New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-28

a. Wallack's Theatre last night with
Shaw's "Androcles and the Lion and
Anatole Frances "The Man Who Mar
ried Dumb Wife" The opening bears
a greater significance. however, IMAM
even such an attractive programme
would suggest. for il is upon the ultl-
mate success of Mr.. Bankers produc-
tions here that the New Theatre move
ment in New York depends at present
according to an authoritative state
ment made by one Of its founders IN
! The Tribune a day or two ago. IL IS
to be hoped that the playgoing puolic
even the wrathy American patriots
will give Mr.. Barker every support
possible, for. if his subsequent oHeI-
iugs are as rare and enjoyable treat
as his first, he will have indeed de-
served it.
To take the best first. his interpre-
tation of Shaw's "AndrOcles' was as
fine a thing as we have seen IN long
time. This play. recently publlsheo
here, was produced by Mr.. Barker III
J London last year, and the WhlrlWInN
Of balderdash that followed us open
ING will be easily remembered lro"
/ the accounts we received IN TINS cou"-
try. The author, much to ms SatlSIac-
ton. succeeded IN thoroughly SHOCKING
/ the British playgoers. .,
To take the edge of any similar
Comment in America, he has thought
fulIv prepared printed statement 10
90 with each programme, purportln8
In explain his motives IN writing the
/ fablen Like most of Shaw's eXplana-
tions. il explains nothing, and we are
left as usual. 10 find what motive We
can for the play. The best we ere
able TO suggest at this moment Is thaJ
he tyed upon the Androc!es- lon-thorn-
in-tb.-foot legend and used IT Tor
.oll,ctirc- satire On the Non-conforrist
conscience and the British lion. Then,
with such a fruitf;l field IN view, ne
plunged m with his usual energy ana
whacked every head that appeared ne
has done this so very thoroughly lhSI
each person in the audience Is aDIe
to leave the theatre quite cohVlhceu
that he is satiriZing anything from
Christmas pantOmlmc iot chlloieh
the accepted historical accounts OF the
carly Christian martyrs. Az any RATE
,,ba;o,er his motives may have been,
he has written witty SATIRE tnat not
only stimulates the mental processes
INIT pro-ides a ghly amusing even
ing's entertainment. I'll.
The story must by this time be larry
well known, so We VIII not oHei 10 'e'l
!. in detail. IL begins with AndrocleS
and his wife meeting the hon; runs
tbrouqh several delightfully."- mounted
scenes showing the ferocious FerroVius
conauering his spirit time and again
the fair Lavinia tempted by the mana
some Roman captain; the IaugnaoIe
gladiatorial fray; the ChrlsushS
pitted against the gladiators; the iall
from grace Of Ferrovius, and AT last
the hilarious triumph OF Androcles anu
his pet.
The treatment Of the scenes and the
splendid cast Mr.. Barker has assembled
transform Shaw's play in fashion IN
possible for one 10 imagine who has
merely read the published edition. Mr..
Heggie wins highest honors as the
meek. animal-loying tailor Androcles.
I His performance is finely balanced,
intelligent appreciation OF the true
shirt of the character Lillian Nc,
Carthv gives Lavina stately grace and
charm and reads her lines with such
clear. colorful diction that her per-
Torrance is delightful throug hout..
The Lion Phil Dwyer) is sheer JOY
His speechless but by no means mute
performance is eagerly welcomed by
the audience and is one. Of the bright
spots in the play. Lionel Braham made
a glorious, gigantic Ferrovius, and
Ian Maclaren gave pleasing picture OF
the thoughtful, high caste Roman cap
tain. OF the others, being impossible
here to enumerate their individual Writ
ues, il may be said that they were all
of them, thoroughly capable and well
schooled
"The Man Who Married Dumb
I W.T. a conedv nv Anatole France