The Washington herald., 1911-09-10
DELUGE OF FRESH PLAYS
STRIKES BROADWAY EARLY
New Season Has Opened in Optimistic Manner in
Gotham .....

New Work, Sept. 9.-Despite the fact
thai dramatic optimists have reported
the theatrical season of Broadway's
port bow for more than thirty days, that
worthy bark did not dock until this
week. Its arrival, however, was nothing
short Of portentous, for it deluged the
city with verdant plays that will require
weeks of ticket buying on the part of
the public before its budget can be ex-
hausted
Among those whose electrics help to
make the Great White Way a thorough
fare of pleasure and delight to the re-
turned vacationist are "A Single Man"
with John Drew in the title role, at the
Empire; ~"Snobs," Frank Mcintyre on
deck, at the Hudson; Miss Jack" star
ring Boutwell, Browne, at the Herald
Square; Thy Neighbors Wife" a play
by Elmer Harris, at the Lyceum; and
Speed a comedy in three acts, at Will
lam Golfers Comedy Theater.
With this heavy cargo and the promise
of still further premiers as the season
of l9l1-19l2 takes unto itself the whiskers
OF age, New York promises a theatrical
year that seems in fair way to eclipse
in fecundity the scores of others that
have engaged the attention of playgoers
OF American theatergoers and interna-
uonal dramatists.
"a Single Man."
To those who are familiar with John
Drew, he of the wasp-like waist, the
sartorial scenery, and the gentlemanly
mien, "A Single Man." his latest play,
brought no surprise, and. it must be con-
fessed, but little enthusiasm. From time
immemorial Drew has appeared in but
one brand of play that which cast him for
role of captiousness, a sort of Fifth Ave
nue. Don Juan, whose asnine virtue, help
ed out by the author, leads him through
a series of situations which give him
ample opportunity 70 exercise the mimi
table Drewisms that sit so well upon the
only man on the American stage who
can love in manifold and yet be a per
feet gentleman
In "A Single Man Drew is again the
perfect gentleman-innOcuously so. He
again finds himself between the fires of
feminine alteration, being loved on the
one hand by his secretary and on the
other engaged to u "tomboyish" indi-
vidual whose youth leads to an infinite
amount of social hazing of a distasteful-
ness that provides most of the laughs
for the four acts of Hubert Henry
Davies play. There is nothing new eX-
cept the baby, and even this property
isn't Drew's.
The story of A Single Man in brief
is that of an author Robin Worthington,
CMr. Drew, whose forty years of single
blessedness are rudely upset by the sight
of his sister-in-lawS baby. WOrthington
would emulat" He look about for a
mate, is foolish enough to engage him
self to a social butterfly many years his
Junior and finds that she is utterly un-
suited to mis- temperament In the mean
time his sister-in-law parades a number
Of eligible female friends before the dis
satisfied bachelors eyes, and he, with the
Drew proclivity for getting in bad"
makes love to all via the channels of
social and literary secretary.
As time passes and the acts close,
Worthington finds himself torn between
the social torment Of his young fianCee
and the aforementioned desire to sit by
the fireside and rCck the cradle. At this
period in the play his secretary, who has
loved him all along, resigns. Robin in
duces her to stay and attend a party
The sight of her social metamorphosis
brings an awakening of true love, his
toRboy fianCee breaks off her engage
ment and all ends happily.
The play is not strong, but by virtue
of Drew's acting and a certain sparkle
in the dialogue, together with pleasant
manner of unfolding obvious situa tions,
It will probably draw its usual coterie
IF admirers and go down in theatrical
history as another of Drew's successes"
'SnObs.''
The Hudson Theater decorates the
theatrical map of the present season
with laugh. ''Snobs'' and Frank Nc