New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-03-27
THE DRAMA
"The Right To Be Happy Given
at Hudson Theatre.

| From time immemorial II has been the
| business Of plays TO ruin somebody among
| its play people. Last nights drama stands
| In good way To be made fun Of for many
Of its points and for it's extreme naivete, but
| il would lac difficult to speak Of IL unsyn-
! pathetically for the reason that II makes
for its business the building up of some
| body
This somebody is the daughter of an old
Kuickcrbocker family. one Of tho Stuyyos-
ant square group Before tho play began
Janet Van Roof had taken 4 place I'm tn"
employ of the rubber trust not only be
cause the family's money affairs had caved
in but 10 save q younger brother who Dor
rowed" money from this trust Janet had
been doing detnctv" work for tho firm. and
had been of invaluable assistance in this
work on account Of bor social position. She
had before the play Opcus fallen victim to
the magnetic power Of tho bluff. sclf-made
man, James NorohouSo. who was tn" prcei-
dent Of tho trust Norchousc. unfortunate
". was eucumherod with legal wife. who
did not die until tho second act Of The
Right To 10 Happy" was we'll under way.
In tho mean time Morehousc had commits
stoned Janet 10 mako Investigations con
corning tho inventions of certain young
enthusiast whose ambition WAS 10 discover
= chemical method Of producing artificial
rubber
Janet ronews an old social acquaintance
with this young inventor. John FORESTER,
Who is q member Of her social set, and no,
taking - desperate fancy TO her. \ most
trausccndcutallv idcalistic fancy, makes her
his confdgut' and tells nor TN" ambition OF
his life is realized II" has discovered
way to manufacture rubber. lie even in
ssts upon leaving with her the written
formula Of the process he had discovered.
Now tho situation Is ripe for struggle.
and il comes apaco. Morohouso discovers
that Janet has the formula. and. her
employer. demands Il Janet her natrIr"
finally revolving against the double dealings
Of her task refuses 20 give up m" precious
hif Of paper. The president Of the Rub
her Trust is about 20 CInch with her and
make her give q M whom the younE IN
vortor orportunelv enters the room
Through series Of quarrolsone scenes.
which include tho denUnCiation NJ the girl
by tho man who has wrongod h"r Ia tho
man who loves her. Janeis owes are opened
10 the fact that Norehouso Is in 40 sense
Of tho word a thoroughbred Then, al
though his wife has died and he offers 10
legally marry Janet she sends him away
IN scorn She. of course. now considers
herself ruined and unfit 10 accept the pro-
rosd which tho Young idealist though
knowing everything. has made ror. Final
Iy. however he persuades her that she has
a right 20 ho happy and that he needs her
10 holn him.
The only merit IN the play itself lies in
l'e optimistic re-estabIIshmont of the
woman who has fallen through M owl in
tent But II is difficult to speak Of this
character, because II r. not human Tn"
Young woman does not oven know she has
done anything that could b" considered
wrong until tho man who has seduced her
lets fall an uupleas SAINT reforeu"" 10 his 70
spoct for her Yot her age, as quoted In
the play. IS not nearly uuripo enough FOR
this. nor 4" her practical mind and cup
posedlv discreet social training make such
ignorance possible Tho other characters
i'm the piece. although thor DO not run into
any such hopeless Inconsistencies rs thos"
of Janet have no depth They seem merely
the idea people Of Young dramatist who
has = theory to PROFOUND But IN the
situations arranged there Is = good sense
~ drama that promises veil Tor Mr. II.
Kellett Chamberss future work
The unenviahlc task or making some
thing ont ~ character which was FUN
damentally wrong I'm IFS inception fsll to
Dorothy DonneIlv. There was no such
thing AZ making tho character grow. h"-
cause tho limos 81 tho play quite forbade |
a. but Miss Donuollv achieved very in
torosting hing sao played thoroughly
emotional part very quietly and yet lost
none Of its emotional effect. Her sincerity |
and sweetness If tone throughout were de
IiChtfUl
Edmund Erooso as James Norehouso. |
impersonatcd the rough. money greedy |
capitalist 10 the lifc-as IN" part was re-
vealcd in his lines. Except At his final
oxt. he succeeded In doing away with the
growing tones and buster of manner that |
often characterize his work.
Leslie Fahcr, ~ the young inventor. was |
moderate and agreeable. while Louise Gal |
loway. as the mother Of the Knckorbock- |
or family. was rs artificial and worldly |
shallow as could be desired.
CAST or, TIVE RIGHT TO Ri HtrPY" |
Mrs Van Roof .......... Louise GALLOWAY !
Audrey Van Roof .'trar" MorTissc" /
Alfred Van Roof George J." Gucre |
Janet Van Roof ............-. DDrothS bouuclly |
Parker. .......... Arthur 7 Hsndpn |
James NIorahouse ........... Edmund Hr"csn
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