New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-12-02
THE DRAMA
irish Players in Three Plays
LAST Ninht.

A programme affording an agreeable d.
versity OF entertainment was put forth at
Maxine ElHotts Theatre last evening by
the Irish Players. There were three plays,
one OF which was in three acts. the other
two being in one act each. William Boyle
homely comedy. The Building Fund was
the major work, and its three acts were
performed admirably by the Misses Allgood
and MaGee and Messrs. Sinclair, O'Rourke
and O'Donovan. Miss Algood gave an
other OF her first rate representations Of old
women. this time an ancient, prosperous
misery dame who disappoints the expecta-
tons Of her heirs by devising all her prop
erty TO charity and public purposes. though
she passes away IN what would appear 10
be a mean enough spirit. Miss AHgood
work earned high commentator, and re-
ceived II.
The second piece Of the evening was
" Yeatss Kathleen NJ Houlihan.' A
little note by Yeats describes this piece
sufficiently for the present purpose.
"One night" he says, II had dream,
almost as distinct as a vision, or a cottage
where there was wellbeing, and freight
and talk Of marriage. and into the MIDST
Of that cottage there came an old woman
In long cloak She was Ireland herseh'
that Kathleen nj Houlihan, for whom so
many songs have been sung and tor whose
sake so many have gone 20 their death. l
thought II I could write this out as litue
nIav could make others see my dream as
I had seen IT,"
Again Miss Argood depicted age she
was the Kathleen nj Houlihan, a gaunf nut
dignified and alluring figure In the IreIanu
OF 1895 or, II you please, typifyng the Ire
land OF that time. A simple out dllh-
cult thing 10 do. for step one way Would
have made the effort fantastic or mad' ana
step the other way would have made II
ridiculous. Miss Allgood made it pathetic
and believable.
Third on the bill Of the night was
laughable trife by Lady Gregory, Inc
Workhouse Ward" depicting the wranglng
Of two unshorn and loquacious beggermen,
the occupants Of neighboring beds in Gloon
Workhouse Here Arthur Sinclair and
Fred O'Donovan we're grotesquely comicaL
O'Donovan was the Playboy Of the recent
Ueird Manhattan night. Last evening in
the yyorkbouse scene he was a gaunt and
graceless ancient pauper. In the first piece
civil Young farmer, and he sustained in
unite convincing WAYS the broad as well
as tho nice differences OF the characters.
Mr.. Sncairs work is always Interesting
and always good. II would be better and
more interesting If ne would avoid ten
dency 20 make several characters speak
after one fashion.
But the Irish actors are hard workers,
and each in his season plays many parts.
u heir work improves upon acquaintance
and while II may seldom appeal strongly
20 the usual theatre crowds OF this city,
there is a sufficient public caring for work
OF good quality work which Is In some re-
spects of quality unusually good. 10 make
the Irish season here a significant one. AND
the work. both Of playing and p!aywriunG'
is on the whole. OF a kind so unusual that
3 GOOD many playgoers do not yet quite
understand or appreciate IT, They would
have exotics grow 10 and by local stand
erds There is much delight 10 be obtained
from the Irish Players a. w