New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-02-24
DR. ANA
Mr.. and Mrs. DaCentry Pro
duced at the Hackeft Theatre.

duced at the Hackett Theatre.
Here is another dwelling dirty. dull and
disgusting play. Il is acted by players VINO
may with perseverance and due tine, win
distinction in amateur theatricais The
name OF the play is Mr. and Mrs. naven-
try" The programme and the advertise
rnents say that Oscar Wilde was the author
That is q needless calunnny OF man who
destroyed his own reputation. The play is
by Frank Harris. They do not seem 10 know
in sc street who Frank Harris is. The su-
perh inteIligence which every little while
filurlines the theatrical heavens must occa-
sioaaIlv give pause even 20 the gods When
the spinners of advance. and other. notices
give their genius free head weird things
and wonderful roll down the dark back
ward and abysm of time Somebody con-
nected with the American production Of
s'Mr and Mrs. DaVentry' seems determined
that the existence Of Frank Harris shall not
he Acknowledged. There amt no such per-
son in the opinion OF this fixed theatrical
soul. Just as in the annals of Sairy
Camp Of immortal memory, the existence
o. a certain estimable lady bearing the
honored name of Harris was 'deniged
by Betsy Prig, SO the official prociaimer
Of the Daventry play seems disinclined TO
believe not only that Frank Harris lives
and writes but that he ever lived and
wrote. There are quarters I'm which one
expects to find but the scantiest acGuaint-
ance with literature and so there was no
occasion for surprise when the advertise
ments and last nights programme de
nlsed' all knowledge OF such a person as
Frank Harris Weeks ago the doubling
Photographer for Miss Constance Crawley
informed the theatrical reporters that
Frank Harris was a pen name of Oscar
Wilde. And Miss Elizabeth Marbury
PUSHES 10 The defence. declaring that Frank
Harris wrote the play, that she knows
he did so, because she is his agent and
she sold the work for him. One hopes
that Miss Marbury haG not read it.
But her uUJerance upon the matter was
not needed. The Daventry play was pro-
ouced in London eight OF nine years ago
with Mrs Patrick Campbell in the prin-
opal part and with Frank Harris billed as
the author. Mrs Campbell says that Wilde
wrote the scenario and the first Two OF the
four acts of the play. One wonders what
became OF those two acts It is impossible
10 make any one believe that Wilde wrote
any act in the pay which was seen last
night al tie Hackett Theatre Sinner
though Wide was. he did not write driveI
He vas The most brilliant and one of the
most consUnlmate playwriShts of his time
Whatever connection he may have had
with the DaventTy play. the acts Of last
night cannot be his. Frank Harris claims
the authorship. and has for years claimed
il without dispute Let him have what dis
tinction it viii bring him
Who shall convey light into the remote
caveTns whence theatrical news breaks
forth2 Even The persons responsible for
the renowned lnaccuracy Of programmes
and advance paragraphs could have dis
covered without difficulty that ''one Frank
Harris. who Is believed 70 be none other
than Oscar Wilde" though truly one is
net that unhappy genius but has a sep
ara1e identity, that he was sometime the
editor Of Vanity Fair" of The Saturday
Review Is the author Of various books.
and Of play or Two, and that the pub
lished list OF his literary achievements in
Guides this Davenrry play. Even SO. why
should Harris have written it, Having
written Il. why should il be played. and
rlayed a. it was last night? And why
s0lst il upon the American public under
me name II one who. whatever else he
may have done. could not have been guilty
&C last nights ofenro2
There was some applause from persons
Who Sympathized with The players in their
dismal plight IaSI night But il is I'M
probable that their association with such
pay ~ cOnpuIsors- Tn. inane lines
brought deriSiNe laughter from the specta-
tors. the suggestive passages and stu
4tions passed IL cOntemptuous silence
With Z little encouragement our audiences
might learn 10 hiss II would do them and
the stage "A world OF good But what had
happened 70 the once sparkling Harris
when he perpetrated this fearsore thing
What has befallen our stage that managers
produce such contemplate conraptions as
the Daventry AMI Destiny pieces. which
have come forth this week? At the pres
enr rate The clean-minded public Viii keep
away from the theatres until assured that
new plays are not indecent, and not below
the intellectual level Of sea vengers-beggins
the latter's pardon A w