The Washington herald., 1912-10-01

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THE CHARACTERS AS THEY APPEAR.
Omi, q japanese valet TokunasA
Billy Van Ruysdel. A. Bnuei
Richard spuriing .............--J. Maurics Sullivan
Mr.. Coleman q lawyer. ...harrison hunted
Jack Rutherford. . man Of the world .George Nash
Doctor Shannon A steNensm
Little nAsee1 ioS
| Nina, q Nesnne
Anna karsof.- Mssent
joe q hotel -.Ihouas Grsses
btuee
Since Augustus Thomas wrote THE
witching Hour" psychology and meta
physics as a structural theme for play
wrights has become an appealing asset to
the stage, but 1t has remained for Eugene
W. Presbrey. well known for his success
| full dramatizations of '-Trilby," Raj
hes," The Right of Way" and other
books, to vizualize the soul of a man
standing in judgment of the dissolute ca
reer of his physical being. which Is the
| foundation upon which Mr.. Presbrey has
builded THE Other Man." the new play
which Cohan & Harris last night opened
the autumn season Of the New National
Pheater, presenting George Nash In the
stellar role.
While there is nothing new in the strug-
4 gle of the subconscious self (Which we
call soul for want of a better name)
against the human weaknesses and temp
tations Of the physical being, the theme
of The Other Man" has, nevertheless,
been made SO startling in effect as TO
make II appear original
The story of THE Other Man" begins
| in the New York apartment of Jack Ruth
erford on the eve of his marriage TO q
young woman Of high social connections
Rutherford has been a blackguard, an
egotist, and a libertine-the sort of chap
whom polite society dubs imam OF the
| world"
Ten wears before Rutherford, while
| travelling in Russia, met Anna karsof,
| beautiful girl, whom he rescued from
the Nihilists, afterward accepting her
love with the understanding that their
bond might be but for a day, a month
year, or forever, as il might please mis-
fancy. At the end of ten happy years
| together, Rutherford decides that, in or
der to eliminate a successful career. il
Is necessary for him to marry n MS
own set; so he decides that the provision
of a home and a suitable income should
Of a home and a suitable income should
satisfy Ana, and orders Mr.. Coleman,
his attorney, TO have the place in which
the Russian woman is living decided over
to her.
Coleman prepares the deed. but refuses
to deliver il in person to Anna, Whom
he also loves, and declares his intention
to make every effort to persuade the
girl TO demand justice for herself ana
her seven-year-old son, OF whose exist
ence, until this moment, Rutherford has
been kept In ignorance. the boy having
been born during one Of his father s
long absences abroad. Anna feared TO
tell Rutherford of the child because the
man opposed children, and Coleman
helped her to keep the secret.
DR.. Shannon, who has been good
friend to the couple, joins his sympa-
thies to those of Mr.. Coleman for the
discarded woman. and together they ap-
peal to her to demand justice at least;
but she will have none of their advice.
The second act of the piece brings
the story to the point of Rutherford's
farewell to Anna and his first meeting
with his little son, furnishing nothing
unusual thus far in the theme.
The third act brings the startling
climax Rutherford's apartments are
arranged for a farewell bachelor sup
per. A storm RACES without, and as he
awaits his guests Shannon and Cole
man each make an appeal in their indi-
vidual ways for the happiness of the
woman who has given Rutherford her
faith through so many years, the ooc-
tor appealing to the mans higher ma
ture; theSlawyer treating him with con-
tempt, and each in vain. Lett to him.
mirror and all the hideous memories of
the past flood his consciousness. His
nervous intensity is increased by fire.
uuent imbibings of brandy and cham
pagne. The lights flicker and The
other rMan"-Rutherford's subconscious
self. cries coward" and when the
lights are dimly on again, his soul
stands acousingly at one- end or the
banquet table and scourges MIN mercl-
lessly with the record of his dissolu-
tion, until in a frenzy the victim turns
his revolver on himself and falls by
his own hand.
IT is in the climax of this play of re- |
markable possibilities that the clarity OF
the main character is somewhat lost. |
The author has not entirely ASSOCIATED
the physical from the psychological. for |
II is NOT lust clear to the audience
wheThe- Rutherford has been goaded into |
self-destruction by an ineXorable con- |
science or is merely the victim or too
much alcoholic stimulant- Despite the
fact that the physical and phychologlcal
merge the climax is nevertheless suffi- |
GENTLY vital and absorbing to compel
conviction and elicit sympathy
The fourth act, in which Rutherford
comes back to the home of Anna korsaf |
physically recovered and morally re- |
formed to make her his wife, and to be |
a father TO his boy. he is as winning a |
character as he was formerly repulsive. /
The personality of Jack Rutherford 1
through three acts of the piece is un-
lovely and difficult. 1t was portrayed |
last night by George Nash with consum-
mate skill. At all times he was con-
sistent and faithful in his characteriza-
ton, and to his big act. when he is con-
fronted by his soul. he brought an ad-
mirably suppressed force.
The Anna Karsof of That's Magrane
was finely drawn Characterization OF |
woman whose love was great enough to
eliminate self in her consideration OF
the man. The second act OF The Other
Man gives Miss Magrane ample incen-
tive for hysteria, for which she substi-
tuted a moderation and reserve which
was to her credit.
Charles A. Stevenson. as DR.. Shannon,
and Harrison Hunter as Mr.. Coleman.
the lawyer. gave sincere and convincing
character studies, never once stepping
out Of the pictures; while Carmen Mes
willie, as Nina. a companion to Anna
Karsof, gave a sprightly portrayal of a
French girl and brought the only relief
there was to be found in a somber story.
Little Jack was well played by Master
Tobin, and the minor roles were all in
capable hands.
"The Other Man is serious drama,
which affects the psychic, with varia-
ton, in handling which distinguishes It
from other plays which have been in
recent years based on psychology and
The play has elements of
interest but its central idea is not