New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-11-04
BY RECTOR TURNBULL.

Whatever flaws the hypercritical
may ind in Hubert Henry Dsvies's new
nlsv. "Outcast," his work should NEE.
with 8 hearty welcome by playgoers. il
Tor no other reason than the fact that
he has provided Elsie Ferguson with
quite the best role Of her career. This
undeniably happy stroke completely
obliterates his few technical sins Of
omission and commission, in our opin-
ION az least To have witnessed this
talented and unusually attractive
PLAYER struggle for season after season
with roles that generally thwarted and
often perverted her natural gifts as an
actress. and then TO see her burst
forth at the Lyceum in a real unfet-
tered expression of her powers, con-
stitutes an occasion worthy of nothing
hut commentator. and Mr.. Davies's
work profits accordingly, despite its
occasional weakness.
The author Of that delightful play,
The Mollusc." has chosen sordid but
none the less human and vital theme
for his drama. a rising young Eng
fish business man is Tilted by the
sweetheart Of his early youth, who
throws him over because ne is poor and
because her family wish her to marry
into q rich and titled family. Tie
Young man goes 10 smash over his sor-
row and takes to drink and drugs. A
girl Of the streets comes into his life,
al. hsr ka
singular similarity in their desperate
plights. she tries TO help him forget
and he. in turn. tries TO make Of ncr
friend and give her the material com
forts that she lacks They live, more
or less together. in this fashion for @
long time. and then the former sweet
heart comes into the young mans life
again. She is tired of her middle-aged
husband and comes 20 the young man
for svnnathv. His mistress objects 70
MS meeting his former sweetheart and
they quarrel. The young man resents
her assumption of ownership, and she
cannot bear 10 see him again a victim
10 the selfish cruelties Cf the married
woman. Al last, in a scene where his
mistress comes into the presence Of
the young man and the married woman
and declares her intention of going
away and putting herself out of his
life forever. the married woman sees
The error OF her intrigue and the young
man suddenly realizes his responsible
itv 10 the girl he has taught and made
dependent. I'm the end we are le-5
with the supDosition that the young
man and his mistress live happy ever
sfterward. despite the fact that she re-
q 20
marriage ceremony with her.
With such q plot IL can be clearly
cen that the interest in Its exposition
must depend mostly upon the sin
Ceritv Of the characteriZations and the
mount of skill employed in sustaining
g lively interest in the development
Of the story. There is ample evi-
ience Of the sincerity OF the players
IN their conception Of the roles. and
this goes long way 10 smoothing
over some bitches in the linking Of
Incidents and one or two other glazing
Instances of slipshod construction. If
YOU 90 90 see Miss Ferguson. however,
You viii be quite ready to ignore these
things as well as the fact that the
author has chosen a singularly $50
lated case for his chief character and
devote your receptive faculties to the
full enjoyment of the attractive lady's
playing DO this whole-heartedly and
thrills and perhaps tears will be your
portion
Charles Cherry seems TO have lost
some Of his cold reserve since has
last appearance. but some show OF
warmth in his lovemaking would add
volumes 20 the conviction of his
scenes and give the whole play q
stronger note of sincerity. Warburton
Gamble and J. Woodall Bride played
the TWO chums of the hero with con-
derable finish, and Leslie Palmer ef-
laced himself admirably after he had
'arted the play for the author. Mar
.uer.te Leslie had a difficult task m
her role. She did well, considering
the odds against her, in reaching the
s,mpathes of the audience. out
cast however. shows us new ana
delightful Elsie Ferguson. and for that
alone 10 should be here for a long time.
Sui" q new musical comedy, was
presented last night at the Casino The
atre by Lew Fields. II will be reviewed
In these columns tomorrow.