New-York tribune., 1915-12-02
rHE CAST
By HAYWOOD BROUN.

The parrot did not swear or say
pieces Of eight" last night. The other
folk OF Treasure Island" talked and
acted and looked Just as We always
knew they would. Jules Eckert Good
man brought them out Of the pages OF
the romance, and out they leaped full
bloodedly. singing, cursing and fghting
Bill Bones roared and died. Long
John Silver stumped across q quarter
deck, and from down the road was
heard the tap, tap tapping OF blind
Pew, come to hand the black spot to
the Captain. Goodman has done more
than bring familiar characters back.
Once again the ear thrilled 70 such
words as "cutlass," Cove" and "lugger.'
For an evening an audience was al
lowed to watch life as il newer was nor
will be. except in the mind of boy or
a Stevenson. As Silver said, "It's great
to be young and have ten toes"
We believe that Treasure Island"
was written when young Lloyd Osborne
asked for story with no lovemaking
The playwright has followed the au-
thor, and love was rigidly excluded last
night. This alone ought to make the
play q thing to be fostered. Love is
very well in its way. In fact, there
are circumstances under which it may
be entirely pardonable. but, unfortu-
nately, authors have come 10 consider
it the one interesting fact in the world,
regardless of vaster and more vital
things. such as pirates, buried treasure
and the bounding main.
Step aside, Juliet, and hold your
peace, Romeo, while Billy Bones sings,
Fifteen Men on the Dead Mans Chest,
70, Ho, Ho, and Bottle Of Rum"
Drink and the devil had done for
the rest" you may remember.
The chief task Of the playwright who
dramatized Treasure Island" was TO
get the spirit of the man who said "to
miss the joy is to miss ALL" Jules
Eckert Goodman has not missed. Ro-
nance ramped az the Punch and Judy
Theatre last night. Stevenson aimed
at the heart Of boy when he wrote his
story, but he struck the fancy of the
world. TO the boy Treasure Island
is an adventure. To the grown-up per
son II is a lark. This double appeal
IS well preserved in the dramatization
There were shivery moments for the
handful of children who had the first
night privilege, but Diamond" jim
Brady also seemed TO be enjoying the
show hugely and Mr.. Brady never
shared the terror of any Of the small
boys. In fact. he could hardly have be
lieyed the persons on the stage we're
real pirates, or he would not have sat
so calmly in the front row with a treas
ure richer than that OF Ben Gums cave
in his shirt front.
They are fearsome pirates at that.
In particular the Pew of Frank Syl-
vester is a vivid characterization. The
passing Of the black spot and the
struggle between the blind man and
his followers are among the most en-
crossing episodes of the evening. Ed
ward Emery was adm rable as Long
John Silver. He was every inch a villain
and made the most Of the humorous
hypocrisy Of the one-legge ruiiian.
4.r-. Hopkins vas pleasing as the boy,
although It must be admitted that sHe
did not quite succeed in shaking off
her femininity. Other we'll acted parts
were Black Dog by Oswald Yorke, the
HiI ones of Tom Murphy md the
George Merry Of W. ]. Ferguson
seen caliy, the play is admirable.
Best of all is the setting of the frs
act in the Admiral Benbow Inn. The
most startling picture showed the His
pamela adrlft and rocking like han
mel craft while Hawkins and a pirate
struggled in the rigging. In spite OF
the lavish settings which were crowded
into the tiny theatre everything moved
smoothly last night.
The effect Of watching a melodrama
in such a small theatre is novel, but
decidedly pleasant. 1t rather gave the
spectator the feeling OF being right In
the heart Of the happenings. Only n
the stockade scene was the size OF the
theatre a handicap. II must be al
mitted that the guns sounded overly
loud.
The play follows the book with a
great deal Of fidelity ard tells its story
with precision and interest. Of course
there are times when one feels the
episode rather than the dramatic ma
ture of the entertainment. Yet SUCH
criticism is ungrsteful. The thing o.
T., that ct rgaaurn