El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-09-28
New York Theater Patrons
Prefer Comedies to I'm
derworld Dramas.


NEW YORK, Sept. 27.-It has been
" definitely decided that the un-
derwOrld drama is not going to
be the keystone to the arch OF the pres
ent New York dramatic season, as was
threatened to be the case a few weeks
ago. The cold reception given Paul
Armstrong; latest play clearly indi-
Gates that tho play going public OF this
city has been fed TO repletion on the
nauseating stuff put ont with the hypo-
critical pretense that 1t makes Tor moral
uplift.
There is not the slightest evidence to
show that a. socalled white slave"
drama adds one whit to the security of
an unprotected girl in New York or any
where else. There IS nothing to show
that the sympathy for an unfortunate
character on the stage, which is aroused
on the theateT, ever extends itself into
actual life. In fact, it IS quite the con-
trary. If half the tears that have been
shed over the misfOrtunes OF the heroine
of the old time melodrama had been
translated into concrete sympathy for
the unfOrtunates in real life we would
not today have a white slave" prob
lem; all evil would have been b9nished
from the world and we would now be
living in a state of roseate loneliness.
No, the stage does not reform. The
field of the serious drama is sOley that of
art and in that sense only can it advance
or retrOgTade. Perhaps the public would
have gone on accepting and commenting
the tenderlOin dramas and melOdramas
If they had possessed real art. or even
the grace of sincerity. for life in any
OF its manifold esta]~S Is legitimate ma
terial for the PLAYWRIGHT artist;
but tenderloin play executed by a
crude hand, IS not what the American
stage needs.
1t Is a pleasure to record another big
success for that Industrious young
genius. George NJ. Conan. In his Seven
Keys to Baldpate,' which he made over
from the novel OF Earl-Derr Bigger. he
has revealed an increasing skill as a
playwright. This farce opened 1T the
Astor theater Monday night and it was
Immediately stamped with universal an
prevail Even those who had read the
book found themselves keenly interested
IN the outcome of the thing, because of
the ingenious way in which the clever
author welded and dOvetailed the unique
situations of the book
The story of the play is something
like this: William HallOWell Magee. who
writes summer novels to 90 with ham
mOcks and bonbOns, comes to Baldpate
Inn, summer hotel. 1t is in the dead
OF winter and he is there to win a bet
made with the hotel owner that he can
turn out a 10000 word story in "a hours
lie IS in possession of what he thinks is
the only key to the hotel. He no more
than gets launched on his frenZied lit
erary stunts when real and thrilling
melodrama deseends on him. 1t devel-
ops that there are six other KEYS to
Baldpate, which admit into the novel
pts presence, one after another, a
crook, an adventures, a grating mayor,
a ghostly hermit, a corrupt corporation
president and his aid, and also, to the
sentimental disturbance of the author.
beautiful ~star" reporteress, whose
flrst glance penetrates his heart.
Amid the bowling of the storm ont
side series OF bowling melodramatie
scenes are enacted within Plots in
tTIgues, and even supposed murdr. pile
thlckly one upon the other. and the
spectacle of the haired author in the
MIDST CT these Wild scenes, makes the
blood race through the veins of the
spectators.
There are 100000 involved in the
plot. First one character has If then
another, and finally the author. to nro-
teet his life, shoots the adventures.
Just as everyone Is wondering how the
thing Is going to end. the keeper of tbe
Inn enters and explains that If was eli
a put up Job to keep the author from
winning his bet. The repOrteress agraas
20 give up newspaper work and con-
centrate her interests for all time to
the promoting of the authors baDninass
and then all the characters disannear
from the scene save the author. who
with ms manuscript in his hand. rises
tr1umphantly and announces that he has
not only Won his bet but that his new
book Will go into the millionth edition
Ihe whole PLAY, YOU see. as the story
he wrote to win the bet
wallace Eddinger, as the author was
splendid. lie impaired exactly the RIGHT
touch to the role. Gail Kahn. as 7bo
adventures, was charm and ! deI;o Inc
and Joseph Allen, as Peter the Hermit
was well of laughter All the otLer
members the cast were very oood in.
deed There Is no risk in PREDICTING n
long New York run for Mr.. Cobsp:s
latest farce. 4i'h
The most Joyous thing about @Tbe
Marriage Market" new musical com
edy, which opened at the Knickerbocl-o-
theater Monday night, is the fond hon.
1t has aroused that it might act as fbo
opening wedge to Dry us free from a.
rag-time incubus. INC
This piece showed that musical com
edy can be both musical and biGbi,,
entertaining without a suggestion ~
rag time in it, by the simple nrocass
OF substituting real music. of SO csnti'
waiting quality, that it will drive rso,
cabarets. VI the
The music of "The Marriage Market,
was written by Victor Jacob: the booi-
a good one, by NJ. BroGv and T. 9JaTfos.
the lyrics by Arthur Anderson and
a Ross, and all adapted for The
English l2I stage by Gladys Unger.
Inc scene OF the piece, which is in