New-York tribune., 1912-03-12

n
his irlends' men and women, are, to put IT
niluly' pouhders' Suddenly. after bound
ing night at cards, he is surprised by the
arri'dl OF MS daughter, whom he~has not
seen since her infancy. She IL now fifteen,
seventeen nineteen, whatever charming,
glrHsh age You like. and between her and
her pater, who is really first rate sort,
there develops the truest chumshp and
love. But Mrs. Neil Sumner. who has sud
denly come TO New York. takes alarm, and
as suddenly goes back to France with her
daughter, leaving Neil heartbroken. Nels
friends are not the kind of persons YOU
would choose for associates of your daugh-
ter. In this Mrs. Sumner has your sym
pathy: In other matters she has not or
course. all is put to rights in the last act,
and every aching heart is soothed
II In this present narration some things
are not told about the play. some of the
actors must be held in fault. There were
too many times when lines could not be
clearly heard. The chief offender was
Henry Miller himself. who, during explain
atory passages in the first act did not
succeed in addressing all ears. Perhaps
he did not realize that he was olayinga in
so large a theatre At any rate some
points of the story are not yet clear to the
present writer, as for instance: Why did
Mr. and Mrs. Sumner part in the first
place? Why is the play called The Rain
bow? Doubtless these points were eluci-
dated in the dialogue to the satisfaction
OF auditors Who were close enough to
the stage to hear everything that was said.
The cause of separation is understood to
hg Isz..
standing of kind that in real life, If not
In stage life. could have been cleared away
in five minutes by reasonable. beings But
Mrs. Sumner is not a reasonable being.
She is altogether too ready to believe her
husband at fault. whereas for years he has
been not only her mainstay but her only
stay and her protector against evils which
arose in her own family through her
brothers defalcations, of which all knowl-
edge has been kept from her.
The play was we'll acted. save for the in
distinct moments above referred to. There
are charming and very touching scenes be-
tween Sumner and his daughter, scenes in
which Henry Miller showed more lightness
and more tenderness, deeper feeling than
ever before. scenes, indeed which make
the play worth seeing.
a L, Thomas has made what is almost
a very good play. Its best points are
excellent. it's main idea is we'll worth
whie-the reunion Of the separated par
ents through their love for the daughter
An old idea, as old as the everlasting
hills. but il always appeals TO an audi
enCe If there is any trouble with Mr.
Thomas's play, II is in his persistent
dragging in of persons who produce only
a momentary effect without having any
real concern with the development of the
story. The wicked Nicholas Rollins is one
of these. and comic consul is another
There are others. And, by the way, the
comic consul might be taught the pro-
nunciation of the word "desuetude." Mr.
Miller had a long and pathetic speech in
the last act, but again the hearing had 10
be strained in order 10 catch the words,
and even then A third of them escaped.
Such fault is easily remedied. and Mr.
Miller's attention is called to IT so that
he may not do himself injustice. He is
at the furthest remove from carelessness
in whatever concerns acting. But Just
what kind of man Sumner was. or
A T. Thomas intended him to be, is stu
a little in doubt Mr.. Miller gives us only
the best side of the man and makes the
separation from the wife almost incred-
ible. Possibly he was much gayer dog
than the actor permits him to he, but, as
in the case of all play heroes, his heart
is in the right place" Neil Sumner is
man so thoroughly likabe that il is quite
impossible TO have much sympathy with
Mrs. Neil Sumner. Just why this excel
CHI caTTifCa him elf he
does through fifteen or sixteen years, who
shall understand? There is q point be-
yond which self-sacrifice should he listed
among the crimes.
A F.. Thomas Is advancing. lie Will
advance more rapidly when.he courageous
" slays all superf1uous characters that
threaten entrance upon his stage. A. W.
CAST OF "THD PIGEON