New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-08
THE EXPLORER At DALYS.
Lewis Waller Authoritative in
Maugham's Play.
STRONG CAST ACTS WELL
Grace Lane and Charles Cherry
Are Delightful in
Comedy.

A carefully produced play, thoroughly
we'll acted, is a pleasure 10 attend, even
II the play itself processes to run no
deeper than good dramatic situation and
keen. clever dialogue will take II. This
much and more can be said OF Lewis wal
lers second venture IT. America as actor
manager with his production last night at
Days Theatre of W. Somerset Maugham's
THE Explorer"
About two years ago Mr.. Walltr gave
this play its first production in London.
but not until last night has 1t been seen
here. This public is. however, somewhat
familiar with Mr.. Maughams work. as
several OF his comedies were produced here
three or four seasons ago, among them
Lady Frederick" Jack Straw and
Penelope"
The young playwright has become known
and liked on both sides Of the ocean chiehy
as a writer OF comedies. The Explorer
however. is not comedy. although fortu-
nately for its chances of success here the
comedy element has not been left out.
The play is chiefly concerned with Ques-
lions OF honor. There is first, the honor
Of an ancient family to be restored. and.
second, the fallen honor of the chosen re-
storer 10 be hidden, and. third, the honor of
the one who hides 1t TO be maintained. on
the last OF these the drama rests.
At the opening OF the play the father OF
the house of AllertOn is convicted ION the
stage) OF forgery and is sentenced 10 seven
years OF penal servitude. sympathy for
this misfortune falls on Lucy Alerton. his
courageous young daughter. who has been
the mainstay OF the family. Lucy's sympa-
thy, however, turns chiefly toward her
younger brother George a young man who.
having been called from oxford TO hear
OF his fathers disgrace, cries salt tears and
nearly faints at the news. Why are broth
ers always so tremendously worthless on
the stage?
Alexander Mackenzie. the explorer.
character without a flaw, who loves Lucy
from the bottom Of his soul" but who IL
on the point OF going 10 Africa on an ex-
petition against the slave traders. offers TO
marry Lucy before he goes. She refuses.
She cannot because she IS disgraced and
because she must attend her father, who
needs her now more than ever. One thing
he can do for her, however. is 20 take
George with him and let the boy act
bravely In Africa and thus retrieve the
family honor. George does not do It,
however. He dsgraces himself by the
committing OF several things which
the law forbds honorable men
cowardice and murder among them. He
imperils the lives OF all the members OF
the expedition by killing a native girl and
thereby rousing the hitherto friendly tribes
him a last chance 10 win a tsrdy glory by
sending him on a mission OF almost certain
death The broken lad accepts the orer
and is Killed But the expedition Is saved
Back in London again. a trai,orous mem
Der OF the party publishes an article In
The Times" denouncIng Mackenzie for hav-
ing deliberately sent George Allerton TO his
death. Mackenzie can make no eXplana-
ton. He gave the boy his word that noth-
ing should over be said OF his misconduct
II he accepted the mission intrusted TO him
The main scene OF the play takes place
between Lucy and Mackenzie Ia which the
former, who has promised TO marry Mac
kenzie. asks him to deny the accusations
made in The Times" article. The explorer
asks his future wife to trust him. Alter
the next act. however lapse OF time
brings the woman to terms. she cannot re-
main long in doubt OF a man whose whole
lifetime Of honor" az she puts Il, stands
on one side and this one doubtful act on the
other"
There is nothing either in theme or char
acter development which is epoch making
in the play. II has one strong scene-that
between Lucy and Mackenzle-and several
interesting situations. IT Is dramatic and
well bound together.
The two light characters Of the play,
Richard Tomas and Mrs. Crowley, whose
duty Is to show how typical wits Of Eng
lsh society make love and propose with
satire and froth on tap and real love under
meath. were displayed In several well writ
ten scenes in which telling lines abounded.
These two parts were taken by Grace Lane
and Charles Cherry. both OF whom are
players OF great variety and unusual poise.
They handled the scenes with choice humor
and delightful delicacy.
Mr.. Waller brought TO the part OF the
explorer all his ironlke British force. II
fitted the character well. He was quite
thrilling. wholly heroic and hardly human.
He bore himself with dignity and got the
pioneer spirit into his voice.
Constance Collier had "A rather thankless
part-to be q woman labelled heroic yet
with no very heroic situations TO figure In
or lines TO say. Yet she made central
figure OF her Lucy merely by her tender
ness and understanding.
The play was exceedingly well stage man
a cad md was well acted throughout
CAST OF THE EXPLORER"