New-York tribune., 1909-05-23
THE LONDON DRAMA
american Plays = Wertherism
MeIOdrama at the Lyceum.
London. Nav 10.

London, May 10
London theatre managers nave Ie"7oN -.
,aa1ousv of Mr. Frohmans increasing power
but they consider him one of themselves anu uo
not resent it. Not only have his theatres oeen
rrosnerors when rival houses have had bad
season. but he has also Joined forces with 'iieih
wben thew have not known what the puDhc
wanted and has taken a long step forward IN
Dronosinp the most practical scheme for roper
tor,, performances that has been submitted 10
lis+less pavgoers His newest enterprise is an
undertaking to revive the fortunes VI INC
AdeIphi Theatre next autumn by the proouc'ioh
of ."They~Creat Divide and THE Servant IN the
House" with Mr.. Henry Miller In one ana MISS
Wvnne Matthison in both He is also arrans
ing provincial tours for his numerous companies
ond is the confidential adviser of half dozen
perpIexed and respondent London mandseiS'
Where English methods are hackneyed an Amer
icar- actress like Miss Rose Stahl makes an easy
conquest Meanwhile, there are rev1vaIs or oiu
n1a,-s at the st. James's and the Lyric MI
Charles Hawtrey has obtained the new pidy
what the Public Wants for the Royai'y' anu
will enact the part of a great newspaper Pro-
prietor; the season at the Garrick Is 10 De "ouiu
IN with Mr. Clyde Fitchs The Woman IN the
Case" with Miss Violet Nanbrugh In the Ieadins
mart and Mr.. Trees Shakespeare feStNaI' WHICH,
is . movable feast is deferred until The School
Among the few novelties of the waning season
is Light o. Love-" at the Afternoon Iheatre'
This is a translation by Mr. Valentine "lihainS
Of 81 ,iebelef" by Herr .Schnitzler-an intensely
German bit of Wertherism, produced WITH III
+eIIfeence and sympathy by Herr Behrend. Ihe
first act is taken up with supper for four III
Fritz LoheiIner's chambers in Vienna, two young
men pairing off with two maldens 1or JolS
evening with song, wine and dance Ihe sup
nor ts interrupted by an unbidden guest, who.
when closcted with Fritz, holds him accountable
for q love affair with a married woman and
challenges him to a duel In the second act one
of the girls. Christine. is heartbroken because
Fritz has failed to keep an appointment WIN
her and cannot be comforted by either her
frio,d or ber father She is overjoyed when the
distracted lover appears and a scene OF ardent
TO-, making is brought to an end when his
friend and second interrupts them to carry the
dueIIist off to his affair of honor. In the final
art the terrible news is broken to Christine that
her lover has been killed by the resentful nus
hand Her aged father at first attempts to pre-
mare her for what is coming. and her lovers
friend Is left to finish the recital There Is an
aqontzi1g scene closing with Christines frantic
rush for the open air to end her own Hfe-
The tragic ending deeply affected the nrst
English audience, especially as there was re-
markably moving performance by Miss Mar
garet HaIstan, an actress with reserves OF emo
tionaI power. The scene between father and
daughter with the girls consciousness OF i'm
pending fate when he SILENT was finely rem
dered and there was an approach to great act
ing when the truth was blurted out and she was
overwhelmed with the blackness Of utter despair.
There were few dry eyes in tho audience. and