New-York tribune., 1911-11-28
THE DRAMA
Synge's "PIayboy of the Western
World" at Maxine EIIiott'S
Theatre.

II would be ridiculous to criticise a play
and performance presented under the
conditions which prevailed in Maxine Ell
llott's Theatre last night. when art. lib
erty and enlightenment were Loyalty and
heroically served by a gallant band Of
well. IL is not possible at the moment to
speak with precision Of the composition Of
the self-denyins legion which foregath-
cred for the sake Of supporting virtue,
truth. justice and free speech. There
we're wigs on the green. And the tails OF
many coats were stepped on and chips
were Knocked from many valiant shoul-
ders Something was vindcated, nobody
is quite clear what il was. but a lot or
chivalrous and high-minded persons went
to the theatre. distributed themselves or
were distributed in all parts of the house
and did their best 10 divide the attention
OF the audience with the actor. They
made noises they raised strange cries.
they were courageous. Bravely they hid
behind pillars and hooted. And they
cried shame, Shame" and Ring
down the curtain but as they cried they
grabbed their coats and hats and made
for the exits They sacrificed themselves
with an ardor which might have been
worthy Of song and story II only they
had known what they were doing. They
had generally the appearance and manner
of persons VINO didn't quite know "hat
they We're doing nor why they were doing
fl. There may have been reason for thls'
probably there were reasons. 1t was some
times possible TO hear what was going on
on the stage. The noisy ones In front ap-
peared TO desire not to know what was 60
ing on on the stage. They came to pro-
test in the name Of virtue, in the name OF
art. 'of-weH. who knows in what other
name? They We're determined for some
reason most obscure that the actors should
not perform. that the play should not go
on. But the actors performed and the
play continued 10 it's finish. The first act
was played in pantomme-that Is, the 1e"
persons who watched the stage saw the
actors going through their parts quite un-
disturbed and making motions when ap-
reared To belong TO the characters ana silt
uations Of the play. but almost everybody
ir tile audience was watching the saints
and martyrs generously and solemnly dis
tributed I'm orchestra dress circle. balcony
and even boxes. When the great burst u
Righteousness was over and tyrannlcaI
police and other men strong in the arm
had removed the vgilant watchers Oh the
right the first act was repeated ana II "d'
possible 10 gain some little knowledge Oh
what was going on in the place which IS
usually the centre OF attraction in the
theatre. All the virtues, all the patriotism
all the glory Of a downtrodden and bleed
., a,ynrpGggn somehow DN
noise. gcsticulation and even imprecatlons
dire The play must not 20 on shoui"
not 90 on. and the actors must not play
but the actors very coolly minded their own
business and went on. The demonstration
Of oppusition was brave beyond words; IL
had all qualities except the sense OF hGmor.
When the whole affair was over and the
weary shriekers had tired themselves out
those that had not been dragged out oy
main force-the poor majority of the audi
euce. puzzled by the commotion ana dls-
turbed i'm its accustomed ease, wondered
what all the row had been about. There
was little Peterkln and Peterkins inquiry
over again. What did they kill each other
roi.o' %obody knows The play seems TO be
ouita iuuocuoIs 20 those who do not carry
OWL thoughts in their minds. But somehow
great causes of art. Of liberty, of en-
ligbtenmcnt must have advanced step
or two last night I'm tho New Word j
that were not So what were the ehects :
Who knows? Wasn't II a gay. head-
cracking time I'm the name Of art OF on
liehteument. OF liberty, and Of what's It's
name? There was nothing in the play or
the playing that justified the resentment.
The play turned out to be a joke on the
uproarious. but as humor has departed
from their kind they will never see the
Joke. We will talk Of the play and the
performance some other morning, when
.bo cir ie cooIer A. ".