The Washington herald., 1909-04-13
THE BELASCo.

Last nights production OF Wilfred Cole
bys eomedy-drania. ''The Truants," az the
Belasco Theater was the hrsr perform
ance on this side OF the Atlantic Of the
play, which has already been done by
Lena AshVell in London. A big audience
was on hand to greet Miss Mannering.
who is always welcomed in Washington
and regarded affectlonately by theater-
goers. The fact that the play had al
ready been produced in England and had
the advantage OF being staged by Edward
e. Rose, who came to this country for
the purpose. was a big point 10 fits favor,
and gave last nights performance fewer
OF the customary ear marks Of the first
night and developed fewer evidences Of
the necessity for pruning process. The
rehearsalS have evidently been excellentiv
conducted. for things went with a graf
flying smOOthness, and there was no
nervousness or indecision noticeable on
the part OF the various members OF the
cast
The Truants" is distinct effort on
the part of the author to combine the
problem drama Of English society with
the smart comedy for which that IA
ton Is justly famous. Nethercote Grange.
wood, contains under its roof, at tire
opening Of the play, a curious combina-
tion OF relatives, described mostly as sec
ond cousins once removed, including
Dick ChetwoOd, his brother BIZ Chef
wood; Freda Sayell, and Pamela Gray.
with Lady Darnaway as chaperon and
little Jack Carstairs, upon whose history
hinges much Of the plot OF the story
Freda Savell (Miss Mannering) has Just
returned from Afghanistan, bringing with
her Jack Carstairs, whose parents have
been killed by hill tribes in that remote
country
At the Grange she falls in love with
her cousin, Dick Chetwood. a circum-
stance which changes her whole outlook
of life Previously she had been OF a
rowing disposition, and has even written
a book tearing down certain buiwarks
OF British society. reconciling, as she ex-
presses II, "Old customs with new ideas
Pamela Gray and Freda are much at
tached. bur Fre1a's influence over the
younger girl has not been such as =
meet the approval OF BIZ Chetw0od. with
whom Pamela is in love. Bill refuses
20 marry Pamela, claiming that she will
not make "a At wife for an English
country gentleman. Bill has recently re-
turned from South America, where he
has accumulated a Tot OF money and
many rough and ready notions OF good
and evil The character. BY the way.
is rather unique, and IS a singular de-
velopment OF the typical English temper
ment into a brutal. bullying. altogether
headstrong Colonial Freda urges the
marriage between Bill and Pamela. and
Bill proposes 10 take Pamela without the
formality OF a marriage ceremony.
In attempting 10 prevent this. Freda
pleads PANS youth and inexperience. but
Pamela Is fun OF ideas engendered by
Freda herself. involving free thought and
disregard OF conventions. Eventually
Freda cOnfronts Bill himself. as he is
about 10 elope with Pamela and informs
him that she has already told his brother.
Dick. OF his intention Bill then reveals
70 Freda what he knows OF her past.
which Is to the effect that little Jack
Carstairs Is Fredas own child. whom she
has all along claimed 70 be the child Of her
dead friend. Ethel Carstairs Freda ac-
knowiedges this 70 be the truth. and ad-
mits that Jacks father was not legally
her husband although she was unaware
or the fact that he had a wife already
living. Freda threatens 10 kill BIZ. ana
In scene closely bordering on rnelo-
crama-in fact, the only jarring note in
the piay-gives him. while she counts
r1ve. 10 consider whether he viii marry
Pamela or be blown into eternity. OF
course there is struggle, in which BIZ
is wounded. but upon the household being
aroused. the explanation Of a burglar Is
given. and the curtain falls on the second
act with BIZ begging Freda's forgive
ness and promising TO marry Pamela
The last act clears up the atmospbere.
Lord StreIlan. supposed TO be Jacks nm
Gle. has discovered Freda's secret bur
agrees 10 adopt Jack and make him his
heir exactly as IL he were in reality the
child OF his dead sister. This Is the price
Freda is called upon 10 pay for every one
Withholding her story from Dick Chet-
wood, the man she is 10 marry. but in
the end the sacrifice proves too great for
her ard she tells Dick everything. His
love for her and his realization Of her
sufferings and struggles make him utter
y Indifferent TO what has passed and
Freda finds her happiness at last.
The Truants' Just misses being a dis
unctly valuable dramatic Offering II Is
bright. the lines sparkling. without being
''too smart," the plot is developed logic
ally, without too many tedious explana-
tiOns. and the unpleasant features OF the
story are touched upon lightly. The an
tlior's Intention IS to show that those
who go counter TO conventionalities and
the decencies OF life cannot expect other
than the way OF the tra1sgressor." and
he makes his characters, like truants. re-
turn 70 the fold Of respectabllity. after
Ing faltering dangerously near the brink
OF social Ostr2cism. The comedy is de-
licious and is mostly furnished by Pa
mela, who Is always in hot water. and
BY Mrs Collins. the village busybodv.
who succeeds In mixing up everything
that she becomes identified with.
The first and last acts are best. The
second act, with its dramatic clash OF
the invisible weapons. between Freda
and BIZ, is excellent up TO the point
where Freda opens her dispatch box
The expectation is that she viii plead
with BIZ for Pamela's happiness, by lay
ing bare her own unfortunate past and
lis errors. Instead, she produces a gun.
and the incongruity OF the scene spoiled
what promised TO be an exciting situa-
ton. Not that a young woman Of
Freda's type would not be apt to possess
pistol, or hesitate 70 use it. but one
cannot reconcile fire arms with police
comedies OF manners.
Miss Mannerfng. as Freda. has a part
that fits her better than any she has
played since the days OF ''Trelawney OF
the Wells" and The Maneuvers Of
Jane" She is at her best in comedy
it IS true. and, while she had fewer
light than serious scenes in The Tru-
ants" she played with a quiet force
and reserve. developing unexpected pow
ers- Her Freda is really an excellent
bit OF acting, and the rather unusual
nature OF the part only emphasizes Miss
Mannering's success in its interpreta-
ton. She has gained considerably in bsr