The sun., 1909-10-25
HITS OF A WEEK IN LONDON
"DON" A MINED SUCCESS AT
the REPERTORY THE iTRE. =,
Odd Mixture OF FrOthy HumOr and Pom
dcrcus SLOW wncss-TrOubles OF STR
walter Raleigh staged -POtted Plays
ut the EOllIes THE Great Divide. !"

NJ eEChN bN iuCs
LONDON. Oct 10 The second produc-
ton at the new Repertory Theatre is in
charp and emphatic contrast to the
Shakcsperian tragedy with which Mr..
French opened his esason. This time he
presents two pieces, a curtain raiser which
is a farce tinctured with extravagant
burlesOue and a three act comedy with a
serious strain
The comedy is by Mr. Rudolf Besier.
somewhat new. but very versatile play
wright Not long ago he wrote a Greek
poetical drama. The Virgin Goddess"
which was produced by Mr.. Oscar Asohe.
That was quickly followed by -Olive
Latimer." which was described by one
critic as "A drawing room tragedy" Mrs.
Pat Campbell presented this. playing the
name part herself. His latest piece,
Don" Is a comedy in just such a way
a. the book after which the hero is named
Don QuiXote," is a comedy. Sometimes
the play is ight and frothy, with Shavian
touches of irresponsible humor. Some
times 1t is dull and moves with ponderous
slowncss.
stephen bennington the son of the
rector of Oldwick, has been nicxnamed
Don" after the immortal here who tilted
az wndmils because of the singularly
,nworldly and naive manner in which
he conducts his practical affairs. He is
generous and warm hearted but 50 great
an enthusiast and idealist that from a
worldly point of view he would be re-
garded as a fool He is engaged TO a
charming girl, Anne Sinclair, the daughter
of a talkative general and of mother
who is perpetually laughing being ap-
4. l.. i
urous Wow of every circumstance which
she is forced to confront Now though
Don is thus pledged to marriage he does
not hesitate to befriend with a good deal
Of unnecessary warmth and chivalry
Elisabeth Thom pse,t. the wife Of rant
ing, tearing evangelist who has hie b ideas
of the duties of a wife but no well defined
view Of a husbands obligations. The
woman had once bsfn companion to
Mrs. Bennington, then she had married
for the sake of a home, Don had always
done his best to help her, and when he
learns irom her Of her marital nhap-
pness he starts of to the rescue With
his harum scarum sense of the fitness Of
things he takes her tohis mothers house.
staying the night at a hotel on the route
because the overwrought woman breaks
down and he ia Obliged To nurse her
The first intimaticn the Bennington
family have of this escapade is a letter
from the angry husbard dencuncing
Don Almost upon receipt of this docu-
ment tho couple arrive Don arily
expects his father and mot her to receive
his charge. and his tianCte to ask no uues-
tons How the affair is received by
Mrs Bennington, who only wishes to get
her son out Of what she considers an en-
,anglememt; by the rector. who is genn
4
verbosely irate until snubbed 10y his
wife, who is the only person who sees
the humor Of the situation, ana 10y Anne
Sinclair, who is silent and trusting, makes
the comedy of the first two acts
In the last act the Nonconformist hus-
band arrives to eXpostulate with his wife
and to punish Don. who he firmly believes
is her lover He tries TO compel Don.
TO persuade Elisabeth to return to him:
but Don is not to he intimidated and
gives Tkom pscu a piece Of his mind with
much gusto just as the situation looks
most critical Mrs Thompseu tells the
whole truth. She relates how Don has
always helped her and waved aside her
desire to give herself to him.. She makes
no secret Of her love, but glories in il
The husband is supposed to be convinced
by her story that Don is a noble char
scter. and he consents 20 take back his
wife and to try and make her happier in
future.
The piece was excellently acted and
produced and the audience. who had
certainly been a little bored occasion
ally. were very enthusia site at the close
t.ad cheered spontaneously and heartily.
The curtain raiser was an amusing
;~no called Gentlemen OF the Rosd.' by
Charles McFvoy. II showed how a snob-
hsh squire was so imposed upon by n
s"i Of tramps who gave themselves out
- nobility leading the simple life that he
insisted upon lending them his valuable
Rotor car in which they rode OF tEi-
UWi hantlv.
Lewis Waller was welcomed hack to
ir" Lyric Theatre on Wednesday night
w'h a tumul; Of enthusiasm: He made
~ r"arpoaranoen q IN play by William
rrovad 70 be pageant of lavish splendor
with plenty OF scenes of lively drama ard
? chance for much defamation. MIR.
poyereuX has carefully utilized all the
popular bits Of knowledge about Raleigh
and worked them into his scheme Of
things. 50 the public gets much talk OF
toh.rco and potatoes sees the spreading
of Nr walters cloak before Etisdbeh,
and watches him write the celebrated
cpup.e' on the glass.
The troubles Of Raleigh and his lady
l.v- play second fiddle TO the conflict
"-w""N him and the Queen, for Elisa
tS'h falls in love with him and has him sent
tu the Tower. although he has saved her
from a would-be assassin, because she
clutches him and Bessie together. How
Hr.riJr escapes from the Tower and gets
INTO = dtsused house TO which the Queen
h1s been nrnd by forged letter sup
posed 20 be Leicesfer's. and how he pre-
t"udS 20 Join the consplrators and - lett
with "A certain John SGrdge 20 kill the
Queen, made one exciting scene after
another. OF course Raleigh polished on
s. zoe after an unusually realistic stage
tsu' and saved the Queen again. In
To last act after proposing that RnIetgh
rHaIl snare her throne and getting very
angry when she find that he beguiled the
t"iIIrn Of captivity by marrying BcS,ie
~" Qr'Cn rises 10 he patriotic ideal he
hts devised for her, de.ies Spain and
/. rIour tho lovcr3
ui oou-~. tho R1iCigh of the play ia In
~. primo and blossom Of his fortune.
w. j. Young, gay. ardent and irresponsi-
n." He docs not even wear beard until
''. II~ act In fact he Is y Beaucaire or
% DAw1gnan "A true Waller part, and
'i'h tli/abathan Il Ks and fuTbelovs.
yrh cropped hair and buckled shoes,
Waller looked gallant and handsome and
4 ! 4 e. oil AtvaEA