The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-01
1.-THE TURNING POINT" WINS
PRESTON GIBSON'S PLAY mas
GENUINE STRENGTH.

Net tire work % . well Equipped Play.
wright hut strong In the night
Piaees-The Author Explains the slsSaa-
lArity % Some of Oesar WIlde's lines.
The Turning Point three act play
Of modern life by Preston Gibson. had q
hearing last night At the Hackett Theatre.
which has recently offered 80 many
novelties To the attention OF New Works
wary theatTeGoerS. The new play has
lts scenes laid in the Virginia homo OF a
New York Spectator and in a drawing
room in this city. Its characters are
transferred from one milieu to the other
with no violent wrench II the rrohabll-
it,es. which were generally treated with
respect throughout the dr,mi.
An obviously friendly audience re-
csived Mr.. Gibsons play with more
than usual favor There are many fea-
tures Of the production they are
in the main due 20 the author which
should recommend The Turning Point
70 audiences Ices preJudiced in its behalf.
The New York speculator not only
tries 20 take advantage Of the young
virginian who owns tIa right OF way
Indispensable TO the output OF hls coal
nines. but he seduces a native girl. losee
the money II the friends who conndsd
4 HCnGuleA -
daughter who to save the name OF an
smbeEzling mother consents to become
! his wife.
/ His love for this girl. however. had
aw ak ened To business ACTIVITY the young
Virginlan who had been able 10 learn how
10 utilize hrs own possessions and make
! fortune out Of his lands The two honest
| figures in the drama have their ultimate
reward IN the way that never taiIs %
appeal to even the most sophisticated
public. There are unavenged victims
Of the speculator's evil, such - the Sc
| duced girl who dies, and her young lover
who IN miatak enly led Ia believe that she
was seduced by has best friend hut
there il generally sufficient poetic justice
60 restore the balance Of right and wrong
before the drama 10 finished
Mr. Gibsons play IL not the work OF
| an experienCed dramatist and his charac-
I tiers are often moved about IN their various
situations with greater regard to- theatri-
cal eEigsncies than for REASONABLE human nan
motives This weaSceas - especially
noticeable in the first act. which CON
tains sufficiently explanatory converse
tons but scarcely a suggestion OF drama
Z The second act. however and Il -
played in an unCommonly tasteful ana
! realistic New York drawing room
showed in several scenes the skill and
} feeling Of a true playwright When the
speculative mother demands that ner
daughter sacrifice herself and marry the
4
again when the country lover. crazed AZ
the knowledge 81 his betrayed sweet
! hearts death. attempts 20 revenge MN
. self on the wrong man these two episooes
had genuine theatric strength and showed
that Mr. Gibson may accomplish stili
more when he has acquired greater Ger
tainty and facility IN exercising the 'ool=
IL his trade. He gave evidenC,. OF pos
seasing sufficient instinct az a playwright
90 realize that the value 81 these Two
n . - la
counted in The Turning Point came
from the superior knowledge ~ the audi
ence over the men and women on the stage
as to the facts ~ the drAmati-ts story
Never did this time honor~d tradition 81
construction work out it, effects more
infalhbly.
Graoe Filkins az a New York widow
! delivered her irrelevant cpigrAms with ~
much charm and dalntinesa, when Ahe
was able TO remember them. that the
audience forGnVe her obvious lack OF
preparation Charles Gotthold PLAYED
with earnestneSs and fervor The role 81
the awakened Virginia farmer. ana Cuyler
Hastings usual rcserve proved an al
msszble contrast Then be smoked hla
cigarettes with truly villamotis vtrtuOSity
charlotte Ive~ added beauty and gentle
re-s to the rh.s ~ the misgul,is~i country
Eiri James kIrkwood. EDWARD zee
/ Enna Crawford and Amelia Mayhorn
were other members 81 a capable "oTn
pssnv
NJ Gibson friends wanted - 80
D. him after the second act ard he graiin6d
. Their curiosity In = vs-N W d@st aud
. STRAIGHTFORWARD sp~~"h hs defended hum
self against the charge - ha'lLr hor-
owed some - his epiCr,uns fr'fn tho
plays - Oscar Wilde He said they grew
out - the situations m the drama. which
~ Nas sorueW hat difi,"Ilt 'or his hearers
, 10 believe The lines appeared. IN nar',
quite detached and introduced for their
! own sake IN the true manner - Wilde
I W any .-gss tn"y Ner" very small share
II whatever success III" young author
won IN his play