The Washington herald., 1915-01-31
REVIEW of the Past Week
In New York TheaterS

plelE, save the play from DelnB almost
ridiculous. Years ago Mr.. Charles
Frohman produced a play called The
Conquerors' with similar consequences
to the heroine resulting from visit
of invading Uhlans and a similar ig-
norance on the part of the heroine. In
that play there was no religious at
mOsphere and no clOistered bringing
up to account for the miracle of inno-
cence, so The ConQuerors" was practi-
cally laughed off the stage, even with
Miss Viola Aliens air OF unquestion-
able virtue to sustain the presumption
of the heroine's ignorance.
Anything Mr.. BelasCo does is sure of
respectful reception by the unusual first
night audiences that gather to greet his
new productions. The gatherings are in
telligent ones and of a friendly attitude,
because those who compose them know
in advance that what they are going to
see will be at least interesting and staged
with all the care that Mr.. Belasco gives
to his productions. Therefore II Is diff
cult to imagine just the effect of Marie
Odile' an ordinary audience. In
more Catholic and less cosmopolitan COM
munity its free dealing with the forms
of religion might be taken as sacrilegious
and lead to serious disturbance. The
same thing might occur in q very pro-
German town if the German element
in America patronized the American
thcaters to any extent. Here Marie
Odile" is likely to receive the regular
support accorded to anything Mr.. Belasco
does and to the appearances of Frances
Starr. Outside of that the piece is a
bit too incredible and borders too much
on the absurd to create much of a stir,
even with the aid Of its excellent produc-
tiOn and the good acting of a competent
and thoroughly trained company.
Another Music Master.
Mr.. David Warfeld's laurels are not
likely to he torn from him by Mr.. Albert
BruninE's Characterization of the piano
yirtuuSo in The Fallen Idol" nor is
the play by Mr.. Guy Bolton likely to
achieve any such note as the one in
which Mr.. Wartield made his first big
dramatic success. This piece deals with
more up-to-date people and more fash
iunable surroundings than those OF the
earlier effort The title is suggested by
the discovery that the artist, who had
been tn" object Of feminine alteration,
was made Of very common clay, and his
affection with a paralysis that destroyed
his artistic career. Even his rich young
American wife lost her illusions in these
circumstances, and, although true to her
obligations, could not help falling in love
with a Young man OF her own kith
and kind After complications that make
the story of the play, the death of the
musician leans 10 Il Stlullbl u lllc ullll-
cuItes, and an entirely pleasing ending
of the play, with the audience knowing
jrISt what is to become of every one con-
CCrned.
The Fallen IdoT' is interesting in its
story. and contains a number OF clever
and epigrammatiC lines. which the author
MANAGES to introduce more for their own
sake than for their appearing the prob
able speeches OF the characters to whom
I'll Il
tinctly feminine roIes-that OF the mu
sican's young wife, wholesomely and
brightly played by Janet BeeCher; his
former mistress and the mother of his
child. made very human by the simple
and direct acting Of Florence Rockwell
and the part of a brilliant young society
woman. arraycd in the latest and most
extreme gowns. interpreted by a striking
Iv handsome stranger to the New York
stage, who appears on the program as
Marie Chambers. Although she has all
the Doise and self-ConfidenCe of the
experienced actress, she is said to be
the wealthy young wife of a prac-
tisinE lawyer. and is reported to have
made this very Creditable appearance
as a recruit directly from private life.
The Fallen Idol" is by no means
A great play. and has no pronounced
punch" but is an interesting theatrical
entertainment.
A whole lot of interest has been
created in the productions Granville
Barker was to make of his London
successes done with his own special
methods of staging. Several announce
nents have been made of his opening
under the auspices and support of the
New York Stage Society. only to be
followed by notice OF pOstpOnement.
The cause OF the delay has been the
non-arrlvaI of the Cunarder carrying
his scenery and properties. Lillah ,
MaCCarthy. his wife and leading
woman. as we'll as the members of
his company. have been here for some |
time, and the necessary changes in /
the stage Of WaIIack's Theater had /.
been made: but the bOat-nOt A reg |
ular Cunarder. but an understudy |
chartered for service during the war |
was trying to find her way gross /.
the Atlantic Instead of arriving on
schedule time, week ago. she is just
in. and we are promised that within .
two or three days we shall see Shaw's .
"Androcles and the Lion" and Ana |
tole Frances Comedy of the Man .
with a Dumb Wife"