Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-17
nv .nprINE CARRIoK WELLS

BY ADELiNE CAhhlCh WELLS
ION the Level" the much heralded
play by Richard Madden, produced by
the Brownell- Stork players at the
Orpheum Theatre last night under the
direction of George M. Cohan, proved
worthy Offering in the main, though
considerable managerial shearing will
be needed to put 1t into shape for a
New York run.
There are pauses-long pauses-
where the acting is nil and the talk
is dull In the first act, for instance
the curtain rises upon charming
domestic scene, which proceeds tor
about fifteen minutes with Just two
laughs Perhaps this is too much like
real home life to be appreciated. An
diences want illusions. They want
their ideals visualized. What we call
realism on the stage has nothing to
do with the realism of the lives we
lead. We don't want that man and
wife to be happy as we are; they
must express the ideal of domesticity
that we have in our imaginations,
beautiful, but impractical. In real
living room man and his wife might
talk for longer period than fifteen
minutes without saying anything re-
markable. but on the stage it Is I'M
forgiveable.
Then that last act-let us use our
hammers first, that the balm of our
appreciation, when it comes, may take
away the sting of the blows-that
last act is er-f1at The miracle talk
is not convincing, nor is the prodigaf S
account of his experiences. After an
inspiriting second and third act In
which the players conduct themselves
eXcellently we find them lifeless, in
toning phrases that are trite. The
exquisite final picture. in which the
husband prays for the wife's forgive
ness, unaware that she is in the room,
cannot atone for this
And now for the balm! Richard
Madden has play that ought to live.
His second and third acts admit of
little criticism. There is a conVinc-
ing logic about the actions of the
people concerned. Cries for the au-
thor at the end of the third curtain
were sincere We all wanted to see
this man that moved us. But, alas,
modesty forbade. When the hubbub
began Mr.. Madden ANONYMOUSLY took
to his heels.
Here is ION the Levels" story:
Ned Varney is q young bank clerk
full of promise and of weakness,
too. He is engaged to Nell Evans, a
stenographer. One day they visit
friends on Long Island and find the
Bangs home a place of marvellous
content. The Bangses sing the praises
of domesticity until Ned and Nell be
come enthusiastic and resolve on the
spot to marry as soon as possible.
Ned rushes out for champagne, with
which to drink to the fulhllment of
their hopes.
h. 10, f.ararH
bachelor friend of the Bangses comes
in, is introduced and invited to take
part in the little celebration. Ned
returns with the champagne and tells
how he ran into the wrong house
by mistake, meeting the Mrs. ClaX-
tor who has caused so much talk in
the quiet little village. During the
talk that follows Nell tells how Ned's
bank has given each of the employees
a 5000 anniversary gift. Gerard eX-
presses surprise at this, knowing of
the banks "tight-wad" policy. When
he says that his father is one of the
directors, Ned shows signs of ner-
vousness, which deepen to marked
distress when the conversation turns
to a thousand dollar theft that has
occurred in the bank.
Gerard, who has become interested
i'm Nell, covers Neds theft, and
urges the young people to marry. He
helps them to furnish their home
and several months later we find
them settled and-unhappy. Ned has
become involved with Mrs. ClaXton
who is not a real Mrs. at all. He has
stolen large sums from the bank in
order to satisfy her greed for money.
Nell discovers the truth, and for the
sake Of the child that is to come
c,nes to the woman and pleads for