New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-20
JOHN MASON'S ART
Carries Bernstein's Latest Play,
1.-THE Attack"
HIS REMARKABLE ACTING
Martha Hedman, a Lovely New
conner from Abroad, Makes
Delightful Impression.

| John Mason is one OF the best OF living
actors. and quite the best on the Ameri-
can stage. Give him a difficult task. ne
/ will carry II through by the power OF his
art. by the sure skill OF his we'll informed
! experience. He had a very difficult task
last night at the Garrick Theatre. wien
he acted Lucien Guitry's part in an Eng
lish adaptation of Bernstein's "L Assault. "
In New York the play Is called "The At
tack" which is not quite the same thing.
but will serve.
I Last February this Bernstein play took
! Paris by storm Last night It did not
take New York by storm. That. however.
Is not the fault OF the actors. The play
has not sufficient interest for an Amcri-
can audience, and perhaps It is not suf-
hciently novel for an American audience
The backmailcd, or otherwise persecut-
cd, statesman is familiar figure on our
stage. But IT must be confessed that a
statesman In love with a creature so en-
chanting as Miss Martha Hedman's Renee
de Rould is not familiar on any stage
or in any country Cor the reason that a
personality like this young woman's is
rare indeed.
Alexandra Mertal Is an eminent figure
in political France, so eminent that envy
seeks 10 pull him down 4 scandal-mon-
gering sheet accuses him OF having stolen
money when youth. He is compelled 10
sue the author Of tho report for libel lie
wins his suit. But the story was true.
and he confesses this 10 the girl with
whom he is in love. He can face il out. If
need be. before all the rest OF the world:
he can accept from the world the ac-
quittal II gives him and the enthusiasm
II brings him: but he puts himself on trial
before the Judgment OF the woman whose
faith in him is perfect and for whom he
has reverence as for holy being.
This man OF fame and wealth
widower OF fifty-three one Of the Leaders
OF a nation. loves glrl Of twenty-five.
and Is dearly loved by her. IT r. to her
that he acknowledges his theft OF 5000
francs. The theft was before she was
born. I, was due 10 tho natural impulse
that his young wife. then about TO become
a mother. should be saved from starya-
ton. Restitution was made long. long
ago
Well there IL no disgrace i'm this.
But Henri Bernstein writes as II there
We're and makes a play to 1T. 1t is be-
cause an audience on this side Of the At
lantic does not see eve 20 eye with an
audience I'm France that the play lacks
appeal in 35th street. The man had made
restitution IN his youth. He had lived
thirty clean and honorable years since
then. All the facts he could prove What
had he 10 be afraid or? OF that clear
logical French mind OF which We Tar
barbarlans hear 50 much II So, tn"
play will do well enough Ia France. as II
did. but Americans viii not bee much
moved by It's story. They Will be moved,
though. by the mastery acting Of John
Mason.
Mr. Mason carried the weight % the
play on his shoulders The play did not
help him: he helped II. lie gave II what
ever reason IL may have for lis existence
here. He gave one OF the finest studies
81 character. one Of the very best por-
trayals OF brave and tender and tor
tured man that this generation Of theatre
goers has seen. Let them see Mason and
know what acting IL.
Martina lifuUldI ~ - ll'N N'i''is ''t'
she come from the skies II so. sh"
must have come from some sky above
continental Europe She looks very
young. she Is very charming, and she =
an ideal Ingenuc. She must have good
stage training and experience And
her English IS far and away better than
that OF any European actress who has
appeared here IN many years. You could
wish that she might teach II 10 some oi
our young American women Of the stage.
Sidney Herbert acted effectively. VII
fred Draycott was mis- usual cheerful and
tustIing self. Hut John Mason. The
praise for him will be long. loud and sin
cerc. The play. though. is Of the the
atre rather than OF life. y. W.
CAST OF THE ATTACH.
Alexandra Mcrtal............-t-. .John mason