The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-28
WELSH PLAYERS AT
THE BOOTH THEATRE
Present "Change," an Unknown
Play by an Unknown
Author.
ACTING rs AMATEURTSH
Seen at a Few Performances in
London, but Of No Artis-
tic Value.
"Chansc"-At the Booth Theatre.

/
John Henry Price,. John Howell
| Dan Matthews.......-...C areth Hughes
| TWIN Howell. William Hopkins
Jinnio Fugh. ............'... Doris O"eh
| Lizzie Ann................E Eleanor Price
New Workers. are getting n lot OF educs-
ton nowadays as to the social, political
and religious conditions OF various parts
OF the United Kingdom. It's not from
books by any means but from the stage
that this oricntatlon Is 30 suddenly and
so abundantly coming. Lady Gregory has
been instructing us In everything in Ire
land from mixed marriages to the present
state OF patriotism theret then there has
been sufficient revealed about the counties
of England. both by Stanley Houghton
and Miss Sowerby to satisfy curiosity on
that subject. 1t Is singular fact that
managers make no effort to provide thea
TRIGGERS with this same sort of diversion
dealing with such matters in our own
country. Il may be that our playwrights
do not select religion or patriotism or
economics as their theme.
IL seems quite n foregone conclusion that
even IL they did, managers would never act
their plays. But the import OF this
article from England does not diminish.
There was more OF the same last night
at the Booth Theatre offered by VIM
throp Ames and Joseph Weber on
the same stage dedicated first SO ineffec-
lively to Arnold Benefits efforts TO per-
suade Americans that the British arc
philistines in matters OF art and are
loath to reward their own geniuses.
Mr.. Bennett was not the first TO under
take this task. Others tried II before
him. Probably II Is true. but why In the
world we should be interested In this
question any more than in the labor
troubles OF Glamorgan. the results OF
mixed marriages In Galway or the habits
OF Lancashire commercial families Is
n question that only the managers can
answer. The frank ones would admit
that up TO this time there had been no
indication OF general interest on the part
OF the populace.
Author Won q Prise.
But there was more OF the same last
night. This time the exhibit was Welsh.
Change is a play written by J. o. Fran
els, who was called into existence as a
dramatist by Lord Howard do Walden's
offer of n prize for the best play OF Welsh
NE. What was seen last night at the
booth Theatre won the prize as we'll as
the honor OF production by the Stage
the play and Its actors to this country
and Mr.. Ames opened wide the doors OF
the Booth Theatre to them.
There IL so much less tradition In
American families and children are SO In
dependent that they are not often found
at the task OF pushing their parents out
OF their paths Children here generally
do as they please and have to suffer the
/ consequences. which they are usually per-
foctly willing to do. In England, however
/ the rising generation seems a problem. j,
IL this theme which has been made to
| serve again In Change" The political
| as we'll as the religious opinions OF The
| present generation contrasted with that
I which went ahead OF them is the i'm
portant and timely material from which
| "Change" Is made. The young are radi'
| Gals in their views OF every subject. ],
is this contrast to the strong conformity
| OF their parents which provides the play
wright's starting point
The four acts pass in the living room
OF a house in Twmp in Aberpandy. The
| time of the action covers some four weeks
Within that period son who has beer
studying at Cardiff comes back homo 70
break to his father the heartbrealing news
that he cannot be n preacher, as he had in
tended to be. "rhings just slipped away
from mo the old faith crumbled away
is what he says to explain this disap-
pointmcnt to his parent, who Is. against
his will. a striking miner.
Bereft of Three Sons.
The characters in the divulgence of Mr.
Francis's study of life in Glamorgan are
among others the stern old miner. who
with his wife finds himself at the END
Of the play bereft of the three sons the,
have done so much to educate. The old
est after having been a socialist and her
q drunkard. has gone to Australia.
The second. consumpuve. Is sho'
somewhat as was the girl In mixed Mar
riages," in the attempt to save his brother
from the soldiers when the miners at
tempt to hold up train of strike
breakers. The third, after having giver
up religion on account OF his convictions
sings In a choir for the strikers in Lon
don. A school teacher. dismissed from
his post on account of his opinions q on
armed signalman on the railroad VIII
delivers biting wisdom in cockney da
lect: a poor relation and the despairini
mother. who would sacrifice her religion
for her children, are some OF the othe
figures that develop this story Of tn
revolt OF tho sons. They were all drear.
enough
Mr.. Francis writes much in the manne
Of Lady Gregorys Irish playwrtghts
which is in the manner OF amateurs
"Change" Is n play Of ideas--not very new
nor pertinent nor interesting ideas to b.
sure-and they are developed by talk TIL
family 10 revealed, tho strike develops ant
the workers arc brought from other towns
to take the place Of the miners. The slcl
boy Is killed and his father blames tn
brother whom no was trying TO defend
He departs In n rage for Australia and tn
play Is over. But there has been no enc
OF platitudinous conversation on economi
subjects before tho curtain falls to releaS
the unhappy spectator.
Frankly the Importation OF such naiv'
dramatic effort makes comment difficult
A play acted for few times by private
society because 1t has received the aware
offered by rich amateur, is the creates
reflection on American dramatists tina
they have yet suffered under. Is Their
a niger anywhere In the woodpile? Dit
any pro-Wales society suggest or maxi
J possible any scheme 50 far removed from
artistic or commercial wisdom2 Is Their
nothing to be brought to our stage bu
products so amateur In conception ant
execution? Four short acts OF platitud
that would never pass muster as an ex
! ample OF play writing In q school o
dramatic writing. arc now seriously OF
fered In a dignifed theatre such as tn
Booth. One cannot comment 1t 10 possibl
only to ask "Why?'
Tho actors presented certain piotur
, Of life In the smoky hole they were sup
posed to live In. But their achievement
were medieval. One man chalked hi