The Washington times., 1909-12-14
Playwright Reaches Acme
of WhimSicality in Cast
ing Maude Adams. ~
HERO OF A TYPE
NOT UNCOMMON
Maggie Wylie Shows Dramatist's
Master Hand at Portrayal of
Feminine Character.
By ]. R. HILDEBRAND.

Anyone who believes James NJ. Barrie
reached the acme Of whtmsicality in
Peter Pan should visit the National
this week TO witness the unique paradox
OF Miss HIaude Adams playing the part
of woman without charm"
The story Of What Every Woman
Knows is common to experience, mat
ter-of-fact. practical. every day. The
impression Miss N1aude Adams in this
play leaves is fanciful, chimer1cal, fairy
like. The play and the woman have
charm"
The lines and situations are FUN Of
..Barrie-isms." as distinctive as the
speeches in parliament Of John Shand.
concerned in the story. And to one who
looks closely II is apparent that these
BaTrie-isms are furnished as often by
Miss Adams as the Shand-isms are
supplied by Maggie wylie, whom Miss
Adams portrays.
Story of Play.
Apparently the plot hinges on mega
ttveg. Shand is described as Man
without Humor and Maggie Wylie IS
the Woman without Charm Both stand
for more than that Shand is not eX-
ceptional I'm life or in fiction He is the
prototype of the Joshua Craig Of re-
cent hest seller" He IS the primitive
type Of man who springs up here and
there, who believes the shortest dis
lance between any points Is a straight
line. and Who never makes an exception
20 the rule. He IS without Tact as well
as without Humor.
Maggie Wylie is a little harder TO de-
fine. as is CHARM No portrayal by
Miss Adams is typal. but this Maggie
is very near the type Of woman who has
missed romance TO give her life to com
monplace home duties. In France they
might nickname her lily and one
of her kind was made the heroine Of
q BelascO production seen mere only
LAST week.
The early setting is the home OF
the Wylies, and II is characteristic
of Barrie that three minutes after thC
curtain is risen the audience learn!
as much about the three brothers OF
Maggie Wylie as is needful 20 know
though none OF them has spoken
word Two juggle with kings ant
pawns in seriousness and stolid diplom
acy. Another prepares FOR the nigh
with the precision OF an Old Maid Man
Into this atmosphere OF rigid conven
tiOnality comes John Shand. as a burg
lar The contrast Is striking, plCtuT
esque. and artist-lil1e
when Il is found that the intruder
comes TO steal a peep AZ the book'
in the Wylie library and not TO rifle
the silver the situation takes on the
fantasy that only Barrie can make
natural
Strike a Bargain.
In Maggie's presence these stoli,
Scotchmen strike a bargain to fur
nish Shank with funds to complete
his education II at the end OF fv,
years he marries their sister. Shan,
wins her love when, with an egotisn
that is not untrue 70 life though
daubed in thick strokes. he declare
the bargain is not fair to him thougl
he Is forced TO IL by circumstances.
In Eve years Shand fuldIls the pre-
dictiOn he made for himself L an
younR man with great promise.
and wins a seat in parliament Their
this man without humOr forge;
aHead by speeches Astounding Fl
quantity humorous touches. Withou
polish or imagination ne wins favO
by other speeches in fanciful vein.
Shand had married Maggie beCduS
"a bargains q bargain but 10 was Z
be expected that when he loved
woman IL would be with his character
istic vigOr. A Lady Sybil wins tina
love because she told him he Wa
rude. bOorish, and uncouth. When n
realizes this love hetakes the straigh
line. tells his wife and her brOther
and arranges TO leave London wit
Lady Sybil.
Ten days in a country home in dali
conversation with Lady SybN make
him tired Of her. proves that the ir
spirstion for his work did not com
from her
Wins With a Laugh
For this contamination his wife Ia
arranged the stay. had dehed hc
brothers wishes TO leave her hus
band and had played her last care
She wins. when she makes him laugh.
''Eve never was made from Adam
rib. as they say SHE declared, "whe
the Lord wanted 10 create woman h
formed her from mans funny bone"
For the first time iu his life Shan
laughs heartily, and with that laug
comes the realization that his bOaste
strength found root I'm his wifes in
spiration.
Miss Adams Exception.
Miss Adams appears 20 be an oxceT
ton TO the rule that personality shouI
be subOrdiuated 10 acting. She is th
one actress on the American stag
whose Individuality shines through cy
cry moment Of her presence, and who's
= portrayal is not marrcd by this intU
sion.
IN this new Barrie play the irony
her impeTsOuati1n Of woman Will
out charm brings the quaint person:
In few plays has she had bigger OppO
tunities for acting. iu none has her vel
satility been taxed to greater degree
Richard Bennett gave portrayal
John Shaud that stamps him as am actC
or marked promise. The brothers ,
faggie Wylic were admirabI acted %
r. Peytou Garter. David Terrence. an
'IT fT.I. or mo Il