Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-05-06
Merriment and Ingenuity in
Performances Staged Here
"Man Who Found the Way
Applauded at the
Shubert.
LIP-READING MOTIVE
OF A NOTABLE DRAMA
Cyril Scott and Winifred King.
ston Rewarded With Many
Curtain Calls.

Everything becomes absurd by ex-
/ aggeration. This is the fault. the fly
in the ointment. in Mr.. Cyril SCOTS
representation of the role of a phil
anthropist in William A. Brady's
new production. The Man Who
Found the Way" first offered on any
stage at the Shubert Theatre last
evening. The audience was a bril-
liant one and the applause and cur
tain calls indicated that the play
was a success. The comedy drama"
is founded upon Gouverneur's Morris's
well-known story. THE Man Who
Played God" The author Is Jules
Eckert Goodman, the dramatist who
wrote Mother" The play is not
meant, certainly, to be irreyerent.
but the somewhat too familiar use
of the name of the Deity may be re-
garded as an offense Of a grave ma
ture. But there are two features of
the play which make 1t worthy of
very serious attention. One of these
is the elimination of self by the hero
Of the drama. Montgomery Starr. Mr.
SCOTS role 1.-The last enemy that
shall be destroyed is death. Surely.
the one before the last Is self, the ego
whose shadow, monstrously magni-
fed, is cast over the whole field of
life, obscures the sun from the
soul" Montgomery Starr recognizes
this soul-destroying ego and con-
quers 1t, but there is exaggeration
even in his triumph and in the mani
festation of his regeneration. There
is required the most delicate skill
when one makes use of deus ex
machina. There is ever the danger
that this agent Will turn into ridi-
Guile the plot which 1t is employed
forcibly to develops. When Mont
gomery Starr fees to the housetops,
armed with the power of lip-reading,
and with a field glass scans the coun-
tenances of the people in the parks,
one cannot but remember that the
same artifice, even though in this in
stance 1t be designed to effect good,
has appealed to far. far greater men
than Mr.. Morris or Mr.. Goodman, as
an instrument for the disclosure of
discreditable or scandalous scenes
and secrets.
The other signal feature of the
comedy, which invites commentator
without qualification, Is the study
of the infirmity of loss of hearing.
Montgomery Starr, a wealthy mu-
sician, is suddenly stricken with in
herited deafness, complete and in
durable. Those who have read of
the agonies of Beethoven, the most
Industrious victim of this affection, or
have seen proud. cultivated and in
tensely human man or woman shut
close within a soundless isolation,
prison house whence there is no
escape, can applaud the truth of the
picture of Montgomery Starr His
music is dead, his life is a blank.
But woman saves him. Then he
weds one to whom he had been a !
benefactor. 1t Is in the progress of
this passion of love that his triumph
over innate selfishness is won and
the picture is so true that it must be
recognized by everyone, except. per-
haps. the "blase critic" When, ;
finally he hears that his young wife
had listened, perhaps unwisely. to
the voice of a tempter he asks, What
would God do in these circumstances
His answer proves that he belongs to
that class whose motto is "noblesse
oblige." If it be for the happiness |
of his wife he. will surrender her +
His ego lies shattered. just as thei
sound of the comets and flutes of /
the priests of Cybele inspired the
audience In a fury of remuneration I
so the call of humanity. the cry of
need. the tears of the distressed |
summoned Montgomery Starr to
Danish self.
1t may be judged that the adventi- /
tious aids required to interpret such /
a play demand the judgment of the
most experienced among entrepre-
neurs.
Mr.. Brady has been successful in
his scenic investiture and, in general.
in the personnel of the company.
Cyril Scott, who won applause in The
Prince Chap and 1.-THE Lottery Man."
appeals at once to the audience as a
conscientious. sincere actor. Like all I
stage heroes of any merit. he has
mannerisms. He is naturally of an
extremely nervous temperament.
This. also. is necessity of the true
actor. But 1t is uncontrolled in the
CaSC VI MI OCO%tf LIS want VI
pose. dignity and his ungraceful head
motion, used enormously to empha-
size his words. detract from the re-
spect which he inspires and the pleas
ure which he imparts. His art In
representing the unfortunate inflrmity
of Montgomery Starr was consum
mate. Not for one instant was there
a lapse which might betray him. But
the crown of the great comedian yet
remains to be claimed by Mr.. Scott.
Restraint and a study Of repose. as
exemplified in the best models, will
aid him in attaining it. The role of
Marjorie Blair, who became the wife
of Montgomery Starr. was played by
Miss Winifred Kingston. Her merit
lay in her righteousness, her winning
and her womanliness.
Miss Norma Winslow as Mildred
Hallam. the good genius of Montgom
cry Starr. was so charming, so dain-
tily and beautifully gowned, that 1t is
ungracious not to shower her with
pleasant, fiowery words. but, unhap
PLY, she possesses neither the VI
vacity, the animation nor the mag
netism required for her role. A word
Of praise must not be forgotten for /
Mr.. Henry Dornton in the role of I