New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-06
THE CAST

f-laecrden .JuniuS Matthews
CHRISTOPHER Bruce ................ WARD t,inn
peer Van Horn ................ Richard Sterling
Max Norton ......................ReEa gan huehston
loon a man servant...............LOu Louis La BeN
The old and time worn theatrical prov
erb. that a poor dress rehearsal means
a good first performance. was never more
strikingly demonstrated than with last
nights presentation Of Rachel Crotherss
comedy. Young Wisdom" at the Cri-
terion Theatre. Sunday night a dress re-
hearsal Of the play was held for the
purpose of giving the newspaper men
slight breathing spell In a particularly
busy week; but its effect. due to some
occult influence peculiar TO rehearsals,
and also TO "A remarkably lethargic au-
dience, was not a breathing spell at all
merely prolonged yawn.
Last night, however, all was changed.
more or less contagious enthusiasm
emanated from the first laugh in the first
act. and spread throughout the play, TIL
what had appeared to be dun spots at
the rehearsal were nicely tided over, with
a ripple from the preceding bright spot.
and Rachel Crotherss plays are never
without bright spots for long.
Miss Crothers has taken for her theme
the rather unprofta ble-at this day-idea
of trial marriage and its resulting com
plications.
She has to he sure. given an amusing
twist 10 the subject, and at times evolved
some novel incidents, but through IT all
We feel AS one always does at Miss
Crotherss plays. that now that she has
us sitting down and listening 10 her, she
means to drive nome a few strong truths.
whether it helps the action OF the play
or no.
Her main point in the present play, ana
the one she drives nome most success
fully. is that trial marriage can't be done
in the very best circles.
Two college bred damsels fairly reeking
with superficial knowledge OF the ideas
of some OF our advanced philosophers, try
to live up to the theories they have
adontcd. and the results afford material
for the comedy.
Their father is a judsc. An orthodox
iudee-that is--of the old school. Gail, the
Younger daughter. is about to be mar
ried to proper but undemonstrative
youth named Peter, when al the last
moment. fired by her elder sisters en-
thusiasm, she persuades the fearful Peter
to run off with her, 50 that they may
find out If they are suitable mates. and
then. perchancc, the wedding bells.
Peter succumbs, but not before Chris,
who is in love with the elder sister, learns
Of the plan.
Chris is the mas;erful type. and plans
10 put an end TO the "foolishness' by
rersuading the elder sister Victoria, to
live up TO her ideas, too, and ny on an
equally experimental trip
They all meet 1T lonely house on
lonely road, where an artist-quite Il
devil Of a feIlow-has his workshop.
Complications ensue here, slowly but
eventually, and in the last act We ma
them all home again, cured and ready
10 go right out with mother and be
married like common or garden folk.
Mabel TaIiaferro plays Victoria. the
elder sister, whose intensity of purpose
and enthusiasm over her newly acquired
ideas provide the handspring OF the COM
edy. Her acting of the role is. on the
whole. quite pleasing. and would be
wholly so we're IL not for her tendency
10 mouth her words Edith. ner sister
and co-star, has the better and more
sympathetic part OF Gail. the younger
sister. Her handling Of this character
is nicely balanced, particularly in the
second act. at the home of the artist
where she gives delightful picture OF
the impressionable innocent at large.
Peter. played By Richard Sterling
shone through the whole play as the
most welcome character In the cast Mr..
Sterling managed. with Just the required
emphasis. TO portray the decent. God
fearing young man that he was sup
posed 10 be and yet get all the humor
out OF his lines and situations. Peter
IS decidedly we'll worth seeing. Regan
Houston. who played Max Norton, the
artist. has perhaps something TO learn
OF the manners and customs OF the spe-
cies he portrays. but the rest OF the cast
did we'll enough with their roles.