Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1912-12-31
:" Julius Caesar" and
Problem Play Here
"Passers-By,' at the Newark,
Discloses Old Problem in
New Light.


For its simplicity, its humanity, its
directness and the clever drawing of
types 4Passers- By" &C. Haddon
Chambers's dainty drama, which was
brought to the Newark Theatre for
the first time last night. may be
classed as one of the best plays that
have been brought to this city this
season.
In the hands of a less skllful or
competent company the purpose of
the author might not be realized and
the play at times might offend the
more fastidious of play-goers. This
present company, however, with
Charles Cherry, is the original New
York cast, whose quiet handling Of
the situations make the play the sue
cess that 1t is.
The plot is. by no means q novel
|ofle. but so skilfully has the material
been handled by the author that one
misses his guess as to the final out.
come. The characters are human and
the action is sure and logical in its
development. The underlying theme
is that of a man and a woman being
drawn together for their love of a
child. This child was born under the
"bar sinister" but the subject does
not offend because of the very bold
ness with which Mr.. Chambers has
grasped it.
There Is No Apologizing.
There is no apology. no shame
faced confession, no recital or
wrongs, nor tears of repentance. On
the contrary, the mother is Joyous
and triumphant, the father proud and
happy-both absorbed in the love of
their offspring. The subject is GER
tainIy treated from q new viewpoint
and treated in a way which is call
culatedsnot to bring blush even to
the most prudish.
Laid in four acts. the drama is
played in one setting, the Piccadilly
apartments of Peter Waverton, a
wealthy young Londoner. Coming
home somewhat earlier than usual.
Waverton finds his valet looking
after the material welfare of a cab
man from neighboring stand. Pine,
the valet, is much interested in the
"passers by" and Waverton thinks
that there possibly might be some
novelty for him If he were to do the
same thing. After the cabman has
been brought back, Waverton, looking
from his window, sees most dilapi-
dated specimen, tramp, who is also
brought in.
He Gets Some Novel Ideas.
During a bit of supper Waverton
gets some novel ideas of what the
other half of the world think. A
third passerby is afterward an
nounced, Margaret Summers, who
had formerly served as governess. in
the home of Waverton's half-sister,
who has been the first real love of
his life. They had been separated
through no fault of their own,
Through Margaret he learns of the
existence of the child, now years old.
Here the author shows the master
hand in bringing the play to a happy
ending through the efforts of Waver-
tons fiance, who, after learning the
details, proves herself a trump"
and, to use her own words, "chucks'
Waverton, thereby strengthening out
the tangled threads in good
woman's way. 1t is done in such a
manner that the attention of the
audience is held throughout.
Charles Cherry, in the role of
Waverton, is at his best. Lewis Ed
garde, as the tramp furnishes a
clever bit of character acting that
does not go unappreciated by the au-
dience. The same might be said of
A. G. Andrews, as the 'cabman."
Miss Alma Belwin, as Margaret Sum-
mers, handles a difficult part to per-
fection, and Charlotte Ives, as the
"other girl" is well cast. The re-