New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-02-25
ANCIENT PLAY TO
HELP SHUT-INS
Little "Mankynd' Presented at
the PIaZa-DanceS Prove
a Feature.

"The Shut-in Society presents Man
kynd' was the legend on the pro-
grammes at the entertainment given yes
terdav at the Hotel Plaza by that or6ani-
zation. II seemed rather pathetic that
society formed 70 help people WHO are
shut away from the world should be pre-
senting. for their benefit, drama show
ing the breadth Of life; but. anyhow, this
old morality play made a pretty picture.
And fifteenth century play that it IL. It
gave Francis Hartman Marlloe, who ar
ranged the production. chance for some
Of the most up-to-date cubist effects that
have been seen in New York for some
time
Mr.. Markoe adapted "Mankynd' from
THE Castell of Perseverance, which, as
originally performed, lasted whole day
and required n large field for stage.
In it's condensed form il lasted only hf-
teen minutes. and il was given four times
during the afternoon.
II had no field TO spread Itself over. but
the actors came and went among the
audience in the old-time way. and no one
seemed 70 suffer from restricted space
except Miss Alice Damrosch. who had
the part of Ecclesia. Ecclesa's costume
included n tinfon church with spires o.
the top Of her quaint headdress. wf'ch'
added 10 her stately height, made her 100
tall for the Hotel Plaza's doorways. But
she got through. and the procession which
she headed TO the stage TO rescue poor
MANKIND from Luxury and the rest or
lala
short time.
The Seven Deadly Sins who so nearly
lured Mankynd 10 destruction were seven
debutantes. the Misses Caramat Carroll
Martha Gay. Elisabeth Thompson, Estelle
Clarke, Louise Trevor, Margndreta SleS-
fried and Emile Ford. II wasn't any
wonder that he wanted 10 follow them'
for their vivid costumes and the fasclnat-
ing cubist headdresses made them a plct-
ure t0 draw any mere man from the
straight and narrow path. And as If they
weren't enough there was Munda (Mrs.
Markoe) performing the most enticing
dances TO lure him through the door of
the Palace of Pleasure However. the
Seven Virtues. Mrs. Alfred Macy and the
Misses Mercedes Acosta, Louise Butler,
Audrey Osborne. Eleanor Lamson. Marian
Clark end Lydia Butler appeared, looking
very pretty in blue costumes and carrying
Easter lilies. and poor tormented Man
l<ynd was saved.
MIR Markoe took the title role and Miss
Helen jenkins and Francis n. Geer were
his two angels, Bonus Angelus and Malus
Angelus. Miss jeanette Whitlock was
Carltas. Miss Marjorie Curtis Justcia'
Miss Ruth K. Hayden Pax, Miss Elsie See
gar Misericordla and Miss Faith I. Hay
den Netitas
The chants I'm the PLAY were sung 10
the accompaniment OF double reeds, the
best substitute available for shawms' the
instruments to which fifteenth century
audiences listened.
Mrs Charles +. Merrill. head Of the
Shut-in Society, said afterwsrd that the
entertainment was a financial success.
The play wasn't the only attraction. All
around the ballroom IN which the enter
tainment was held were booths where
pretty things made by the patient myers
OF "shut-ins" were sold.
At the back was a table where iat
cook baked pancakes and served them
pipinC hot