The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-11-09
PLAYS That Have
Stood the Early
Test on Broadway
Many Dramas Have Been Launched
This Year. But Only a Few Have
Remained .Afloat OH the
stormy Theatrical Sea.

(By George A. BenSon.)
(Note:-The statements made in
the following articles are based on a
reading of several of the plays men
toned and of reviews by New York
critics. Next week we shall treat a
few of the plays hat have failed.)
"A change: A change! My kingdom
for Il change"
Our apologies to Shakespeare.
Though everybody knows there is
nothing new, under the sum-. Yet play.
wrights must perform the impossible.
if they would satisfy the Initiated pal
ates of Broadway critics. Something
new." they CRY. Anything at all. SO
long as it is new"
In the dizzying panorama of New
York theatres. many plays have been
ped the public firmly enough to with
stand the early fall test. All have
their merits. their strong scenes. or
impressive characters. but many. weak
in spots. have collapsed. leaving their
stages open for other experiments.
Certain plays. however. have stood
the grill. Among them is "Fanny's
First Playa satire within a satire.
by Bernard NJ. Shaw. The inner sa-
tire. the First Play" treats OF the alb
surdities of some conventions. which
vainly strive to restrain youth from
temptation by refusing to let them see
shown to be the breaking Of the
bonds. The other subject brought be-
fore the light of ridicule is the Unjust.
ice of opinion expressed by many mod
ern play-reviewers. Four prominent
critics of London, SO cleverly drawn
that they are easily recognized. are
represented in the drama. When ask
ed to pass judgment on Fanny's first
play" each insists on being told tho
identity of the author. The gist OF
the satire is in the following lines:
But is it a good play. Mr.. Bannal?
that's a simple question"
Simple enough when you know: If
it's by a good author. it's a good play.
There is much truth in Mr.. Shaw'e
philosophy. But We find the usual ex-
ceptions that prove the rule. Plays
that have been launched by George
Broadhurst and Augustus Thomas
have sunk into oblivion this fall. The
Attack" by Henri Bernstein. is almost
gasping for breath. and perhaps would
have given up long afo. but for John
Mason's superb acting. Its dramatic
construction is nearly perfect. but its
theme is too small for the effort spent
upon 1t.
Another success. so for. is the
Of that English master, Sir Arthur
Wing Pinero. Some indigestion SUI
ferers predicted failure for it, but they
forgot Billie Burke. who created tho
role in this country. She IL s~uficient
unto herself. To those Of extremely
delicate perception. there may be some
distasteful parts. but the play is new
ertheless worthy, for it gives q glimpse
into London theatrical life Of today.
The Girl" famous for her song.
Mind the Paint" il the object Of a
real lords affections. When asked to
marry him. she reveals her entire life.
The spectator is allowed a glimpse in
to the home life and then the theater
life Of the girl. The plot is insisnin-
cant, but the vitality Of the character
as portrayed by Miss Burke carries the
play.
The Governors Lady by Miss
Alice Bradley owes its life to David
Belasco's wonderful stage manage.
ment rather than to n innate
strength. The plot is self. evident, the
characters weak, the incidents hazy a.
to purpose. yet the play. with It's hap.
py finals. remains on the boards-all
the result Of the Belascan passion for
realism.
Within the Law" a new form Of
meiodrama. contains all the necessary
thrills. A young woman is given a
three-year sentence for a crime She
has not committed, and spends her al.
lotted time planning revenge. Her ar
gument. acted upon as soon as she is
free. is that everything is considered
right. II it be within the law" She
executes clever vengeance together
with a coterie Of other crooks, but e.
capes unpublished. since she always
keeps within the law" The theme
Is a daring one and interesting. It has
been made doubly so by the acting Of
Miss Jane Cowl. the talented young
actress who created the role in chas.
Klein's The Gamblers"
"a Scrape O. the PEN" by Graham
Moffat. is a play as evident Of pur-
pose as was his "Bunty Pulls the
Strings" and bids fair to meet az
great success. 1t is practically Enoch
Arden told in Scotch dialect, with the
additional interest of the first a
riage performed by a mere scrape o.
the pen" signature before two witness.
es. The plot is nil. The Characters
carry off the palm.
fernaps the most remarkable pro.
duction Of the early season liz THE
Daughter Of Heaven" whose cast
numbers four hundred. So perfect a
blending Of ancient scenes with mod
ern means. Of romance and realism
could scarcely fail to please ever the
most hardened of theatergoers.
The plot is founded on an ancient
Chinese tradition and involves the m
peror Of the Tartars and the pure.
FLOODED Chinese empress regent at
Nankin. Contrary to the rule Of the
past three centuries. a Chinese en-
press falls in love with the Tartar ruI.
er. who sincerely returns her affection.
and wishes to unite the thrones and
nring about a lasting peace. Her SOL
dlers cannot rid themselves of the
IDEAS of their ancestors. and rather
than serve a Tartar throw themselves
upon a burning funeral pyre. The
empress Is unable to accept joy at
their expense and drinks a fatal pois.