New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-02-05
THE PLAYCOER
Sweet Ladies in Masculine Roles
The Wrong Man for the Devil.


brings good fortune sometimes miscas''
ing neither makes nor mars the fortunes
of the piece. for the latter has strength
enough 10 carry the error, and even us
miscasting may result in some beau'i'ui
effect Of acting which. though iar from
the dramatsts design. is IN NS'A
choice work Of art
OF these three kinds Of miscasting Oh
stage characters New York had. mp TO
last night. conspicuous specimens. Now
Their, arc two: for like the Little lndlan
Rows ST the rhyme. even the curiositleS
ID f the contemporary stage disappear one
ny ono. although from various causes.
Unlike the stored Little Injuns. the curl
ositiss Of the stage do not remain al
unfinished I'm number, for 20 sooner does
ono collection disappear than another
takes its place The qucereSt specimen
of stage curiostics IT present. the wide
world over. is the attempt OF Miss Mauo'
Adams 10 play Chantecler
Bcre. of course. is case where mis-
casting makes the fortune Of a PLAY. 81
uerhaps il would b. nearer the mark to
say that i, makes the fortune e the en-
rerrrise. because nobody will venture TO
say that Rostand's play. does not suffer
at The Knickerbocker. II would suffer
anywhere i'm translation. Let il be sup
,oscd that Louis Parker. who is expert
IN his French. did as well as the condi-
lions permitted him TO do; still you nave
"a manned play, cpt with small remors"
and not little damage our gracious
public. however, is indifferent to the
damage. and il INDUCES in fine run
cor its money. Had "Chantecler been
produced here in serious fashion-that Is
10 say. with more regard for the play
and most for nature-it might not nave
taken the town But public interest in
.1hc most popular American star gen
cral curiosity TO see the most talked OF
play in a generation. and an equally gem
eral eacerness 10 behold the theatrical
ignorance both Of poultry and poetry,
combine as everybody knew they would
combine TO crowd the house. There -
no reason why "Chantecler' should nov
nil the Knickerbocker Theatre until hot
weather. no reason. I mean. familiar to
The show trade. There are reasons as
ISOLATED with considerations Of art when
roint in a. different direction, but the
crowd cares nothing for them. y fine
show is provided for the thrOng; some
thing TO talk about. That is sufhcient'
II may be that Rostand cares as httle
as the crowd which would rather see
that miracle in fowl. q female rooster
than the most wonderful play, or the
most wonderful acting, that ever could
hoe provided. and yet there are minds
10 which the thing suggests Coney
Island. Miss Adams. no doubt, has a
sense Of humor. and she must laugh at
the dear public once in a while.
The queer ambition which sweet ladies
have 10 play masculine characters may
not he understood by mere man. The
latest manifestations OF it are profitable
enough in respect TO everything but art.
yet. oddly enough, they are manifested IN
the persons of two ladies who are de
voted 10 their art. one Of them being
quito the choicest woman artist on the
American Stage. Miss Adams would Vie
with Guitry and play Chantecler Miss
Edith Wynne Matthson would play The
Piper. which was meant for Otis Skin
uer. or for any actor Of his force. elo-
.uuence and valiant parts. There's not
spectator sitting at any play in which
she appears who admires Miss Matthi'
son more than do, and for that reason
n is impossible TO write with joyful ap-
preciation Of her portrayal Of The Piper
no. G
Adams's Chantecler IS rooster Miss
.Matthison is very lovely, and her voice
is music and her art is a source Of hap
piness for thousands but because she Is
what she is (and what an acquisition sh'
IS TO our stageD she cannot disguise hei
divine femininity. she cannot make any
.bodv think that her Piper is not woman
i,oascueradirg. Michael the sword
,Swallower would nave been IN love witt
this Piper, not with Barbara. Kurt I'M
Syndic. and the rest Of them, would no
have been deceived by this ladylik'
gentleman. But Jet this be said, am
cordially said: Miss MatthisOns Pipe
does not hurt the play. it does not brln;
out certain qualities OF the character ant
the lines; il even contributes st1ans
and unsuitable beauty 20 the piece ou
the incongruity Is not ludcrous. and tn
strength ana depth of the play proven
the dramatsts idea from coming &
nought even by the excess Of temlnin
quality with which It is At present laden
Apropos THE Piper: The midnigh
5oust of types led The Tribune's criti
rism into "A statement unjust to Nj
Frank Gilmore. last Tuesday morning
The writer was made 10 say: Mr.. Gill
more does not catch the spirit Of hi
rules" That fantastic and bowilderin
mot" should be cast into outer dark
rcss What the article should have sal
was obviously what was meant. M
Gilmore does catch the spirit Of h.
roles
Percy MacKayes play, The Scare
crow" was taken of the stage last nigh
the more's the pity. one would nav
thought that New York has publ
large enough 10 make the production
this play fairly profitable Perhaps
has such a public sufficiently large an
sufficiently appYeciative. But the pla
,yould have stood far better chance K
success had the selection Of the star bee
.ort,,na,e -Ir. Edmund Breese was a
unfortunate selection for Dickon, u
Devil He was ludicrously melOdramau
Mr. MacKaye's play is "a tragedy OF n
ludicrous," but not in the sense that NJ
..,oda his mart ludiCrOuS. IhS