The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-14
ADJUSTMENTS.
Acndciny of Music-'1'hc servant I,
the House,
BiIou-Donifn, mntincc and night.
neautifui md Powerful play.

- NMINAH.
He1utffui md Powerful Play.
a small house at the Academy OF
Music last night Witnessed one OF the
most unusual and beautiful plays ever
produced Charles Ram kennedy's
THE servant In the House" II Is
called a play, and II Is acted In q
I theatre, but 1T Is really a sermon, last
ing about two hours and a half. for
the Intermissions are very short;
there are no changes of scenery, no
effects Of lighting or stage setting,
and the cast is very small. The play
approaches more nearly the descrip-
tons OF the old morality plays IN
| spirit than a theatrical performance.
In the Passion Play at Oberamlnergau,
the Savious is actually represented by
d man. in THE Servant In the House."
He Is Indicated, suggested, brought to
mind in the person OF a I1indoo SER
want In the vicarage of the Rev. Will
liam Smythe.
The servant at the end. makes him
self known as the Wears brother. the
Bishop Of Benares, a wonderful man.
who has built up a wonderful church,
not OF stone and mortar, but In the
hearts and souls of men, but all
through the drama he constantly
speaks words and does gentle acts
that make the audience sit in deepest
silence. When "Parsifal"ais n the
audience is usually requested not to
applaud; when the servant himself. In
this play. is on the stage. one could
hardly bring himself to applaud.
T'h Rev. William Smythe, a brilliant
scholar and preacher. has become em-
Uttered, skeptical, a doubter. His
wife, through her desire for place
and prestige. has urged him to strive
for worldly advantage, and he has
yielded. until he has almost starved
his sou. Els brother, who helped
him to obtain an education. has gone
down and down until he is only the
man who looks after the drains"
They are both miserable, the vicar
because Of the realization OF his fall
ure in his spiritual life, Ind the
drain-man because OF his wretched
condition, his revolt against the hope
less tragedy OF his life and the loss
OF his little daughter, who. unknown
to him, Is living with his brother and
his wife. Just at the time the vicar
expects his other brother, the Bishop
of Benares, the servant appears. There
also comes The Bishop of Lancashire,
the brother Nf the Wears wife, an
utterly hardened, mercenary old pre-
late, an almost Impossible character.
And the drain-man appears. 1t IL
then that the servant begins his work
OF love. and with his gentle words
and loving minlstrations all are
brought Into 'the love of God and
IAN" save the bishop, and him he
casts into outer darkness.
In the bands Of an incompetent
company, the play would be absurd. II
not sacrlligtous. but as 1t was played
last night. 1t was simply a very beau
1liui drama in the nature OF a sermon.
Tyrone Power was beyond criticism
as the dratn-man-strong. compelling,
with a splendid voice and a perfect
stage presence-a great actor I should
say. George ". Wilson did superb
character work in the hideous role OF
n Bishop of Lancashire. Edith Cfane
was quite satisfactory as the wears
Wife. and David Glassford was most
excellent as the vicar. Jessie Glen.
DINING was attractive and appealing
as the drain-man's daughter, though her
voice grew a little monotonous, and
.lHarold de Becker was more than good
in the small part of the page boy.
Wilfred Roger, the servant In the
house. had a most difficult and trying
part, which he played with deep feel
ing, apparently ~reverentially and with
art and power. His voice Is low and
soft, and his gestures were few and
quiet.
The whole performance is a pleas.
ure to those who care for artistic work
on the stage, and. not to be prigsish
it Is Of the kind that must help.
GHEaHg- l-teYa aSaEAH grHE W n n 81