The Washington herald., 1914-10-11
az IAnrEs 5. aIETcAIFE.

Something the same novelty displayed
in the method of unfolding the plot u
'on Trial" is shown in ''The Phantom
Rival" This is the play rushed into towT
by David Belasco to anticipate the pro
duction OF My Lady's Dress" by
Charles Knoblauch. In both pieces &
dream is used to help along the telling
Of the story, and Mr.. Belasco evidently
was anxious to get to the New York pub
lie first. His play is by Ferenc Molnar
who wrote THE Devil" which It VIII o.
remembered was hustled before th'
American people by rival managers II
two different versions.
Mr.. Leo Ditrichstein not only made the
American version OF the piece, but also
acts the most important part. ano
achieves success both as playwright ano
actor. It is a drama Of curious con-
trasts, the main theme being an Ameri-
can husbands jealousy of his wife's ro-
nance Of the days before their marriage
This involves for settings q fashionaoie
restaurant where the matrimonial SQUAD
bic begins, and later living room In the
couples New York home. These are
shown with all the literal quality In de-
tail for which Mr.. Belasco is, famous.
The fanciful turn comes in the hero
ines dream, the episodes OF which are
EuEEeEte0 DN the TOuhnAlC ROccABAAANAS1
pictured in a letter from her youthful
Russian admirer which her husband has
unearthed and ridiculed. She finds her
self at a ball where her lover comes to
her first as a great Russian general, then
as a celebrated diplomat, then as a IA
nous tenor and finally as a street tramp.
The transition from the prosaic sur
roundings is a marvel Of quickness in
stage mechanics, and is supplemented by
Mr.. Ditrichsteins equally rapid assump-
tion Of varying characters. He is fin
ished comedian, and what he does is done
expertly, although the possible illusion is
greatly lessened by his foreign accent
and his narrow vocal range. He avails
himself skillfully Of the possibilities OF
wigs, costumes, and makeup, but can
not get rid OF his personality
Laura Hope Crews Is the heroine, and
adds materially to her already estab-
lished reputation as a comedienne. She
is delightful to look at, has a keen sense
of humor with Just enough seriousness.
She contrives most artfully to give the
part the subtle touches that carry TO the
New Yorker the conviction that she had
really passed the early years Of her life
in Brooklyn. Malcolm Williams is also
expert in the portrayal OF the mental
processes Of Jealous husband and their
physical demonstration. The minor parts
also show Mr.. Belasco's genius in casting
a PLAY and getting its performers under
the skin OF the characters they portray.
The Phantom RIVAL never permits
the attention to wander for a moment.
and is crowded with contrasts. spiritual
and material
Initiating Mr.. shaw.
The slight comedy called "Conse-
quences" came to US as one Of the pro-
ducts of Miss Horniman's Theater in
Manchester, and therefore having the
stamp of some kind Of intellectually. It
had also pleased some of the London
critics. Its author, Mr.. H. F. Rubin
stein. was certainly unknown in these
latitudes. but its other antecedents gain
ed for it an unusually respectful recep-
ton.
If imitation is the kind Of f1attery the
Droverb says II is, Mr.. George Bernard
Shaw should feel highly complImented by
CONSEQUENCES" It follows slavishly his
method Of girding at the characters ere
ated as targets for tbs authors ridicule,
and many OF fits lines are founded on the
Shaw plan of condensed paradox The
principal subjects OF ridicule in this
case are a girl suffragette and
Jewish youth Of the type that is con-
tinually and continuously spouting imma-
ture wisdom, with an air of profound
knowledge and conviction.
The girl answers exactly the definition
Of a suffragIst as being one of the sex
who wants something but doesn't know