New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-08
THE CAST.

NJ Lagrange ......''''''''''.',.nehIy nIoehei
| Justin ,.......................W Walter sodcTllnR
| Godlvoau ..,..',,''''''.''''''''nA IIy LeisnNot
| Jean-Marie .......,,............J. Homer huht
Tootmhn ..,.,....'.'''''''''''''' ,,Jonh 1i
| Rimone act lHO ......... Helen Hayes Brown
simone act I'd and SD. Jessie GlendsnninS
| Cleo DE VAlmont .......,..s.... hofe WINTER
| Nine Manst Josephine Morse
| Yvonne ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1aIyea'
Those two splendid players John
Drew and Ferdinand Gottsehalk-ot
whom il would be quite proper to
speak in the same breath even II they
were not almost habitual companions in
their plays-appeRred in an extremel ~
interesting and rather novel comedy
last night at the Empire. One doubts
however, that comedy is its proper
classification. Beginning with a first
act that has a thoroughly Ibsenesque
situation, heavily spattered with most
un-Ibsen sentiment, it proceeds with
bound into a Clyde Fitch second act,
and from there meskly allows itself to
be moulded into almost anyoodys
third act with a happy ending.
Happy endings are practically ne
cessity, however, and this one in par
ticular caused no diminution in either
the interest or the ardor Of the audi
ence at the Empire-which audience u.s.
by the way, perhaps the best play
| thermometer in the city. II play IS
doomed at the Empire the gloom could
be cut with a knife. II 1t is interest
ing and destined to be popular, there
! is q general and quite unmistakaole
buzz. Last night they buzzed.
| And we'll they might. For, used as
we are to seeing Ferdinand Gottschalk
as a gay dog going to the bad, it was
a distinct surprise TO see John Drew in
/ his FIRST scene. He appears as Mich Il
| Giroux, a wealthy gentleman who has
become, through differences in tenn
permanent, estranged from his wife and
has decided to forget his troubles in
all the gayeties that Paris is supposed
to offer TO gentlemen in such pre-
dicament we'll supplied with money.
| lie returns to his house with the dis
solute Gottschalk, his boon compan-
ion, after an all night affair with the
aforesaid lures. His companion, a
most amusing fellow, falls asleep upon
! the couch, while Giroux is forced to
listen to a TRADE from his lawyer on
/ the subject of his dissipation. he
persists that reconciliation with his
wife is impossible and reiterates hia
/ determination to 60 to the dogs in his
own way. His butler, cowed and or
dered about, falteringly informs him
that the concierge's daughter has been
left helpless by the death OF her
mother. Giroux is annoyed and quite
/ at a loss to know what it matters TO
him. He is so selRshly engrossed in
! his own troubles that he cannot grasp
/ the significance Of the child's predica-
ment. Finally he is persuaded to see
( the child.
This introduces perhaps the best
scene in the play. A little girl OF
twelve comes fearfully into the room
and faces Giroux, the waster. On the
I couch in a drunken heap OF soiled
evening dress is Giroux's companion OF
the night before. One Of Giroux's
women friends has just gone from the
room. When the child sobs in Giroux's
arms and begs him to tell her where
/ her mother Is the strength of the va
rious contrasts is intensely gripping.
Then, softening, Giroux comforts the
child, orders toys and tho curtain falls
upon the pair sitting before the dolls
/ cradle and arranging chairs and tables
/ in the dolls house.
3 The succeeding act is different in
! tone, but interesting as we'll. Simone
, is now a girl of eighteen, and has been
brought up and cared for by Giroux,
who has not quite given up his old
/ habits, although he presents a solid
appearance to the world. Simone is
/ quite innocent and looks upon Giroux
as her daddy" Anonymous letters
from some of Giroux's piqued flames
rejecting upon Simone's position in the
/ household and finally a direct accusa-
ton against Giroux by q woman he has
grown tired of make him suddenly real
lie the insecurity Of their position. A
disgruntled workman turns out to be
Simone's father, and claims her. Gil
4 roux, harassed, and realizing the true
nature of his love for Simone, proposes
that they so away from Paris together
and alone.
Almost distracted by the change in
her daddy" Simone hies at once 70
Nine. Giroux, who has lived alone IN
the country for six years, and Giroux
pursues her, thinking she has gone
with a lover. Here the play becomes
almost fsreicsl in its tone. Giroux
meets his wife, who has been flled
with tales from the drunken compan-
/ ion, Charles Ravel, and tries to explain
his position. OF course, he is able TO-
finally, and all is happy. Giroux folds
his wife in his arms and RaVel JESUS
and Simone smiles beatifcally and the
/ curtain falls.
While one may suffer a slight twinge
| IF regret that the authors did not con-
/ tinue on the plane and tone OF the
! first act, that is merely q matter or
! opinion, and, after all, who knows how
MANY buckets OF tears might have
/ drenched the cushions Of the Empire
if the play had held the same affecting
note throughout and John Drew had
not been able to fold his wife in his
arms. One doubts if there are many
who would pay to see Mr.. Drew go COM
pletely and irrevocably to the how
/ wows-especially as he regenerates
and also rejuvenates so astonishingly
/ we'll. All through the play he was the
/ same suave, dominating, finished Mr..
/ Drew; delightful always to see IN any
old thing he chooses to grace. But IN
/ the first act and in part of the second
he was 4 great deal more. One doubts
I II he has done so good piece of work
as his dissipated home coming in
long, long time.
/ Ferdinand Gottschalk is always the
one particularly joyous and bright
spot in any cast. In "The Prodigal
Husband" he plays the role OF the
Prod. He is the whimsical, scottish,
humorous waster who leads the hus-
band about on his deviations from the
straight and narrow. And while he ap-
pears but seldom, popping out like the
! cockoo in the clock to tighten up the
scene for q moment, his every entrance
Is welcomed. No one could quite dupli-
cate Mr.. Gottsehalk's position on the
stage.
/ Little Helen Hays Brown played
Simone in the first act in 8 wholly com
/ petent manner that many an older
/ -.,-LL Hnr 1nhnla acann