The Washington herald., 1913-11-16

New York. Nov. IA clergyman
writing a play is not entirely an un-
heard OF thing. Once upon a time the
priests wrote all the plays, and they
were performed in churches. Many a
worthy gentlemen OF the cloth today
writes plays in the privacy of his
study, sometimes for his own amuse-
ment and more frequently with some
vague idea that his product may, per-
,~haps. some time win the footlights and
generous royalties.
More remarkable 1t is that Protest.
ant Clergyman should write a play
about an Irish village in which Cath
oIics abound, and that tho play should
not only be produced in London and
New York, but prove an unquestioned
success in both great cities. That Is
the truth, however. and the name OF
the play is Gen. John Regain" Its au-
thor is ostensibly George A. Birming-
ham, but, in fact, the Rev. James Han
nay, canon of st. Patrick's (ProtestanD
, Cathedral in Dublin. He is gradu-
ate OF Dublin University, and no novice
in literature, as he is the author Of
books that have corVulsed every one
who read them with any sense OF
humor and any understanding of Irish
character.
In spite of the facts that Gen. John
Regan" is written by Protestant, and
that its fun is based on an intimate
study of Irish character, as shown in
a mythical village in western Ireland,
the patriots who raised the ruction
at the first presentation of THE Play
boy OF the Western World" permitted
ii to be heard in New York without
protests and without interruption.
An American joker touring Ireland
in his automobile lays the foundation
of the play. He arrives in the deadly
village of Ballymoy, and for his own
amusement pretends that he has come
to visit the birthplace of Gen. John
Regan, the celebrated fighter in the
cause of Bolivian freedom He ex-
presses surprise that no monument has
been erected to that eminent fighter.
. None Of the villagers will admit igno-
rance of the famous person of whom
none of them has ever heard, but IT
rests with DR.. Lucius JOGrady, the
young dispensary doctor, to go further
than this by imaging perfectly the
identity of the general, pointing out
his birthplace and even discovering a
surviving descendant in the person of
Mary Ellen, who is the comely maid OF
all work, chef, and even porter and
bellboy of the local Imperial Hotel
kept by one Timothy Doyle. Doyle has
a quick eye to the main chance. and
caICneS Ine lnIeCllOn WHICH HedllS
business for his hostelry and its bar.
Mr.. Arnold DAILY plays the young doctor
with all the vigOr and apparent sincerity
the part requires and makes it plausi-
bic creation. For Mary Ellen We have
Miss Marie O'Neill, sister of the Sarah
Allgood who was the mainstay of the
Irish Players. Miss ONeill Is pro-
nounced beauty of the Irish type and
brings quaint fidelity TO the character
of the slatterbly hotel help. The remain
ing cast is large one. admirably selected
throughout especially in the cases of Mr..
Harry Harwood as Doyle and Mr.. w. q.
Fay as the pestiferous editor of the local
newspaper, who is an Irishman of the
protesting type, ready and anxious to
raise a row with or without real reason.
Gen. John Regan" bids fair to dupli-
cate its London success in New York. II
certainly will il all the fun-loving Irish
men in this toYn go to see it.
"Fhe Sacrament of Judas"
BY way of adding bit OF novelty to
mis- familiar Passing of the Third Floor
Back" Forbes-Robertson during the
present engagement adds to it a one-act