New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-14
THE DRAMA
The Three Daughters OF M. Ou-
pont" at the Comedy Theatre.

pOill dl Tie COilleuI iIiedITe.
ON last nights premiere performance OF
The Three Daughters Of NJ DuDont'-
hang the fortunes Of Eugene Brieux in
this country. So said Mr.. Laurence Irvine
iu his curtain speech AT the Comedy Thea
tra and Mt Irving translated and pro-
duced the play and unprecedented the prin-
cipal character in It. one wonders what
might happen il BTieuX should write a
really great pla~ and n. Guitry. NJ
ForDes-Rober-son or Sir Herbert Tree
should undertake its representation IN these
United States.
IN presenting Brieuxs Les Trois Files
de Monsieur Dupont" Mr. Irving has graft
fed sgaiu his love for exploring the dark
corners OF life. He did not find quite so
many OF them as he did II Les Hanne-
tons bUI nevertheless there were quite
enough for his audience. Fortunately, the
principal dark corner was ilumined by the
personality and art Of Hiss Dorothy Dorr
who PLAYED splendldly the part OF the
daughter Angelo. who was driven from
home by her father at the age of seven
teen because she had loved beyond the
bounds OF maideniy discretion Another
dark corner was occupied by Miss Mabel
Hackney, who took the part OF Julie VINO
was the victim of the system OF marriages
Of convenience. Miss Hackney found the
shadows too much for her-they overpow-
cred her and choked her powers Of express
sion
The third penumoral niche was filled by
Miss Emily Wakeman. the plain. unmarried
daughter who turned to the ecstacies OF
religion FOR solace after disappointment in
her only love affair. Miss Wakeman
brought 10 her corner little light, nut she
exposed its darkness with much dramatic
effect
The play centres about the marriage OF JU-
Ie to Antouin MairaU- Charles NIillwoOdD.
n Dupont ,Mr Irving and Nine. Dupont
Isabel Waldr0ni arrange with N. Mairaut
u Hooker Wright and Nine Mairaut
lJeffreys Lewis for a marriage settle
men- OF 10000 francs in cash. a promise
~ -Gl0 francs more in SIX months
and flooded house Oh river in
French provincial town. Antonin does not
love hIs wife and his wife does not love
him Matters 60 nom bad 20 worse until
AnaIy Julie leaves her husband and goes
back 20 her parents. Sne makes up her
mine 20 earn Ter owr living. but she IS
dissaUded by her fallen sister Angelo,
who comes back from Paris 70 sign papers
I'm connection with an inheritance. This
makes her yield TO her husband when ne
comes 90 beg her 80 return 10 him
Presumably this play OF BrieuNs was
designed as d protest against the marriage
Of convenience. IL argues the thesis we'll.
IL touches upon the edge OF woman SUI
fraEe and throws "a Few shafts OF satire at
those whose religion means attending mass
and whose Christian spirit j. not SO far
reaching as 90 embrace forgiveness. It
shows the evil OF childless marriages and
argues for equal rights OF husband and
wife. It's humor 5ustides the play.
The tnird scene is marked by "a climax IN
tHe nature ot "a rough and tumble fight be
tween Miss Hackney and Mir. AIillward
which has rarely been equalled on any
stage. Il lasted seemingly for several min
uJes. largely because one wondered II il
were ever going 20 END. The two struggled
across the stage yLreo times. overturning
tables and chairs and dnauy landed with
q crash GA a couch. Miss Hackney dis
u.a-o. athletic uroveys which should be "A
warming O. any husband.
Mr. Irving as ". Dupont had "a role
which admitted Of much bumor. and he
drew raUeh f~om the audience on several
occasions. HIS makeup was effective.
especially from behind. But one was con-
scious all the time OF the man VINO appears
too uuch the same I'm every part he plays.
A1r Irving was supposed 10 be a French
man with a daughter of thirty-thre.. He
talked Ike the EnEIishman that he is
shall Nc say. under fortvc only when he
pronounced nasal syllable was one re-
minded NJ The fact that he was impersOnat-
iuE "a F'rencHmau de was not as familiar
with bis lines AS he ought 20 have been in
view OF the tact that DE translated them.
but his performance. on the whole was
c-editshie. IN that he gave an adequate
IDEA OF The merceuary Frenchman who was
willing 70 sacrifice anything for money
Jefrevs Lewis. a. the naughty Nine.
Nairaut was convincing and amusing. J.
Hooker Wright. her henpecked husband
played his part we'll Charles Millward was
an excellent Antonin. dominating. selfish,
couceited and arroEa.-. seldom has one
seen ou any stage a maid SO excellent TN
makeup and demeanor and with less 10
say than Miss Louise Wolfe. Every time
she appeared she was appiauded.
CAST OF THE THREE FALGH TIERS OF N
DUPONT