The Washington herald., 1914-10-18
By IAlIEs 8. IETcAI.FE.


New York oct. 14-London ID ever
eyal to any one who has once won fa-
vor on the stage. In cur country We
are quick to turn down our temporary
favorites. whether OF the stage or in
any other walk of life. In politics Il
would be easy to mention two or three
names Of living men who for time bore
the halo Of greatness, but who have re-
lapsed or are relapsing into insignin-
cance. Our stage people must make good
even mere frequently than our politSetans
and statesmen II they are to hold their
places IN popular liking.
Mrs Patrick Campbell was never the
Eaycrite in America that she became by
,rief success in England. That she
tomes TO Us now as the star IN George
Bernard Shawss .Pygmalion" Is not be-
eause America really wanted her, but
because London conditions enabled her
10 secure a role for which she is not
atted ana which could have been better
played by several English actresses ana
perhaps by some Americans
said to BE shaw's choiee.
Mr.. shaw himself Is said to like her
rendering Of the role Of Eliza Dooiittles
the young woman who is gutter snipe
by birth and surroundings, but who by
short course ofsyocal and otner trenn-
ing, IL supposed 10 achieve sumcient
likeness to an English duchess to pass
IN London society for a woman OF birth
n n be true that Mr.. Shaw really did
Ike her impersonation Of his character,
II might well argue that Mrs. Pats PIC
turesque personality blinded the Anglo
Irish philosopher to her lack OF youth
for the flower girl. or that he gave up
that qualification 10 fnd in her his ideal
Of the affectatIons that perhaps he him
Aelf thinks 70 with duczl rank.
A girl Is a girl the world over and, In
spite OF some sporting and eccentric ex-
ceptions, aftectations OF any sort do not
take the place of the good manners and
rentIe bearing that characterize well-ored
people even in the British ducal rank
Mrs. Campbell is certainly too mature in
lace and figure to pass anywhere Tor
rirl, even with everything that stage
makeup can do for her. Bar her majesty
of size and affected poses she Is very 1T
lie the duchess except In so TAR as MI
Shaw wishes to caricature the upper
classes Of the England he abuses. but
prefers as a home to his native Ireland
lrs. Campbell started her stage career
With some society backing. she has PLAYED
ne or two parts well enough to estaolish
erself as q London stage favorite, she
in the theatrical swim, and Mr., shaw,
vho. strange as it may sound, does not
now everything. may perhaps be for
iy.n for sending her to us as the realiza-
ion of the imaginary person he created
Eliza DooIittle, first flower girl OF
he streets and then counterfeit Of
luchess
The Play '1syEmalion."
Mr., Shaw had "PygmaIion" played in
German in Germany to escape the sup
posed enmity of the London critics II
was first played in New York at the Ger
man Thester and practically stcaPed no
tice Done in English il Is welcomed oy
our daily press with the same unanimous
approval which present conditions In
criticism accord to any properly adver-
tised theatrical production that is not bad
TO the point OF having no merit OF any
kind.
OF course no one looks for credibiiity
in a Shaw comedy. In the present case
the hero is a student OF phonetics who on
a WAGER sets out in six months time to
eouin a gutter SirI with the utterance.
.sbearinE and manners Of duchess. The
audience il supposed not to notice that
the teacher himself has raucous COCK
ney delivery and that his manners are
those of a boor. Nevertheless he Is sue
cessful in teaching what evidently he does
not know himself to the point OF oeeeN-
ing the polite society in which his mother
moves The Jar comes when his pupil
uses language not familiar to polite ears:
TJe has taught manner. not matter. ana
has also forgotten to eliminate from ms
nupiI the loving heart which Is the IN
sIienabIe possession Of even the gutter
girl. This heart she has gwen 70 MN IN
spite Of the fact that he regards her only
as a Joke and treats her as Engnshnen
+rsst slsveys and scullions. Therefore
N. climax shows this boorish young man
nresunnably about TO accept his distn-
SrIsbe5 pupil in marriage and to permit
her during the rest OF her hfe 70 oe MS
menial and the target Of his abuse.
Being by Shaw, ''Pygmalion as piay
ts In the nature Of things grotesaue ana
sboundinE in clever lines that make us
Iaurb- through their surprises, ther )eef-
jns- naradoxes and their undeniably smart
slsnzs at the weaknesses OF our preseht
stage of civilization, particularly as tness
are shown in the SNUG stuploiIy ano
Tiis Wit flashes in its usual distinctive
fashion. but, as usual, with no suggesuon
IN methods for betterment OF the conoi-
lions he derides In this play, as in mis-
Others he fstters his audiences Lneo
thinking they are thinking. Therstore
'.PyFmalion," unless the unnt size OF 'he
park Theater destroys the meanings OF
m, lines as they are delivered by Lon
5on company. seems likely to meet win
tbe usual favor accorded to Shaw plays
by our pseudo-intelleetusls-
Another Dream.
Something more than coincidence is
Aid to be responsible for the similar
oundation ideas in The Phantom Ri
rsl.'' produced by MesGrs. Belaseo and
oitrichstein, which has been already re-
Iiswed. and Ny Lady,s Dress oy
F-hsrIoE Knoblauch. which followed 30
EIoseiv on the heels Of the Belasco pro-
huction. -, l.
me dream or hallueinatioE idea In
,lsy' whers the workings Of the sub
Conscious mind are shown in material
etaEe realization, is, Of course, no new
fhing. We had Il IN The Bells, IN Tne
Vorsican Brothers," and more lately IN
THE Poor Little Rich Girl. the me
s,lnsnies Of the moving picture are In the
anne line, 50 perhaps IL Is an inJusuce
Mr.. Knoblauch to give any further
currency othe rumor that he gained his
Inspiration for My Lsdys Dress" from
he play Of Molnar which was shown IN
american adaptation as The Phantom
Rival"
II remains. though, that both plays |
tart with a disagreement between hus-
band and wife; that the subsequent ac-