New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-04
HUNGARIAN COMEDY
MOInar's "Where Ignorance Is
Bliss" at the LyCeum Theatre.

Ferenc Molnars comedy. Where Igno-
rance Is Bliss" produced last night at the
Lyceum Theatre. is. first of all. virtuoso
piece for two clever players. II is arti-
fetal comedy. but its invention is ingen-
ious and slightly cynical. A popular
Viennese actor Ohe scene is laid in
Vienna. in the translation at leasp has
been married for six months 10 the most
loved actress on the stage OF the Aus
TRAN capital. The lady has a tender past.
and her many previous love affairs have
never outlived the span OF half year. IL
IS natural therefore that her husband is
beginning 20 watch her narrowly. for the
time has come for her vagrant affections
to wander again. She Is playing Chopin.
the music Of autumn and-it is spring.
The actor decides 70 put his future 10
the test. In disguise he, the player CT
many PLAYS. will make love to his own
wife as II he were a stranger. The role
he chooses 10 play is that OF noble officer
Of the guards. He conhdes his plan TO
friend. a dramatic critic. who plays the
part OF observer and commentator, Of the
''raisonneUr" Of the dramas of the
Younger Dumas, a theatrical convenience
rarely seen on our stage nowadays.
The lady accepts the advances OF the
supposed euardsman graciously. invites
him to her box at the opera. and there,
while a performance is going on. not
only allows him TO make love TO her, but
tempts him 10 do 50. She responds i'm
pulsively with temperamental eXaltation'
her mother and the critic repeatedly IN
tcrruptng the progress OF very I'M
petuous love affair At the fall Of the
curtain, however. she falls into hrs arms,
and asks him again to her house on the
following day.
An hour before the meeting the hus-
band returns home in his own person.
He questions his wife, she denies. she
storms at the imputation put upon her.
4 reconciliation follows, for her husband
has prepared final test He puts on
mis- guG-isman disguise, suddenly con-
fronts his wife. and then comes her su-
preme opportunity 10 act She laughs at
him. tells him that she had seen through
him the very first moment Of his appear
ance in his assumed part, hurts his pride
as an actor, but makes him happy as her
husband The critic cynically watches
these proceedings. Thon theactress seats
herself once more at the piano, and be-
gins to play Chopin.
There is one more character in the
play that requires mention. the actress
mother. stage mother" who furnishes
the comical relief She is Of the CONT
mental European far more than OF the
American stage. In fact, the foreign
miieu OF the original play has been well
preserved in this production.
In a comedy Of this kind the quality of
the dialogue is OF the highest importance.
The translation OF Molnar's play, by
Philip L.ttell. produces in one the desire.
so familiar in most cases OF adaptation
and translation from foreign sources. 10
see the original II is bald and strikingly
lacking in cleverness and happy turns of
thought. Still. this version amply suffices
10 furnish Rita Jolivet, as the actress.
with ample opportunity 10 do admirable
work.
She brings out all the possibilities, the
full significance OF the part. with an in
fnity Of little feminine touches, delicate
Is applied. And she gives her impersona-
ton an exotic grace William Court
leish's Interpretation OF the role OF the
husband is laid down on far broader
lines His change OF voice and manner
IS complete. but he makes the young
guardsman an awkward inexperienced
young gawk. not the finished man OF the
Viennese great world who alone. one
would think. could appeal so readily 10
woman Of the actresses temperament
Frederic de BelleviIle gives neat sketch
Of the critic a part that offers no diff
fculties. and Florine Arnold plays the
stage mother with direct comic intent.