New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-27
THE DRAMA
Bought and Paid For al Inc
Playhouse.

Art" for better or worse. has penetrat-
ed into almost all the departments OF HE
and thought, but not yet into the realm or
play titles II is impossible not to feel the
effort toward effect or suggestiveness that
has been expended upon the names OF pat
ent foods. goods and other objects that come
to US by the package, can or yard. but the
art Of fitting plays seems 10 be neither a
conscious nor an unconscious one among
US Perhaps all genius has gone into ad-
vertising and left no one for the arts. II
often seems as though more imagination
turks in one Of the billboards that tease
us to give up coffee or that tempt us to
take to whiskey than can be found in or
about the theatre in whole season.
Bought and Paid For" George Broad
bursts new play, which was produced
for the first time in New York al
The Playhouse last night, is, as the title
straightforwardly. II somewhat brutaly'
suggests, another play that shows the hor-
rors which lie in wait for MS when we
marry The husband. captain Of indus
try" who has the somewhat rare habit
for man OF his attainments. Of being con-
tinuaUy intoxicated, tells his wife on one
pleasant evening that she has no right TO
complain Of what he does. since she belongs
10 him-he has bought and paid for her.
The wife an eX-telephone girl Of eXtraor-
binary sensibilties. feels after this that even
earning an honest living is preferable to
welded bliss. and the two separate, he TO
further captaincy among the industries, she
20 become saleswOman. How 10 Drlhs the
two together again would be a tragic PROB
lem in real life. but at The Playhouse II Is
done through comedy. The comedians, VINO
were i'm the play for that purpose ana also
10 keep the audience cheerful enough 10
bear the strain of the tragedians, menu
the torn situation by move thdt you
might have thought would make II all the
worse. and the "comedy-drama' ends nap
niIv. or perhaps r. would be better TO say
happily ends
Like n two-ringed circus Bought ana
Paid For" with its unailied comedy ana
tragedy. keeps the attention hopping from
one IN tho other IN a painful attempt 70
miss nothing They are both in the play
probably So as n follow the ancient
formula for drama which historically calls
for both as the two masks that weep ana
smile on the outside Of the curtain sug-
gest. And Mr.. Rroadhurst is familiar with
the formulas He could. no doubt, write
play in his sleep that would satisfy AL de-
mands and probably keep an audience at
attention Charles Richman as ROBERT
Stafford acted a drearv part drearily. as
did Julia Dean in the character OF ROD
ert's wife. Frank Craven realized the pos
sibiities Of Jimmy Gilley to the bottom
and added 70 the cleverness Of his lines
the surprise and suspense Of genuine
comedy Marie Nordstrom was capaole
wife for him, too. Between them When
thew had the good fortune 70 have the
stage 10 themselves, they kept the house
I'm uproars II only the other ring with
its problem antics had been left out the
stage would have been left clear for tho
kind of agreeable broad farce. which r.
though neither very deep nor very witty, IS
always popular.
p