Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-24
Belasco.

Surrounded by prologue and epilogue,
''Fanny's First Play Is like juicy nut
in somewhat acrid envelope. The per-
Torrance opens with discussion OF
stage conditions in London. 1t is not
very entertaining introduction to what
proves a sprightIy epigrammatic farce,
well acted, and containing some really
significant suggestions as to the social
scheme in general and British society IN
particular II is a characteristic rege-
tartan viewpoint that the author as
sumcs. His work is a gentle dyspepsia
IL has mont of the angry violence tnat
might be expected from the same degree
of literary talent expressed by a de-
Vourer of red meat.
..Fanny's Play tells of two families
whose homes are distinguished by an
atmosphere of sef,sufiicient respecta-
bility. The son of one household gets
into a street revel with young woman
whose morals are no better than her
grammar, and as a result spends Two
weeks in Jail The daughter of house
hold number two drifts away from the
serious asscmblagc to which she was sent
by her pious parents. goes into music
hall. where she meets d dashinG French
man. and through their ignorance OF
the character OF the places of entertain
ment they visit they become involved in
a police raid
AS the story is worked out, what APP
peared to be family disgrace is the
family sa.vation. Both homes are shaken
out OF their conservatism. and the old
folks actually learn to enjoy the expert
cuce and the notoriety thrust upon them.
fhe repetition in the case of the girl OF
the same story that the first act tolls
about the boy would be monotonous ii
the conversation were less smart. The
plot is fantastical and serio-conlfc. AS Is
usual with Mr. Shaw. it follows the con-
ventional structure of melodrama and
romance with such scant sympathy or
sincerity that the result has almost the
effect of hurlesque.
.Fanuy's Play is riot of fancies char
scteristic of the world as seen through
Mr.. Shaw's spectaces-a world that be-
comes "G. Bernard In Wonderland. The
girl Of the streets Is the defender of femi-
nine responsibility; the champion of that
chiva ry which the middle-class youth
negiects. She marries with prospects of
honesty and serene domesticity- The girl
sheltered and secluded goes on a regular
tear and shamelessly avows that she
liked 1t immensely. especially the expert
ence of knocking two front teeth out of
q policeman. But she's a nice girl for
ali that.
The footman proves to be the younger
brother OF a duke, and has the family
that once ordered him about beseechtng
him for the privilege of bowling and
scraping as he comes back ana forth
with the tea things The footman mar
ries his employers daughter. and the
dear old lady whose life heretofore has
apparently been cheered by no other
music than that of the church choir, be-
comes enthusiastically interested in the
concertina, or, as 1t IL designated by
those who use II. .'the squiHer." 1t Is
topsy-turvy dot Of paradoxes. Confusion
sometimes threatens. and long speech
is necessary to provide a breathing spell.
The F'renchman's GRAFTON on England Ii
an amusing misconstruction OF the mo-
tives and ideals of civilization which
he measures by his own rough-and-tum-
BILE experience.
Having satirized his religion, his
country and himself. the author pro-
ceeds to satirize the theater and Its as
sociations in an epilogue which takes
the form Of the discussion Of the piece
by Fanny's father and the critics His
be admitted. is more delicately gener-
Gus than that sometimes employed IN
the American metropolis. The analysis
of his own work put into the mouth OF
one of the critics Is brilliantly accu-
rate. Mr.. Shaw here refers to himself
as dealing with characters that do not
reflect true humanity but serve only to
voice his own speeches. In failing to
note how well worth while it Is to
have Mr.. Shaw's personal reflections
voiced. regardless Of human consist
most ungenerous Of all who have made
comment on his work.
The characters are all admirably per-
formed. In so evenly balanced a cast
it would be difncult to note role
which overshadows the others 1t 10
an ecstasy of whimsical egotism whose
author reigns dashingly supreme.