The Washington herald., 1913-12-23
NEW NATIONAL.
John Drew in 'The Tyranny of
Tears" and 'erhe WILL"

Tears" and 'erhe WILL
This week brings John Drew to the
New National Theater In q most sur
prising, but none the less delightful. de-
parture from his customary portraitures
Of nobodies-the SNUG and dapper society
chaps whom he has been imbuing with
the personality of Mr. Drew for 10
these many years. q
The bin in which Mr.. Frohman presents
him is a double one Of generous pro-
portions embracing a revival of C. Had
don Chambers four-act comedy OF man.
ners, ''The Tyranny of Tears" for the
hrst part, which is followed by Sir James
Barries chronological sketch Of an Eng
Hshman's life at three distinct stages of
age and financial circumstance.
The combination involves the most ar
Hstic idea Mr.. Frohman has ever ex-
hibition in connection with Mr.. Drew, pro-
Viding the comedian scope which can be
powered only through the utilization Of
his utmost versatility. That its range is
sufficiently wide to meet the demand Of
high comedy acting in the scintillatfng
Chambers satire on woman's ty-
not so much a surprise to last
nights brilliant audience at the
National as was the depth Of pathos
with which he imbued the dominating
character in The Will"
The contrast between the two pieces
Is all the more remarkable when the
one follows the other in quick success
sion. THE Tyranny of Tears is so
chucked full Of delicate humor, deftly
turned cynicisms, delightfully."- developed
situations, and written with such liter
Rry distinction that it has been a model
Tor high comedy writing for the English
speaking stage for ten years past
Mr. Barrie's new playlet, which had
Its New York premiere eaiaier in the
season, is three pages from the book
Of a mans life: the first in his youth
when, as a small salaried clerk, his for
tune looks so big to him, and to his
unsophisticated bride, that 1t is quite
worthy the making of a~wiIl, a feat
which is accomplished with difficulty be-
cause of his lachrymose bride, who can
not bear the mention Of her young hus-
bands possible demise, even at some lar
distant date You see they are very
much in love with each other, but the
twenty years which elapse before they
appear again in the lawyers office for
The making of another will after all
that Those years also efface the wife's
HmpIicity, as well as her other lovable
characteristics. They are big folk now.
The "accursed spot" has spread over
heart and mind. She is cold, cynical,
NOrlQly woman. ana lie mas BEONH
4 veritable snob.
Then comes the making of the final
testament of Philip Ross-now Sir Philip.
His son and daughter have been bit
her disappointment; the wife, who ten
years before, wanted to make sure OF
his vast fortune in fee simple, has
gone into the Great Unknown; the elder
Devices is a tottering old man, and
mis- son past the meridian OF life-the
brought
Sir Philip only bitterness, disappointment,
and desolation-deSpite the dollars to his
credit.
The VIII" teens with pathOs Of hu-
manity, striking keen note OF cynlcisrn
and disillusionment which it is difficult
10 associate with the author of Peter
PAN" The Little Minister" What
Every Woman Knows" and other plays
from the pen of ]. NJ Barrie. But there
Is enough of the Barrie hunor and whim-
sicality in the playlet to make the asso-
.iation with its quaint author possible TO
the auditor familiar only with his come
dies of a gladder strain.
While The Tyranny of Tears" gives
Mr. Drew ample outlet for that exquisite
inesse of high comedy acting with which
the comedian has been associated more
years than his appearance betrays it re-
mains for The VIII to bring to the pub
lie its first realization that Mr.. Drew is |
capable of graphic and sympathetic char !
acter drawing which is not stamped by |
his own individuality.
Mr.. Frohman has surrounded his fea- |
tured star with a most capable company, |
leading the feminine contingent of which |
are Miss Laura Hope Crews and Miss
Mary Boland. In the Chambers comedy |
Miss Crews is the young wife who in
sists upon being the sun, moon and stars
to friend hubby, resorting always to
tears as the most effective method of
gaining her own selfish ends a role
which suits the capabilities of the young
cOmedIennc to a nicely, requiring, as 1t
does, both delicacy and skill to make 1t
the effective and distinctive character
ization which she achieves, while Miss
Boland is the charming secretary who in
cites the jealousy of the exacting young
wife.
Ernest Lawford in the role of George
Cunning in the Chambers piece gives a
strong and thoroughly lkable character
ization, while Hubert Druce as Col.
Armitage, Walter Soldering as a servant,
and Helen Collier as a maid complete the
excellent cast of The Tyranny OF
Tears"
In THE WIZ Hubert Druce is again
seen in Mr.. Drews support, present
ing with great appeal the senior member
of the Devices firm; Elliot Dexter is eX-
cellent as the younger partner; Sidney
Herbert most effective in the role of
Surtees, with Walter Soldering and Muir
ray Ross in minor parts.
Miss Crews does not appear in "The
WILL" but Miss Boland is seen as Mrs
Ross, offering a most capable and SUR
prising departure from the sentimental
roles in which she is usually seen. The
effect wrought upon her
character by too great prosperity strikes
a well-dehned note which deserves high
rraise. although its appeal to the af-
fections of the audience is not so great
as that of her secretary in THE
Tyranny Of Tears made distinctive by
hne touches of humor.
Both pieces are artistically mounted,
and furnish an evening of delightful en-
both from a literary and
dramatic standpoint
JULIA CHANDLER MANI,