New-York tribune., 1909-10-17
THE PLAYG0ER
More about "T'he Melting Pot"
ZaRgsciH, W7hiteside and Miss Herne.

1t has been given out that any one dissenting from
the opinion Of celebrities who have declared that
IS The Melting Pot is a great play. Mr. Zangwili."
is better than he should be- and Is probably the
perjured hireing Of some man higher up Il not
a decadent whose home should be the gutter. All
Of which goes 70 show how silly sane men can be
when publicly discussing matters which they do
not fully understand Were architecture and mu-
sic painting and sculpture 10 be loosely judged
the drama is by every one having tongue and
unhappy 10 ink, the result would be ridieu-
loUs beyond the widest dreams.
The Melting Pot has been much discussed by
the gushers who have covered il with ecstatic
praise. the calmer folk who have not lost their
heads Il and the critics who feel that
they do not deserve Siberian exile and deadly tort
because they preserve the right of Independent
judgment. The simple fact is that Mr. Zangwilfs
play Is not so wonderful thing the enthusiasts
and The publicity agents would have everybody be-
licVe nor by any means so poor work as others
have represented II. It is q fairly good play. and
would be a very good indeed II some of the
rhapsodes Of its here were cut short lie is tire
some person. this hero, and inlpersonated by an
actor less skful than Mr. Walker Whiteside he
would be unbearable even 20 his ladylove. 1t may
be that an composers are tedious when in love, but
this youth who has never studied composition and
yet writes a symphony which a famous conductor
accepts after five-minute reading; this dreamy
genius who would subject his audiences 20 moral
examination in order that unworthy persons may
conceited juvenile whose great-aunt says Of him.
quite truly. that he doesn't know enough TO get In
out OF the rain: who cannot pay his rent, yet
scorns TO ask a salary for playing in a renowned
orchestra: who believes crowd of new immigrants
more competent than any Rssemblage at Carnegie
Hall TO Judge an orchestral work; who thinks the
steeraee an abode OF virtue, and the first cabin
shelter of selhshness and greed and sin; and Who
instead of making love 10 his hancee, breaches to
her about the glory Of the Stars and Stripes and
the symbolism Of the Statue Of Liberty. and calls
down the blessing Of heaven upon unborn millions
while the patient young woman wonders If her dif-
ficut adorer will have sense enough 10 earn
enough for the support Of a home-this rapturous
youth is really one Of the most trying persons VINO
ever came before the footliehts.
Mr. Whigeside makes him endurabe. That Is
saving a good deal for Mr.. Whteside's remarkable
skill II the youths wings were clipped a little so
that ne might remain occasionally upon earth, and
il his tongue stayed now and then, there
would be some chance for the audiences to like
him. AS is, they like Mr.. Whitesde's inPersona-
ton Of him: they like this very much. But they
are not much impressed by David's hysterical rant
about Europe sodden with blood, red with bestial
msssacres' and his Fourth of July orations about
American freedom and equality and the fires OF
God" What the boy knows Of Europe is Kishneff;
what he knows OF America is not even New York.
The Kishinef massacre. from which he escaped.
dstorts his vision OF all Europe; and the America