The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-24
"ALONG CAME RUTH"
WINS AT THE GAIETY
Belgian Work Skilfully Made a
New England Play by
Holman Day.
IRENE FENWICK CHARMS
Excellent Acting Does Much
Toward UndOubted
Success.
Along Came Ruth"-At the Gslety
Theatre.

| app -'1Fh"h y. MCCARTHY |
! EvDHder hitchoorn. .......... Sol Aiken
| Pllny Bangs. ........... John McKenna
The authors of the new play along
Came Ruth" which was presented by
Henry Savage at the Gaiety Theatre last
night, are not unknown in this country.
They are BelRians. who have delighted
.helr countrymen and later the public
q Paris by writing plays about their own
country. There was little or no drama
IN Belgium, except some occasional efforts
written in Flemish. until these two play.
vrlghts found In the bourgeoise existence
o. their land material for simple plays
that reelected with some truth and n
liberal allowance of sentiment the life and
character Of their countrymen. lie Mar
Age de Mile. Beulemans' was the first
flower of their collaboration. and that
play OF commercial life. played by Bel
gan actors. 20 delighted Paris that
Charles Frohman bought II for the use Of
Billie Burke and commissioned Haddon
Chambers TO translate II into suzanne"
under which name the little drama was
seted at the Lyceum Theatre.
Adapted To Maine.
Probably mindful Of It's fate. Mr.. Saw
see mas not put the drama called In French
la Demoiselle de Magasin." or The Shop
Cir" before the American public in the
original package that seemed 20 Raddon
Chambers the best form Of presenting the
eG7l!-r work. which carried the fame Of
Nm Franz and Wicheler beyond the from
tiers II their own country. He has poured
this imported wine into native bottles and
;he process has been most successfully
accomplished by Holman Day. which Is
almost the same as explaining that the
scenes and characters have been trans
ferred to New England. In fact. O!dport
Ne, instead OF Brussels, Is the scene OF
along Came Ruth" Mr.. Day has more
over applied the local public with . large
brush. He has baptized the children OF
Nh. Franz and Wicheler's brains with
old names familiar in the northern At
isntic States. So Hubbards. Bradfords
ana Hitchborns have taken the place Of
tie Belgian oourgeoisie.
success of the Changes.
Such q process or adaptation works no
injury TO the works OF these two play
v-ignts. They are writing about coun-
~ that seems TO Paris to be provincial
and their plays preserve more OF the real
favor when they are presented TO other
cities in the same light. In London lie
Marriage de Nrc. Beulemans" was
siapted 10 Wales. So the treatment OF
tie play adopted by Mr.. Savage does II
not only no harm but Is likely to transfer
iAs spirit OF the original more faithfully
than by translating the original into Eng
.ish and presenting II as a picture OF Bel
gan lie. Wherever these dramas may be
sc.ed Il is necessary to keep their full
favor that they be made representative
Of some slice OF the provincial country.
story of the Play.
The resemblance OF the scheme OF the
two dramas by Franz and Wicheler can
rot escape even those who recall the BRIEF
lie OF suzanne" In that play young
Freuchman serves to save the dying busi-
tess OF a vintner who Is not in the hands
o. scrupulous associates. Last night. or
rathe- in the Down East" version OF La
Demoisele de Magazin," a shop girl gains
place in AN old business house. sets an
example by her industry and enterprise
and brings fortune to her employers az
we'll as greater Importance to the little
town 10 which she comes In search OF
Tork She finds happiness in marrying
He son Of her employer, in both the
original and in Mr.. Days adaptation,
although the circumstances that cause the
pret delay In the case are different in
Inc two plays.
Real Rural Types.
TIE simple story fts we'll into the mileu
o. the Maine town to which the adapter
las transferred II, along with the story
ot the original play. He has converted
The work into a species OF sublimated
bygosh, to be sure. but he has animated
all the characters OF the play with the
real NE Of such a community. Their
conservatism and shrewdnesr, their native
Ind .I-.s at,,srl n
ouced In the type the adapter has drawn.
Then ne has cleverly reconciled the con-
oitons Of the life he Is drawing from
with the scheme OF the foreign authors.
which is not always easy.
he has, for instance, In the first act
got around the combination OF dwelling
and place of business, which Is 80 OFTEN
aiMcut in plays OF Continental origin.
Mr Day has done his work extremely well
and produced a delightful play. It Is sm-
pie and altogether harmless: but II Is
witty and racy OF the spot In which the
action passes. The audience received II
vain the most spontaneous enthusiasm.
Excellent Acting Big Factor.
The excellent acting had much to do
with the undoubted success of the little
play, Irene Fenwick was delightfully."-
ha'ura! as the executive young graduate
N'c HofTndl COiieBe, VIM uubt e"o o'N
furniture store into q hourishing business
OF many departments. Her stimulation OF
righteousness WAS never Overdone.
James Bradbury as the discouraged old
man OF business who developed into Q
village sport was always amusing. per-
maps more amusing In the nrst act than
IN the second. Frank II. Thomas was a
manly young lover who would get the
rrl Of his choice whatever the obstacles
might be. Joseph Kilsour might have
made the managing partner Of the hrm
There because he too admired the young
Store glrl"-objectlonable In certain
watts, but he acted the role admirably
"what WOulA Yes Des" Given.
NEw HAVEN. Conn.,. Feb. ss.-'Whai
would You Dor q new play by Angus
tln MacHugh. author Of "Officer Sse." was
produced this afternoon ut the Hyperion
sneatre. The piece 10 In four acts and
sesn with New York life Gnd 10 an ar
snEnnent Of alleged existing metropoli.
an conditions where women are Upend-
more than their husbandS incomes In
sa endeavor 10 outshine socially end out,
Sress their frisnds The cast includes
n nessle Barriscale. Milton eilis. A. byron
mssAw