The Washington times., 1909-05-25


When Charles Richman actor, de-
termined 10 write a play he found
simple and compelling story TO tell
When he came to the telling of this
STORY last night at the Belasco, not
untH the third act. the Supreme Court
OF washington in front of the foot
lights voiced its hearty approval
Mr. Richman seems not to have had
confidence that his theme would carry
home. Perhaps he believed that the
plas of today must offer more than
dramatic worth to commend IT, Some
such theory almost spoiled his work.
For the pity of The Jewellers" is that
lie chose TO clothe this Story with the
trappings of a cheap musical comedy
and besmirch it with morseis Of often
sive realism.
The story deals with Dorothy Dean.
daughter of respectable parents in a
small town, who has been trapped into
marriage with a New Yorker, Henry
Van Cleves on the hunt for little
fun The first act finds her. deserted
by her husband, in the "house OF
Florence Knight, where she is seek
ing 10 eVade the attentions OF Billy
Williams. One by one appear the deH4-
zens of the deIal-monde, men IKE VIII
hams, stout of paunch and pocket
book. Dolly Dimple. of the tinted
lights; Mrs. Brussel, also deserted, but
rot by her husband: Fanchou, fondly
Clinging to good thing" alias Dr.
Herbie watson, which may not last
long; and Willie, trailing in the unceT-
lain wake of Dolly's course
In this motley gathering Dorothy finds
one decent man. He comes in with a
black eye literally and figuratively. In
explanation he tells the story of brawl
In which he knocked out Van Cleve. and
later the rUmor comes that Van Cleve
IS dead Randolph declares he viii face
the music. and Dorothy goes with him.
Ciyae Earau-eI dinner
Two months later Randolph gives a
farewell dinner at 1.-THE Dungeon the
prototype OF a Bohemian resort in New
York city. Through the influence Of
Dorothy ne has Strengthened up
hes obtained an enviable appointment,
snd is about 20 leave for his new post
in san Francisco The TeVelry stretches
FAR into the night 4 mention OF Van
Cleve's name proves too much for DOrO-
thy. who slips into an adjoining room
Williams follows hsr, q scream brings
Randolph. Facing the tauntS Of VIII
SANS, ne declares she is his afiaDced
wife lie refuses TO listen 10 her stGry
and hurTies of 10 marry her that night
Six years later. in san Francisco. the
home of the RandOlphs presents a
picture of genuine happiness. Friends
come ard go, a little child has cemenfed
their love. AS unheralded as the storm
IN which he comes. Van CleVe appears
very much alive He comes TO settle an
OLD score with Randolph ana in his wife
and her child finds Instruments for his
vengeance. Randolph upbraids him.
and when he comes again dehes him.
Van CleTe seizes pistol and Is about TO
IRE. when on the handle, he sees the
symbol or the Mystic Shrine. Both men
are Masons- Van CleVe is so affected by
this symbol that ne refuses to pull the
trigger, and confesses that his mar
riaGe 10 Dorothy was Illegal.
Stretches Imagination.
Mr.. Richman has not hesitated to
stretch the imagination as well as the
law. There are points where this story
does not ring true. Nor has Mr. Rich
man attained a literary excellence in
keeping with his dramatic conceptions.
Several of the climaxes bear the weight
of so much verbiage that they totter.
and sre saved by 8Ir. Hickman, the
actor. But a readjustmeut Of the in
cloents and revision OF the dialogue
are the easiest of Mr.. Riclman'S tasks
lie viii probably find il harder TO
slough of the eXtTaneOus elements Of
last nights performance.
The FIRST act is Objectionable for the
frank indecency Of THE Easiest WAY"
or Of The WHIRLPOOL The second is
unps rdonsble for the INTRODUCTION OF a
dance from "The Queen OF the Moulin
Rouge" BY thes- features the au-
thor violates dramatic unity as well as
good taste To paint his first picture
he introduces about twenty people who
have no part IN the story. Since he has
not written musical comedy he feels
he must explain who they are and takes
nearly All qt the nrst act In doing so.
IN the second act they form the back
ground of the bohemian dinner. That
this scene is wei acted by each OF its
twenty-siX characters and IS worthy of
David BelascO in its realistic details
d06s not justify its Introduction while
the plot is lost sight Of.
Protest Against Early Acts.
one who is I'm sympathy with Mr.
Richman's ambition believes he has d
right 10 voice his protest when clean
melodrama IS hampered By chsttels Of
morbid problem play. Tho public
IS beginning 20 assert SIS demand for a
decent and wholesome stage. Eugene
Walters plea that he aimed TO give Il
true picture Of certain phases of life
bore the caTmarks OF sincerity because
DE was first ia the field. Two OF his
= plays succeeded because they had gem
uine dramatic merit despite their un-
fortunate theme. Craving this success
group of piayTTlsAts has concluded
that il was the libertinism Of these
plays that The public wanted and pro
ueedod 10 deal IL ont with an unSparlug
hand. And now comes Mr. Richman
who goes out of dramatic bounds 20
spoil a good play and TO devote gen
uipe histrionic talent TO the portrayal
Of drunken men and abandoned women
Had SIR. Richman stuck TO his text
there would have been more space 10
tell Of the intense interest of many sit
nations ia his play, 10 convey some
thing Of his fine dramatic instinct dis
played in the picture Of happy home
and of the lines that often sparkle, as
was 10 be expected in the first play Of
a man who has been waiting many
years 10 write one
But there IS This consolation. that
there WI be another chance. a play
20 good as TO shine through seven or
more wells should stand ont clear and
bright for long ran when IL unWinds
ifx Salons Vestments and assumes the
halAliments - respectable comedy