The Washington herald., 1910-03-01


and Young Washington CIubman
Admits He borrowed Some of the
Epigrams from wiIde'a Production.
New York. Feb. 2S-Preston Gibson
from the stage tonight replied to the
charge of plagiarism made against him
yesterday His play. 1.-THE Turning
Point" was presented for the first time
in New York at the Hackett Theater, and
the seats were all taken. At the close
OF the second act the author appeared
and made a speech.
Mr.. Gibson admitted that he had Dor
rowed some of the epigrams from Wilde's
plays, and declared II was done In the
true manner Of the Wilde productions,
and that they were quite detached from
the rest OF the drama.
He said that Shakespeare and Rostan
had often been accused of pilfering, but
| that their plays were a success, neverthe-
| less. And the same can be said Of the
| latest of Mr.. Gibson's efforts. The audi
| ence accepted it kindly.
Comparison of EpIgrams.
Gibson's lines and the original eplgrams
from Wildes plays. "An Ideal Husband"
and "a Woman Of no Importance" are
as follows:
4 WILDE: Lord C0Tlng-I am glad you have call
/ ed. | am going 20 give yuu some good advice.
/ Mrs. CheYeley-Oh. pray don't One should never
give a woman anything she can't wear Ia the even
/ ing-An Ideal Husband. ACT III. page 81.
1 af.L. -.
advice.l
Psny Psr-Nevsr give woman anything she
| can. in the evening Act l.
| WILDE; Ms. Cheyeley-I don't carr about the
/ London season. II is too matrimonial: people are
either hunting for husbands or hiding from them.
! Act l. page 70.
| GIBSON: Pansy Parr-women have only two oc-
clpatOns-huntiRg fOr husbands and hiding from
| them. Act III.
WILDE: Mabel ChiI,ean-oh, love London so
ciety! Il IS entirely composed Of beautiful
idiots and brilliant luustios Act 7. page 1.
/ GIBSON: Pansy Pau-BTainy men don't care for
BEAUTIFUL IDIOTS and brilliant lunatics. Act III.
| WILDE: Lord GOTing-NOthing ages Ike happl-
mesa ACT I, page "A.
GIBSON: Pansy Pan Cspeaklug TO Aline Ander-
SCI Of happy mauiages-Nothing ages one Ike hap
! Iiness Act III.
WILDE: SIR Robert ChItsrn-spies are Of no use
nowadays. Their profession is over. The newspapers
do their work instead.
An Ideal Husband. Act ". rage s.
GIBSON: FerSason-Y0n vs been spying
| BRICK ENRIDGE-Sps are o. use now
| adays Their WORK Is dOns By the newspapers. and
| a great deal better. Act ".
Scenes Laid I'm Virginia.
The play has its scenes laid in the vir-
ginia home OF a New York Spectator
and in a drawing room in this city.
An obviously friendly audience re-
ceived Mr. Gibson's play with more than
usual favor There are many features
of the produeuon-and they are in the
main due to the author-which should
recommend 1.-The Turning Point" to audi
ences less prejudiced in its behalf
Mr. Gibsons play IS not the work OF
an experienced dramatist and his charac-
ters are often moved about In their vari-
Gus situation with greater regard for
theatrical exigencies than for reasonable
! human motives. This weakness is especi-
ally noticeable In the first act which con-
| .ains sufficiently explanatory converse
tons, but scarcely a suggestion Of drama
The second act. however-and il is
played in an unCommOnly tasteful and
realistic New York drawing-roOm-show
in several scenes the skill and feeling OF
a true playwright. When the speculative
mother demands that her daughter sacri-
fees herself and marry the sutton she
has several times refused, and again
when the country lover, crazed at the
knowledge Of his betrayed sweetheart
death. attempts to revenge himself on
the wrong man-these two episodes had
genuine theatrical strength. and showed
that Mr.. Gibson may accomplish still
more when he has acquired greater GER
tainty and facility in exercising the tools
OF hts trade.
Scenes Well Laid.
He gave evidence OF possessing suffi-
cient instinct as playwright to realize
that the value OF these two scenes, as
we'll as any other that really counted in
THE Turning Point" came from the SUI
perior knowledge OF the audience over the
men and women on the stage as to the
facts Of the dramatist's story. Never did
this time-honored tradition Of construc-
ton work out its effects more infalhbly.
Grace Filkins as q New York widow
delivered her irrelevant epigrams with 50
much charm and daintiness when she
was able 10 remember them that the
audience forgave her obvious lack of
preparation. Charles Gotthold played
with earnestness and fervor the role OF
! the awakened Virginia farmer. and Cuyler
Hastings usual reserve proved an ad-
mirable contrast. Then he smoked his
cigarettes with truly villianous virtu-
oslty.