New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-09
DRAM A
-" Il Nam UorId" ProducCd at
the Comedy Theatre.

You can't stir up any mans life. II
all right il II looks right on top" 1his
sentence. seriously spoken IN one OF the
most serious scenes OF z serious play
brought a shout of laughter from the audl-
ence which witnessed. in the Comedy Ihed-
ire, the first New York performance OF
new play called "A Mans World mere
hsd been funny sentences in the play, anu
the audience thought that this must oe
another proyoker of nirtk It must be a
cruel task to write and act seriously before
a congregation OF such minds Even the
warning on the programme was unheeded;
No interrnission between Acts and 4
The audience compelled an intermission
and chlldishly clamored for the actors to
come out and bow. unnecessarily inter
rupting the business of the performance
It was one OF those futile exhibitions in
which first night audiences indulge, so
much more intent are they in performing
themselves than in taking any real interest
in A stage play a work of art.
The theme OF Miss Rachel Crothers's play
is: This is mans world. Man sets the
standard for woman. He knows she's bet
ter than he is, and he demands that she
be-and If she isn't, she's got to suffer for
It. That's the whole business in a nut
she'll Miss Crothers undertakes 70 make
the man suffer. but Miss Mary Mannering,
who enacts the heroine Of the piece, leaves
one in considerab BILE doubt. VIII she stick
70 her guns7 She dismisses her lover, bur
you cannot resist the feeling that she will
call him back again II a few days or
weeks
Frank Ware as she calls herself. Is
an author, unmarried, and the tenant OF
fat somewhere in bohemian New York, II
anybody knows where bohemian New YORK
is nowadays little boy. whom she has
adopted, lives with her. The Riddles
mother died years ago. Frank Ware be-
friended her. The boys father is unknown.
But. of course, anybody in the audience,
with half eye. see in the first act
that Malcolm GaskeIl. Miss Wares sutton,
IS the man
Miss Ware works for the redemption OF
fallen women, and she has resolved never
10 marry a man who has wronged a
woman Malcolm Gaskeu is a strong, mas
terly person, and he wins her love When
Miss Ware discovers that Gaskeu is
"hiddies" father she dismises his suit,
and the play ends with his departure from
her presence. The idea IS good one,
strong one but rather over the heads OF
the first night audience Miss Mannerins
looked quite pathetic and pallid, but her
acting was quite ordinary, and did not
carry conviction. Her Miss Ware seemed
n quixotic sort of person, and there was
little reason for the great love and devo-
ton of GaskeH The playwrights inten-
ton could not, in this inpersonauon, have
been fulfilled.
But Mr.. Charles RIchTan was convincing
and interesting as Gaskeu. Here was As
good q performance as he has ever gwen
Whenever he was on the scene the play
moved briskly; when he was absent II
Jagged Miss Ware impressed one as an
uncomfortable person TO have in the family,
She was given 10 entangIing herself in IN
necessary misunderstanding about the
parentage Of the small boy, and through
needless mystifcation brought upon herself
the suspicion that the child was her own.
If Miss Crothers desired to make her pub
lie believe that this is really a mans
world" she did not succeed very veil in
working out her theory or presenting her
facts The kindly persons in the play are
really the men: the unkind all the women.
One of the latter brings about the most of
the trouble by the exercise of her venomoUs
tongue All the minor characters are very
we'll presented
The play would be improved by compress
sion. Too much time is spent in discussing
the ancient maxim that what is sauce for
the goose should be sauce for the gander.
Desirable az II might be to have this recipe
applied to all humankind. the dish Of life
IS likely 20 be served otherwise for some
long time to come. Miss Crotherss play does
not move humanity an inch nearer the mil
Ienium, and without Mr.. RichTan to give
il vitality il would not last very long with
the Wonlan's part presented as it is by Miss
Mannering. The author is TO be commend
ed for supplying an ending consistent with
the task TO which she has addressed herself
The final situation may puzzle the folk
who are content only with happy endings.
but It is logical If Frank Ware really
means what she says On the whole one
feels that Malcolm Gaskel will DC better
off without the lady. The playwright, how
ever. forgets TO tell US what will become Of
the little boy viii the father claim him
later OF. now that ne has found him. or
viii the uncomfortable lady continue 70
assert possession? She is not without =
strong infusion of selfshness-this Miss
Ware-after all is said and done. But the
pla wright does not appear 10 think So
md one is sure that Miss Maunering does
not share the opinion. A u.
CAST OF a MANS WORLD