New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-09-07
True Purpose of His Play IAN.
drccIes and the Lion" Misun.
derStood in Most Cases.
APPEAL MADE TO CENSOR
"Ragtime Bible Come At Last"
Is One British Criticism
of Joseph and His
Brethren"
rBy Cable 20 The Tribune. ]

London, Sept. Gin a week prolific
of first nights the most interesting and
important offering has been George
Bernard Shaw's "Androcles and the
Lion" produced at the ST. Jamess
Theatre by Granville Barker. The play
often drops to the level Of burlesque,
but nevertheless It is always highly
amusing. From one end TO the other
there is the full characteristic ShaWan
cudgelling OF hypocrisy. In this in
stance the blows are struck at the
cant Of form which makes up such a.
large part of latter Gay Christianity.
The fact that Mr.. Shaw has laid mis-
story in ancient Rome at the time of
the Christian martyrs has blinded
critics, almost without exception, to the
true purpose Of the play and has.
aroused a vast number OF mos, anus.
ing bowls at what is called the bias.
phemy, even the sacrilege, Of bur- |
lesquing and making a Joke of the most
sacred tenets Of our faith" There are
many and loud demands for the pro-
hlbition Of the play by the censor. Ben
Webster, Alfred Brydone and Lillah
Mccarthy have the chief parts.
Censor Called on to Act.
It is interesting TO see that the same
demands for prohibition are made in
the case Of Sir Herbert Trees produc-
ton OF Joseph and His Brethren at
His Majesty's, one ultra-religious
maniac saying:
The ragtime Bible has come al last"
and How far the censors are right in
allowing the production Of Biblical sub
iects remains a matter for argument
While these plays have been allowed,
the censor has us,' the knife on Ed
mond Rostands play La Samar-
tame" the second act Of which Sarah
Bernhard is TO produce at the Coli
scum next week. The scene in which
John and the Apostles appear has been
cut out, and the act will open with me
entrance OF Bernhard as the Woman
Of Samaria, while as a further sop %
religious sensibilities Bernhard will be
the last number on the bill and her
performance will be separated from the
rest OF the programme by an interval
devoted 10 selections by the orchestra.
Next week Charles Frohman pre-
sents Ethel Irving in Years OF Dis
erection" at the Globe, and a new play
by John Galsworthy is 10 be put on
at the Court This is said TO be the
authors most serious stage endeayor.
Actor Knight Coming.
Sir ]. Forbes Robertson and his
company sail for New York by tho
Mauretania on September 20, 10 open
at the new Shubert Theatre, beginning
in October.
Marie Tempest will open here ca
September IS in MARY Goes First" q
four-act comedy by Henry Arthur
Jones, which deals with the question
of social precedence in a large English
town.
Gaby Deslys opened at the Palace
Theatre on Monday night with iassS
company and her tame Harry Pilces'
All sorts OF wriggling, squirmins'
twisting. angleworm dances. rev
songs, some dresses Of beautiful ms'
terial but scant in width and length
and her own piquant personality con-
stitute the attraction offered.
Trouble seems TO be brewing tut
Maud Allan on her forthcoming TIP
To India to present her Eastern dances
so well known in New York. A as
patch from Calcutta says it is believed
that the police will prohibit her exhi'
bitlon. II is feared that her scanv
attire may endanger the prestlse VI