with Dorothy a.
his wife. Not. however. without a fare
well supper in The Dungeon" a sup
pOse6ly popular resort for beefsteak par
ties and petit sOupers"
At this affair Dorothy Is ins1lted by
the Tich and powerful rOue VINO had
made the original bid for her person.
and Jack announces that she is 10 be bis
wife. or course. when Dorothy wants 20
confess Van CIeve's part IN her past.
Jack refuses 20 listen. and the marriage
takes place az The Little Church Around
the Corner
Act III finds Jack and Dorothy dOrnicfled
IN san Francisco after six years welded
bliss. They have a child a little girl.
who f. Jacks idol or course. ia due time
Van Cleve turns up-he has been waiting
for his revenge all this time. lie threat
ems exposure. and seeks 70 humble Ran
dolph 20 tire very dust and rob him o.
al that lie holds dear. At first Ran
do}ph throws him out Of the house. but
sober reflection shows him that Van
and ne sends for him and seeks 10 tenn
porize. Van CIeve is. however. bent on
the destruction OF the Randolph house
hold snd In the fight. man 10 man. which
wages. Van Cieve gets gold OF Randolph's
revolver, and Is about 20 IRE when he
sees on the handle the Masonic emblem.
4 rush OF remorse and memory overcoues
him. because his father has been one Of
the leading Mystic Shriuers. Randolph
remembers the elder Van CIeve. and sug-
gests the shame that the son would have
brought 20 the father had the latter lived /
Van CleYe, for the sake Of his Masonic .
vows. gives Up the battle. He ccnfesses !
that his marriage 10 Dorothy was not I
legal and that she Is IN reality Ran /
dolphs wife. He wlthdraws, and the I
RandOIphs are reunited.
Only the desire for novelty on the part
CT the maker OF the modern play could 4
excuse the frank indecercy Of the first .
two acts OF The Revellers-" Il is a 4
.amentabie reflection on the taste OF the I
day that vice should be put on the stage 4
IN some os its lowest and most revolving /
aspects. as Il II were not bad enough al 4
ready that We have 70 know rnaJ such 4
things exist. The second act shows a 4
scene IN a restaurant. known as The 4
Dungeon. where the characters are par
taking a beefsteak supper There is 4
certain amount Of novelty 90 the scene /
and the actors got a good deal Of enjoy 4
able sport out OF &. But the iutroduc- I
ton OF specialtieS. however true 70 the 4
traditions Of the place. IS not in keeping
with the action Of a serious drama The 1
interest Is absolutely suspended for the 4
space Of nearly half an hour. and the 1
-r-Ts
worthy Of the play The Introduction 4
Of the dance from The Queen OF the 4
Moulin Rouge" was in execrable taste.
and the two other stunts were equally /
out Of place.
ack OF the hand OF the technician. There 4
IS an abruptness about the situations /
which betrays the actors great regard 4
Tor theatrical effect. whereas the develop /
nent Of the story often drags, and the at
.ention Is allowed 20 wander from the /
.beme. As Mr.. Richman Is an actor, 4
and this is his first play, Il would be 4
nanifestly unfair TO say that his play
s without merit. IN the first place, It /
gives evidence OF a keen appreciation 4
II the necessity for the novel treat
nent OF a theme. no matter how hack
leyed II may be, and there IS action
enough TO suit the most capti0us That
he characters are stacy and theatrical,
md the dialogue stilted is a matter that
an be easily remedied. II is next 10
impossible to judge a play before the
pruning process has set In and the ragged
sdges receive their necessary trimming
loEn- The play has been given an ex-
'eilent cast and a splendid production by
he Messrs. Shubert. and the staging is 1.
lbOve reprOach-
Mr.. Richman exhibited a pardonable
nervousness in his work last night, but
ie nevertheless brought TO the character
Il Jack Randolph a certain manly dig
lity and impressiveneSs. which made
hat role stand out in bold relief from
he vaDid masculines who surrounded