The Washington herald., 1915-04-18
A Celebrated Case Old
fashioned All-star Cast
Makes the Draw Marga-
ret Anglin Returns-Her
New Play Is Diverting.
Reicher in Ibsen- Barring
Out a Critic Small Talk.

plays of middle life in which
list this distinctly belongs. There is
a relief of youthful characters, but
they are subordinate and the interest
hinges on the tragedy of their elders.
The star part, if there could be any
thing so commonplace in an lbsen
drama, is that of an elderly man.,
which, of course, puts the piece en-
tirely outside any chances of popular
ity. 1t has, though, the same natural
ism that gives their peculiar fascina-
ton to most of the Ibsen dramas. In
the title role Mr.. Reicher shows that
he has "A commanding force, a fine
delivery and a personal dignity not
usual on our stage. These qualities
would be valuable if in our present
day theatrical scheme there was any
place where they could be utilized. AS
it is, an artist of Mr.. Reicher's age and
qualifications, particularly with his
handicap of foreign speech. is not
likely to find employment except in
very occasional productions.
barring a Critic.
Again, we are interested in the case
of a dramatic critic excluded from
their theaters by firm of managers
who resented what the writer had to
say about their attractions. EXclu-
sion of this sort has been practised
quite often by short-sighted managers
relying on the decision of the New
York Court of Appeals that a manager
may exclude whom he pleases unless
it be on account of race or color.
The interest in the present case
arises because the excluded one hap
pens to be the critic of the New York
Times, and that journal has taken the
matter into the courts. The newspa-
per was successful in securing tenn
porarE injunction restraining the man
ayers from shutting out the critic so
that the writer, armed with the man.
date of the law, still enters the the
alters of the excluding managers. Ar
Sument has been heard on motion
to make the injunction permanent, but
decision has not yet been handed
down. The Times has also had a bill
introduced in both houses of the legis-
lature making it misdemeanor for the
manager of licensed theater to eX-
clude any person without good rea-
son.
Good lawyers agree in believing that
the courts will rule against the news
paper. So We have in New York the
absurd state of affairs that a man.
ager may exclude a white man from
his theater without giving any rea-
son for his action, but with the pre-
symptoms of the civil rights law. if |
ne excludes a negro he must give |
some good reason for doing so
Chatter.
The Lambs have just filed plans for |
IN addition 10 their clubhouse which |
Viii double its capacity and give them |
IN enlarged theater for the preSenta-
ion of their "sambols."
Helen Tyler, one of the principal
'wners of "PolyEamy." which Is just
losing its long run here, says she
xpeCtS much better business for the
LAY in other cities than in New York
'he says polygamy is so generally
'ractIsed here that a play about it
likely to attract more attention else
shere.
Theatrical conditions in London
must have improved. "Tonight's the
light" which was originally intended
or that market, but was produced
ere on account of the outbreak of
he war, has had it's initial London
erformance with practically the same
ompany that has been playing here
II winter.
Granville Barker, at the close of sea-
on at Wallack's. is to use his COM
any in presenting classic Greek
-agedies at several colleges.
a good example of the value of en-
hasis was given in the opening play
'hich had such a short career at the
rainfall Theater. The hero a French
cunt. was trying to prevail on his
life to leave her fathers house and
eturn to France, so that their child
light he born in the ancestral castle.
he heroine. in refusing. rang out the
antence. Our child shall be born
here ! am" This evoked a howl of
tighter from the audience to whom
lie TACT was obvious. Perhaps there
ould have been no laugh if the lady
al emphasized the am instead of the