The Washington herald., 1909-03-28

told Charles Frohman 10 bring can
Englishman's Home" 70 New York.
which shows that Mr.. Barry is hardly
as familiar with our national traits as
he supposed. The play was given a
most respectful hearing at the Cri-
terion Theater on Monday evening. but
there IS legitimate doubt regarding It's
ability to create anything ike the furore
II achieved in London. Taking the
critical opinions the next day collective
y, the verdict was not one OF enthu-
siastic Endorsement, though the play
has entertaining qualities. and IN the
last act managed TO create something
Of a real thrill
This act shows the bombardment or the
unfortunate Englishman's home by the
invading Teutons and is one Of the most
realistic representations that Is possible
tc produce on the stage. The first act
IS rather tame. and merely shows the
temper Of the average English mind on
the subject OF national defenses. The
English property holder and taxpayer
argues that he pays the national guard
70 protect the country. and protests Wig
orously when his little household be-
comes the actual scene OF belligerence-
Il Is an ideal domestic picture. Before
he realizes II the blond invaders are in
his midst. popping up like so many phan-
toms. dressed exactly like the National
Fencibles and speaking pretty good Eng
iish. The action begins in the next act,
which forms delightful travesty on the
awkwardness and headlessness OF the
English militia The satire IS expressed
in the persons Of two Jealous and incom-
petent as well as undisciplined militia
captains who take possession Of the house
Of Mr.. Brown with their forces and play
general havoc. The captain argues with
the householder about the right OF oc-
cupation Of nonconbatant property one
officer starts a Irritation with ono Of the
Brown girls. everybody regards the in
vasiOn as a sort of sporting event until
q bullet whistles through the window
and strikes the most ardent young
sportsman dead on the spot. Then a
change comes over the spirit OF the ten
ants.
The first act is tireSome; the second is
rather clever as satirical comedy, but
the real things are come 10 pass in the
last act--the third
In this the fight IS on in earnest. The
militia have barricaded the windows and
doors. Shells have torn a large hole
through the wall You can hear the
screech OF the shells flying over the
house. It occurred TO me that lots OF
these shots were going astray; but by
and by you could see through the win
dow large house in the distance slowly
destroyed by fire Fire breaks out in
the roof The smoke spreads slowly
through the room. Presently the plas-
ter in the ceiling crumbles. Down
comes mass Of plaster and stuff with
a thud. followed by a rain Of sparks.
A rifle ball whistles into the room and
strikes the mirror. Crash goes the glass
and vase on the mantel. Soon a shell
crashes through the wall and strikes a
high bookcase. sending its contents ali
over the room More holes are made IN !
the walls. II is altogether the most
graphic picture OF war I ever saw, with
a soldier dying on a lounge and poor
old Browns daughter kReeling distract
ed by his side to stop the blood. Nobody
knows anything about real war; but there
Is the picture Of II in all its ghastly
grandeur and horrible reality
All that is lacking in the play TO make
IT acceptable 10 a non-British public IS
a story IN which the war is an incident
this play made propaganda for national
defense measures in London; but It is
not so easy to see why New York should
thrill TO the hypothetical danger with
which the British empire is menaced. /
This is the spirit of the criticism levelcd
at the play, which is jolly well presented
and admirably played with William
Hawtrey in the part OF Brown. Nellie
Thorne as his daughter. and J. H. Ben
rimo as Prince YOland the commander OF
the invading forces.
Before Bertha Galland came into New
York her play, The Return OF Eve was
rewritten by Edith Ellis. z. z. Rose. and
another playwright, and other material |
changes were made in the cast. so that 1
on the opening night the performance |
differed materially from the version seen |
during a short preliminary season on the 1
road, which included Washington.
In spite OF sundry weak spots in the
construction, the piece is charming. but
proved interesting principally because Of |
the refined characterization which Miss /
Galland gave 10 the role Of Eve She de-
lighted the first-night public tremendous
ly, but suffered from a cabal set In mo- /
ton by an opposing manager who boasts !
or his influence with two or three IN !
scrupUlous papers. or their representa- \
tives, who INDUCED in an unusually vim 4
dictive Outburst Of resentment. Miss Gal
land. nevertheless. Is credited with an /
artistic triumph, and the play will con-
tinue for some time at the Herald Square. |
With very little preliminary fireworks /
''The Newlyweds and Their Baby" dram
Of -
from George McManus' cartoons, opened /
at the Majestic Theater on Monday even
ing and made a hit. II is a concoctfon
In which several authors and song writ
ers have had a hand and the whole /
makes snappy, catchy production. IN I
which something happens" every min
ute or two. The baby is the central char
acter around whom all the incidents re-
vOlve. and this part Is wonderfully we'll
presented by a midget, James E. Rosen.
who appears in the dual role of Napoleon
Newlywed, the baby, and OF Mai. Not
Much, an incubator exhibit. who has
reached the age Of manhood. but not the
size. The major runs away from the in
cubatoT, and the Snowman, noting the
remarkable resemblance Of Napoleon
Newlywed TO the deserter, steals the baby
for his show.
But besides the baby there is a chorus
Of pretty girls, and there are other fea-
lures which go to make the show attrac-
tive to the average New Yorker in quest
Of a light form of entertainment
Mrs. Carter closed her. engagement at
the Liberty Theater on Saturday. but the 1
house remained dark until Wednesday
night when Robert HiIliard made his /
first appearance in town in a Fool