New-York tribune., 1911-09-24
LONDON DRAMA
0verWorked City Men-Domestic
MiSCaICuIations.
London. September Il

W. llltdlitS nave lfFfiA'h W hOfUeSIlc
drama with thoughtful satire underneath
comedy Mr.. Henry Arthur Jones, who (.
ess ,ntially didactic even in his farcial
moods, has taken up in THE Ogre" the
problem Of the management Of a head
strong family. A financier who Is forced
by business losses TO let his London
house and TO live economically in a sub,
urban lodge discovers that while he has
b,ca cngrossed with City affairs his
! young second wife, his two daughters
| and his son have got out OF hand. His
shallow, silly wife has become hopelessly
! extrava CANT and is carrying on des-
perate intrigue with the president Of the
Five Years Marriage Society; one
daughter has written an advanced sex
novel and the other has determined u
break away from school. and the idle,
spendthrlft son has fallen in love with
vulgar music hall artist. The ogre does
not lack occupation in his enforced re-
tirement from business. BY putting his
| foot down firmly and by proving that
when il comes 10 downright trsmpliug
mems boots are heavier than Women's
he regains control Of his house.
II is the clash or wills that makes
good drama. and there IS not htte of
it in this entertaining comedy The wife
revolts against retrenchnent. DISCHARGES
the servants. attempts to starve tho
ogre into submission. smashcs picture
with = hammer. goes of for a motor
drive With a brainless rake and plans an
lclopemcnt The husband, with the help
Of a shrcwd gardener. obtains = chop
and n tankard Of ale from an inn and
enjoys hearty luncheon when the rest
Of the family are hungry. He takes TIE
hammer from the rebell.ous vife's hands
and nails 10 the wall \ pair 81 White
hunting breeches as = token that no q
master Of his own house. FIe easily
blocks the elUpement when the wife's sd-
mirer Sinds out that the supply OF petrol
has run short and takes a train for
| Switzerland alone. In the end the ogre
trumphs all along the line by playing
the part of Petruchio and swapping the
whip vigorously. The pentent wife
agrees TO remain with him in the coun-
try; one daughter accepts a convenient
suitor and renounces her advanced
ideas; the other consents 10 return 10
school, and the puppyish son is separated
from the music hall artist and is al
lowed TO go to Canada to redeem the
errors Of his youth.
Some OF these figures and details
would become farcical If Sir George Alex
ander by his dexterity and lghtness OF
touch, did not contrive 10 keep the play
close to the line of pure comedy His
'impersonation OF the patient, good-hu-
mored, determined husband is delight
ful bit of genuine comedy work. without
trace of exaggeration or a single un-
natural tone or gesture. The only thing
to match it In artistry is the eccentric
comedy Of Mr.. Sydney Valentine as the
gardener, with stony glare and contempt
for woman as the helpless property Of
man Miss Kate Cutler makes the pleas
| ure loving wife at once a human figure
and the sort of woman who is 10 be met
every day in London drawing rooms
| The suffragette friend Of the family
the sex novelist and the scapegrace son
are common types in modern society
| The satire CT the piece is well salted and
wholesome and the acting worthy OF
the traditions OF the St James's Theatre
Altogether, il is the best example OF
comedy with a purpose which Mr. Jones
has written since The Liars
Mr.. Alfred Sutro is another master OF
the comedy OF everyday life. He works
out his social problems with more
subtlety than Mr.. Jones and manages MS
stage situations with a closer approach 10
French skill: and his dialogue is always
natural and his humor Sparkling ana
spontaneous. In his new play for Wynd-
hams Theatre The Perplexed Hus-
band" he has introduced seven charac-
ters, and the action occupies three days
in a mansion near Regents Park. The
story is told with economy OF stroke ana
is a sharply etched sketch from real Ire
The hero. like Mr.. Joness ogre, Is CITY
man. and he is not so fully preoccupied
with business affairs az 10 be UNCONSCIOUS
that things are not going well at home
Mr.. Gerald du Maurer is the bewildere'
| husband, and when he chooses 10 exert
himself he is one OF the most agree
able comedians Of the English stage
there are so many characteristic gesF
ures and facial expressions, and tnefe
is SO much individuality in his style :"
acting Associated with him IN u'
stage production are artists with manner
isms and methods of their own, sucn -
Mr.. Lyal Swete. with his Sacensro'
smile; Miss Henrietta Watson Win w
sharp. decisive Interpretation OF cnars'
ter. and Miss Athene Seyler ana "''
Enid Bell, with their talent for tnPe
scnating the victims Of infatUation
The cause OF disturbance in the u"
mans household is mis- wife's inta'us
ton on the subject Of womans pos''V
In modern life \ charlatan, whom s"'
halls as her master and guide, has plv
claimed the gospel of intellectual NV
and spiritual freedom and obtained Gu
rIete ascendancy over her nina
husbands campaign for liberauhs
credulous wife from the domlna'io'
a trickster and his dupes is conoue''N
with diplomatic skill He makes
viceable ally of pretty girl VINO Vs.
20 go 10 Athens and excites the Jea'O'
of the wife When the accomph0e
- a, -, .barlatan the vifes eyes ."