New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-04-16
THE DRAMA
Grace George in a New Play at
the New Playhouse.

the New Playhouse.
A charming little theatre. the newest one
for this week. The Playhouse. 1t would be
quite perfect II its hangings were not by
several touches overdecoraied. The Play
house (welcome revival Of an old name is
in 18th street. between Broadway and Sixth
avenue. It opened yesterday afternoon.
and the opening performance was repeated
in the evening. But until next autumn
neither the play, Sauce for the Goose.
nor the star. Miss Grace George, will be
seen again in this theatre. nor. it may be
supposed in any other theatre in New
York. Tomorrow cover Night Will he
transferred there from the Hackett The
atre. II may be said. and certainly II is
hoped. that Miss Grace George has started
her husbands Playhouse on a prosperous
career and that the ever delightful actress
will pass the greater part OF each season
there. 1t is high time that Miss George had
permanent place in New York And II is
high time that fine company should be
gathered about her-to stay with her. Per-
maps NlI. DTduy Will give Ici d ilir Gum
pany next season His announced plans
seem TO demand IT, And New York needs
a permanent company Of the right kind.
such company would not be difficult TO
organize nor impossible to maintain.
Mr. Brady is to be congratulated upon
the successful opening OF The Playhouse,
and he should be thanked publicly for the
good sense and good taste he has shown
in the printed programme which he gives
10 HIS audience. d simple. four page pro-
gramme. geographically neat and void OF
advertising and other extraneous matter
He has shown that what The New Theatre
could do In this direction any other the
atre can do II it's management chooses
The play in which Miss Grace George
appeared Yesterday. Sauce for the Goose.
is called "a comedy OF New York life" II
is really farce and il is not an exhibit
ton Of life peculiar 10 New York II might
be d European farce modified for what are
SUI posed to be American requirements. 1t
was written by Geraldine Bonner in col
alteration with Hutchinson Boyd II
should be acted as a farce. with the pace
f farce. Nevertheless no exception can
be taken 10 Miss Georges method OF play
ing il. but some Of the other members Of
the cast were several shades too heavy tor
hat they had TO do. and the piece gains
nothing by John Constabes outburst Of
profanity in one " the acts The audience
ro2red with glee over that outburst. They
Laughed joyously At many other passages,
but the Go 10 HE'LL pleased them most,
II noise is any proof OF happiness, as many
fond souls suppose it TO be.
John Constable is an author, and he
seems a highly prosperous one. He is
writing a book which deals somehow with
some phase Of what the artless OF this
world alude 20 as "the woman question"
He yearns for the emancipation of women
Several women yearn with him. One OF
these yearns for him rather than for eman-
cipation. You cannot tell why when you
look al the man or listen TO him. He is
OF a raw sort However he reciprocates
for while the designing passion Of Mrs
Alloway. the yearner-in-chief. Mrs. Allo-
way is presumably a widow. For her
annie sake Mr. Constable neglects his
wife. The wife Is the part PLAYED by Grace
George Mrs. Constable takes leaf from
the book of the ernancpators. These ladies'
believe that women should have the free
dom now monopozed by men. Mrs. Con-
stable tests tho theory in order 70 win back
the unapprecatiye John. While her hus-
band is dining with Mrs. Allovay Mrs. Con-
stable goes 10 the opera with Harry rrav-
ers After the opera she takes supper with
Travers in his apartment. But she leaves
a note for her husband telling him Of her
plan Just as Travers is making love 10
her the husband appears Indignantly bel
lowing of his wifes outrageous conduct.
From that point the scene differs from the
usual treatment Of this familiar situation.
Kitty Constable Overturns all the tradi-
,ions She does not faint nor hide, tremble
nor protest She plays the game as she has
Manned il. Travers hides, and the hus-
band is expected to acknowledge that
what is sauce for the goose should be
sauce for the gander He does acknowledge
il. in way. later, and. OF course. every
thing works 10 the right end, RECOMMENDATION
and all the rest Of IT,
But in the working out Harry Travers
becomes a ridiculous figure. and what
might have been apiece of serious interest
becomes sheer farce. AS soon as you see
what Travers is and how Kitty makes
bItt Of him you lose all interest I'm the
theme and the manipulation Of II. and care
for nothing except the delicious acting OF
Miss Grace George. She plays in a spirit
Of delicate comedy. She and she alone
gives the piece whatever justification II
may have for existence. She is worth see
ing. very we'll worth seeing. Perhaps she
will be seen again In this piece later IN
the year. II she were seen in better play
the discriminating would be happier. IL
must he said. though, that the audience
seemed 10 like Sauce for the Goose and
its performance and that the opening OF Inc
PLAYHOUSE fulfilled, without doubt, the eX-
nectations Of those who were most con-
cerned. AS for the future-Mr. Brady ana
Miss George have fine opportunity May
they make the best of II! A W.
CAST OF SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE.
.1oa,,i,s ..........E. D. Cromwell
Fanny .--.-.. --.'.' '''.''''.' tJ.-ta-, percy
Johh ,o.s.abia ..... Grace George
e.