New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-18
BY HECTOR TURNBULL.


lated upon his evident intention 10
make the new productions presented at
his playhouse completely obliterate the
memory of some of his inartistic aber-
rations OF the past. Mr.. Blinn, besides
being a talented player, is 4 man OF
keen intellectual perceptions, coupled
with sure theatrical sense, and hav-
ing such an ideal playhouse as the
Princess at his command he can un-
doubtedly DO much for the drama in
his particular field. or course, it is
hardly fair to accuse Mr.. Blinn Of de-
liberately lowering his standards dur
ing the so-called Grand Guignol period
of his reign. At shat time not only
the drama but art in general appeared
to be having fits. When the Princess
was presenting its dying consumptivcs
and crude thrillers hordes of depressed
landscape painters were lying on their
backs and daubing frantically with
their toes in a wild effort to represent
Things coming down staircases after
the manner OF Duchamps. The now
series of plays offered last night at the
Princess, however, shows quite plainly
that the faltering period Of it's career =
row happily past and that Mr.. Blinn
means TO give us the best playlets he
can obtain and present them as artis-
tically as possible.
The new series includes a comedy Of
the year 10000 b. c., Chinese drama,
a fantasy, a social satire and an eX-
ccedingly interesting one-act play by
Henry Arthur Jones. This playlet,
"Thc Goal" although written seventeen
years ago, is fine example of the dis q
tineuished playwright's power of con-
structor and facile, natural dialogue.
In the role Of Sir Stephen Famariss
Mr.. Blinn gives one of the finest per-
formances of his career, and his splen-
did playing in this particular role is in
itself worth visit to the Princess.
Sir Stephen is a famous engineer in
his seventies, stricken with a fatal i'll
ness and estranged from his only son
because of stubborn resolve not TO
admit himself worsted in a technical
argument We see him bravely submit
20 the death sentence pronounced by
his old crony, a physician; his deter
mined attempt 10 be gay and light
hearted 10 the end and finally his dra-
matte death a moment after he has be
come reconciled to his son. The full
value of every situation was admirably
brought out BY Mr.. Blinn. particularly
in his scene with the frivolous young
girl about TO attend her coming out
dance, where the strength OF the scene
depended upon his controlled, finished
manner of accentuating the contrast.
"The Cat and the Cherub," originally
presented by Mr.. Blinn at Hammer
stems Olympia in 1897, showed One
Eve Alley in San Francisco's China
town before the earthquake. Wing
Shee. learned doctor, wishes to wed
his son TO the niece OF Hoo King.
Chnn Fang. crafty. greedy villain,
wants 90 wed the girl for the purpose
of selling her afterwdrd. and steals lit
lie All Yoi. the son Of Hoo King, so
that he may return the child and win
the niece. offered a. a reward. Wing
sun. the doctors son, is murdered by
Chinn Fang while attempting to rescue
the boy. and the doctors CHASTITY ven
geance upon the murderer constitutes
the dramatic climax. Mn Blinn made
the doctor an interesting study, and his
cast did well with the minor parts.
perhaps known % some OF us as an en-
eaging satire OF English society. Phipps
is a foOtman 10 Sir Gerald and Lady
Fanny, who have quarrelled and re-
solved to obtain a divorce because my
lady wants a jewel and my lord really
can't afford il. I'm their perplexlty as
to suitable and convenient grounds
upon which they shall base their action
they call in Phipps for advice. lie
straightway proposes that my lady
shall run of with him and let my lord
sue. He clinches this with protesta-
ton of his long. mute alteration OF my
lady Finally the chagrlned Sir Gerald
agrees TO give Lady Fanny the Jewel II
She refrain from asking other tavors
for six months. and the episode ends
with Phipps giving notice. II Is clever
playlet. rather like Shaw IN rs dla-
logue and spirit and very well played
by Mr.. Blinn, Miss Murdoch and MI
Trevor.
THE Forest Of Happy Dreams is a
fantastic dream play in which we see
a Young Engllshman who mas ruined
his career at home lying IN fever
ridden African forest He is desperately
IN when the district commissioner inds
him and tries to relieve his suffering
He finally falls alseep. and we see the
people of his dreams meet him IN the
forest with cheering, comforting WORDS
and make him hearty and courageous
again. When the dream lades and the
Comm ssioner comes once more the LAD
is dead IN mis- cot, and his native bearer
philosophically explains that II was
fate and the Dream Forest Mr.. Mes
taver played the young Englishmar
with deal Of conviction.
OF the last play. Little Face lack
OF space will not permit a detailed ac-
count. but il is a frank and engaging
romance of the year 1873, 900 b. {. Per
hans the following note will best sug-
eest the novelty that awaits you: Crit
icism may be made that the Cave Men
probably did not express themselves
auite I'm the manner that they have
been made to in this little play. But
all ineligible sounds may be trans
lated. and why not translate then
properly. if there is nothing TO hinder
/ Undoubtedly the Cave Men were, II
! their way, as grammatical as modern
cats. arguing at midnight, are in theirs
And no one ever heard of an ingram
matical cat. The author modestly feel:
that science is indebted to his profound
researches for the definite establish
ment of the fact that the mother-in
law Joke originated as recently as the
wear 1879, 600 B. c. Those savants who
have all along maintained hat it wa.
a product of the Paleozoic age are nov
shown to have done this jest a crue
injustice
The Princess players assembled This
season show in each of the playlet.
the effects of Mr.. Blinu's careful train
| ING and DO both themselves and theii
director q deal of credit. Altogether
this years crop of playlets is decided
ly worth while. and ought to make the