The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-20
THE HYPHEN," WAR
TIMEDRAMA, SEEN
Niles Forman's Anti-Gcrman
PLAY Produced at the
Knickcrbockcr.
NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY

,be Erirkerhpcktr Theatre. Why Jus
,us Miles Formin. who wrote It. IL
known a. the author Of various novels
and short stories, but the play seen last
,i.h, is his first original effort. So there
was nothing IN the reputation OF the
author TO create preliminary interest
There had been threats that various
German American societies would inter-
fers with tho performance because II
objected on their patriotism. flut news
a. these threats reached few persons
I'm. OF the actors Of German descent re-
,lred from the east during the rehear-
sails rather than speak certain lines
which lie regarded as disloyal to his
country THIS was also "A secret of the
theatre 80. why was there so much
interest In the new play before II was
acted that the theatre could have beer
sold out twice over last night?
wicked Trutonir COnspirators.
Probably because the play is in spirit
srt!-Gefman. Its story deals altogether
with Germans living in this country.
Three men come to present to n wealthy
German resident of PENNSYLVANIA an
order sent him by the German Emperor
As A reward for a large contribution he
isl made to the war chest. Two OF the
men are Germans with hyphen and
one is an emlssary from Berlin. They
not only bring the decoration. but they
also determine to attempt to make the
recipient more loyal to the Fatherland
than to the country in which he has
earned his fortune But ne Is too de-
voted and the Conspirators turn to the
son as more probable ally. In the
house is young cousin OF the family
with whom the son is In love. She is in
reality secret service SPY of the Ameri-
can Government.
Mr. Forman in his three acts shows
The Efforts of the three men TO make the
s1n join them in blowing up an ammuni-
ton works formerly owned by the re-
tired German In order that II may not
supply further ammunition to the enemy.
They want TO get possession OF the plans
Of the ammunition factory in order 10
have an explosive dropped on the works
with deadly certainty from the sons
seroplane. They suspect that the girl
isa spy. hut she disarms their suspicion.
They fan 10 make the German surrender
The plans of the factory. II is only
when they have frightened him into
tjupor they mistake for death that the
three consprators are able TO get the
papers away frem him.
American Girl Spy Defeats Plot.
u Is then that the three, having sue
ceeded in their effort to hnd out the
best means OF attack on the ammunition
works discover that the American girl
isa SPY She confssses to her lover thst
II i true she Is only pretending to he
i.s German cousin. But she tolls him
n the character of the men who have all
Nut killed his father have stolen from
Inn the plans and Will kill the innocent
rorkm.u as well as destroy the plant
when they fire on the buildings from his
oeropane. He forgives her. The threee
C11sp.rtfors meet the fate deserved by
s.Ch Wicked men and there is happiness
f'r al. since the youthful hero and the
spy are just as much in love as II she
had been his cousin from Austria
NJ. Forman's fiction would have been
nore Interesting IN another form than
T. The medium ot the theatre For the
MAY was frankly narrative from the
frs' scene 10 tho last. There were
numerous Interesting and important
things hat We're going 10 happen. Put
they We're All discussed and there was
moao,luy Of words without deeds.
i was this utter lack OF thcltriC quail
~ IN the play mat made It's imprub-
abilities So obvious. Daring as the
au'rr was IN his use of coincidence
ard me other aids to the playwright,
tlere was nothing in the actions OF
the conspra ,ors-who were about as
impressive as those IN La File de Nine.
Aaso' which could not with sklful
treatment have been made much IN re-
plausible Al least the discovery of the
combination Of safe left on q table
! book opened az the page on which
was written, the detection Of the
woman spy. very ENORMOUSLY contrived,
ana other Incidents Of the play, which
seemed last night monstr0usly out OF
"o.n'rF experience. could with the
treatment of n writer somewhat more
'Ninl IN the use OF his medium have
: acquired some aspect of possibility.
M"rriment Grcets Conspirntors.
a ."s' the audience would not have
RUG H' them when they were meant
~ h" ".Igs After a while the en-
france a. 'hc three German cousplrators
became the signal for mcrrlment OF
part ~ IA, audience. The intro.
o-s''h ~ Them was mechanical Thoil
.'''.tu." appearance IN "A group OF
''Te' was as far from usual of lie eX'
'''N." as trio In comic opera
OF ho 'i'ruau dialect is In the minds
~. '.' 'srrtg" aGdieUc" a device foi
con IN, T. That must be taken into
COPS i"rd'I1 when tho domcauor of the
He"Hio-s toward last nights play il
J" question. II is a sad fact that the
~. .a'H'~ positively refused 10 be ser.ous
ever whoa 'He actors on the stage were
| N ~" mos. poignant situations.
N.'i '"r The stage more expert
e'ceA 'n1' Nj Forman would hav'
.'S'|''i - call so freely on the de
Woes NJ ur.uiraut as he did, Ru
'"'ir &a- murder I'm the air more thar
ONE ',t pistols flashed at diffegcu
'N.''- Iil' % I- sufficient to SAY tina