New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-26
THE ClST

For the dramatist OF the present and
no doubt for good time to come, there
is no more certain key TO the hearts OF
an audience both the mon and the women
alike-than 10 present a play showing a
charming and spirited shrew slowly but
surely dominated By IN Of the earth,
earthly type Of male.
". Somerset Vaughan took that iortu-
nate path when ne deserted his past oc-
cupation OF manufacturing society farces
Of the Jack Straw" sort and turned his
talents 90 the construction Of The Land
OF Promise presented last night at the
Lyceum. And, Judging from the warm
reception the play received. there can be
no doubt OF the wisdom OF his choice.
The theme, OF course. is as old as the
hills, or The Tanning Of the Shrew," but
the fundamental structure OF the play IL
clever. its situations are both novel and
interesting and the dialogue is perhaps
the best the author has given us. and he
has the knaCk Of writing dialogue. Add
ing 10 this the incontrovertible fact that
Billie Burke persists in exercising that
peculiar charm OF hers. no matter what
kind of role she has and that she plays
the shrew. one realizes that here is q
novelty for Broadway We'll worth seeing.
Billie Burke acts m this play too. no.:
merely does she fdget about with hand
on hip and call forth murmurs OF 80
sweet from the aGdlence-she really
works. az she has done once or twice in
the past. for example. the denunciation
scene I'm The Mind the Paint Girl
Her role is doubly difficult one for her
look sweet and act shrewish. She Is
Norsh March. In n situation In England
as n lady's companion. when she learns
after ton years OF an almost irtolerably
dun existence that she has been left PEN
nllcss by the death OF her employer.
Her only relative ~ a brother a farmer
.n Manitoba She packs mp and departs
for her brothers house. which. alas.
turns out 10 be rugged shack on a
lonely prairie farm. and. worst OF all.
completely filled by the brothers. wife, d
strong Nliled Jealous but capable wom-
an. who left q Job as waitress 10 marry
china Billie ironing blouses and washing
dishes. clumsily and netulanuy. under
the naEging guidance OF the wife. who
50 resonts the society manner OF the
wretched Norah that fearful ructions re-
suit. And Norah. goaded almost to mad
ness with her utter Eclplessness and
misery. filings herself NJ the head OF a
husky hut very uncouth farmer. who
snaps mp his chance and drives of 10
his lonely cabin with the distracted girt
after a hasty marriage nm the nearest
town
Then. OF course. there are more rue
tons. The earthly male Will be the boss
OF tho shack. and petulant Norah will not
he bossod \ kindly veil ~ drawn over
the conclusion OF their first pleasant even
ing and we see them again In the spring
more peaceful. but still not quite. \
chance comes for Norah TO go back 20
Englard and begin again with a check
FOR TOO but strange to observe the earthly
male is now precious. So after a few
tender passages Moran chooses to stay in
Manitoba and be happy with her Jack
London husband rather than return 10
offcte England and the deadly existence II
offers
Shelley lIull plays the role OF the UNI
couth and primitive farmer. Frank Taylor.
who tames Nora and plays IL with such
skill that tho sympathy due the character
is nicely balanced Throughout. and one
finds the hero's changed manner and
bearing i'm the last act the most natural
thing I'm the world. Lillian kingsbury
as Gertrude Marsh. the jealous wife. gives
one Of the most realistic bits Of acting In
the play. and Lumsden Hare Is equally
good i'm a queter fashion as Edward
Marsh. the brother. Norman Tharp lends a
deal OF humor to the whimscally cynical
part Of Reginald Trotter. the waster, who
couldn't make a 40 Of anything. and the
rest OF the roles are admirably filled, the
whole cast being a hitting support 10 the
much beloved Billie Burke In her new
venture as serious" actress.