Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-20
ADJUSTMENTS
Columbia.

| For the second time this season Ibsen
Is rebuked. nti-Matrimony" was a pro
test against his influence voiced in hui
morous and even a flippant vein. Now
comes "The Havoc" somber of title. solid
in structure and virile of mood, to lift
a warning against the folly which clothes
itself in borrowed philosophy. To say
that play gives SO capable an actor as
| Henry Miller one of the best roles of his
| career is to invite interest of exceptional
warmth. To credit the work with in
genious yet substantial mechanism in
story anu with good. easy expression in
iucld English is TO emphasize the impor-
lance which attaches to any production
with which Mir. Miller may choose to
associate his gifts as an actor and his
experience as a producer. The spirit of
simple candor which the play invites COM
pelS recognition of it's exceptional vigor of
thought and the remarkable efficiency of
its presentation.
1t is straightforward piece of writ
Slng-a work of logic which follows ii
dennite line without artiice to create
ana without fear of the ludicrous.
There is laughter in abundance but it
is the laughter that has d thought be-
hind it. 1t might be called "a heroic
farce. There is Titanic moral strength
IN the central character. Yet the sit
uations are sometimes preserved from
frivolous abSErdity only by the mas
terly' manner of their trea tment.
1t Is the eternal triangle of the problem
play; the husband. the wife and the lover.
The cast is organized in accordance with
the cold. steely directness of the authors
method of thought. These three occupy
the stage without interruption by the
comedy friend Of the family or the bub-
bling ingenue. young man of feeble
literary pose. modified and convention
allied reproduction of the poet in Shaw
sTovN6
ness man. who. being Il business man and
not sentfmentalist, accepts the situation
and refrains from shooting. He resolves
IN spirit of superhuman cyncism to
test the PHILOSOPHERS of his treacherous
protege, and facilitates his WifeS divorce
and remarriage on condition that he shall
De received in the home on the same
roofing of intimate friendship that the
lover previously occupied The new hus-
oand becomes prey to the most
reasonable jealousies, and is shown up as
moral coward as we'll as scamp in
pecunlary matters In conclusion the
wife. rather passive and ignoble figure
IN the plot. is forced to return to a de-
pendence on her first husband who gives
her clerical position in his office.
AS a refutat!On of LbSen the work is
not convincing. The business man is an
extraordinary character; man whose
make up is wholly devoid of the emotion
atty which is the very basis of the Ibsen
drama. He is not type, but variation
from type. For that very reason he is
dramatically fascinating, though valueless
as an example for purposes of phiosophic
generalization. In character and intellect
the role of Richard Craig, as played by
MI. Miller with splendid, convincing
force, towers like a giant, whose natural
strength and bigness remove him far
from and above ordinary men.
he Is magnificent exception and not
a standard OF comparison, and another
dramatist In another mood might find in
his towering aloofness from the SYM
pathies and susceptibiities of common
human nature an abundant reason for the
loss of his wife's affection. His fortitude
in bringing into his office as wage
Garner the woman whom he still regards
with that pity which is akin to love is
beyond credence. excepting as the art OF
the actor and the author make it for
the moment plausible. The denouement is
new situation which might easily be the
foundation for another very interesting
play of the problematical school.
The story is so well told and the dia-
logue so energetic yet natural that inter-
est does not flag for an instant.
Francis Byrne, as the lover and second
husband. and Laura Hope Crewe, as the
Wife. both lend competent and even bril-
Pennell, as the Office assistant, deserves
admiring recognition for keeping his role
to Its proper place in the picture, and
not trying to force attention by introduce
ing a character bit
Mr.. H. S. Sheldon, the author, did not
appear in response to calls for him, and
Mr.. Miller made a brief but happy speech
IN appreciation Of the enthusiastic inter-
est manifested.