The Washington herald., 1914-12-20
BY JAMES $. METCALFE.

New York, December 10.
II may have been the gambling chance
that induced Charles Frohman to pro-
duce Driven" at the Empire. 1t seems
more likely that he figured because the
play was English and had been produced
with some slight success in London; that
he had assembled a company Of compe-
tent direction, and because the play dealt
in the drawing-room atmosphere with
persons Of some social standing, that he
would therefore attract that class OF
playgoers who are partial to these quail
fcations and have a society success for
his theater. 1t was no gambling chance
that he failed to take into account that
even this section Of the public is not
satisfied in the theater with only three
things and nothing more. Good managers,
correct department and taste in dress
do not make a play, and Mr.. Frohman
cannot blame to luck his failure to know
that Driven" lacked dramatic interest,
and that no amount of atmosphere can
supply this lack even with the audiences
that like to see polite plays politely
played at the Empire.
There was no trouble with the cast of
Driven" 1t was headed by Alexandra
Carlisle, who had created her role in
London and gained favorable notice
Such men as Messrs Charles Bryant
Leslie Faber and Lumsden Hare were
in all ways typical Londoners of good
position. Haidee Wright was an English
spinister, who never failed to show her
good breeding. Even the servants were
Of the unobtrusive, well-trained English
kind, so that the atmosphere was per-
feet, even to the inevitable serving of
tea at the proper moment. The settings
and furnishings erred only in being in
better taste than is usually displayed in
English drawing-rooms. The members
F.T
and there was not criticism to be made
on the atmosphere of the piece. Doubt
less many who see the play take away
from it valuable hints in particulars of
this sort after which they might wish to
pattern in their own homes or persons.
Thus far Mr.. Frohman's judgment as
a producing manager carried him safely,
hut in his estimation of the play itself
he must take refuge behind the gambling
theory. He may justly claim that he
did everything a manager could dO-and
50 he did except to choose a play OFT
which il was worth while to eXpend his
managerial ability and resources He
had SOME excuse in the fact that the au-
thor, +. Temple Thurston. had written
novels that had sOld-in England But
If he saw the play in rehearsal and
thought such slight, though English ma
terial could please any American public
he must blame something besides luck
for its failure TO do so.
The story of the play reads far better
than its telling on the stage. Its heroine
is the wife of an EngIishman absorbed.
to her neglect, in his duties as a member
of parliament. In the beginning OF the
play he learns that his wife has a fatal
disease and has only two years to live.
Unknown to him she has overheard the
verdict Of the doctors Even this news
does not lessen his devotion to his work,
hut il inspires her to look for amusement
rather than to pass her little remaining
tim" in the duh routine of an English
home" She finds her solace in the society
"f Young guardsman, who falls in love
with her. She goes to his apartment for
supper after the play and discovers that
he love is mutual.
II looked a. though something startI-
tnG might happen in these circumstances
ii Is nothing but lovers quarrel which
Is made mp by telephone the next morn
M and they arrange to elope. The
husbands splnstcr sister has made him
aware that an affair is brewing He
visits the bachelor in time to stop the
elOpement and secure his wife's letters
Meanwhile. the doctors have learned
that their prognosis was mistaken and
the lady, when she finds out that she
is To live indefinitely without any elope-
ment to cheer her. starts to take poison.
The husband enters just in time to stop