New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-25
BY HAYWOOD BROUN.


spite Of the fact that all in all Miss
Fairfax's characters are an unpleasant
lot wa found our interest held without
a break.
IL is true that there was one twist 10
the story which inspired US for a mo-
ment with a marked sinking sensation,
but we would much rather be shocked
than bored. Mrs. Boltay's Daughters"
decidedly is not for little girls We think
that in strict justice not only to the
patrons OF the theatre, but to the play
as well, the ticket taker at the door
should inquire Of each prospective
member of the audience. sir or
madame. Are YOU sophisticated per
son ," There will be no need to ask the
question rs the audience files out.
Miss Fairfax's story deals chiefly
with Boriska Boltay. who has become
the mistress of man considerably her
senior in order that her mother and
three sisters may live in comfort. The
drama has concerned itself to large
extent with bachelors wives but for
the most part such plays are built upon
formula which provides that the
woman shall kick down a door in the
third act 40 tantrums are set for
Boriska.
Mrs Boltay's Daughters" is a splen
did piece of proof that nothing but
point % view separates comedy from
tragedy. Miss Farfax's play could
easily be altered within half an hour 10
bring curtain down upon sob
stricken woman. That would be pity,
for it is too fine a comedy TO make
tinkering worth while.
The possibility of the change is men
toned only because New York theatre
goers have almost always insisted on
taking mistresses very seriously. The
Incubus" is one Of the few dramas that
we can remember which has undertaken
to treat the light woman lightly.
There are piercing bits of pathos now
and again in Mrs. Boltay's Daugh-
ters," but in the main the intent is
humorous. The wit of the play is pro
found and extensive and the obserya-
tion Of character happy in the ex-
IRENE.
Few plays provide half dozen good
rarts. but there are seven such in Mrs.
Boltay's Daughters" Rita Jolivet, an
actress of skill and charm, is the
Boriska. and succeeds in enlisting an
enormous amount OF interest and sym
pathy in a character which might read
lily be played with too harsh a touch.
Annie Hughes is natural as an un-
natural mother, Antoinette Walker
decidedly novel ingenue, Adelyn West
ley an acid old lady, Harrison Hunter
n gentlemanly immoralist. Forrest
Winant quite the best newspaper re-
porter we have ever seen on the stage
and France Bendtsen an extremely
amusing German professor OF physical
culture.
The play, We think. serves TO point
truth more or less neglected IN the
drama. 1t contends that the worst per
sons are also the best. In other words,
the character with impulses of one sort
or another is much - be desired above
the one who wills nothing. Thus, the
immoral Boriska-we use immoral IN
its theatrical sense-is a far more at
tractive person than the two sisters
who have kept their virtue solely at
the expense Of hers. John Farraday,
the man to whom Borska is indebted,
is worth two reporters such as the
honest minded Willard Page, who Of
fers her marriage.
Sexual immortality is the worst Of
stage vices, and sentimentality. we
suppose, the greatest OF dram9~Ic vir-
tunes, and Miss Fairfax. with farseeing
logic, has made her most sentimental
persons az the same time her most I'M
moral characters. In a nj OF sentl-
mentality Boriska thinks she wants 10
marry Willard Page and leave the pro-
lection OF Farraday. Seeing their pros
poets in danger, her family protests TO
such an extent that her plan Is en-
dangtred.
Here comes the shock OF the play.
Sari, the youngest of the Boltay family
plaved by Miss Antoinette Walker as
about fourteen or fifteen, comprehends
vaguely her sisters difficulty and goes
20 Farraday 20 offer herself as sub
stitute for her sisters mistress-sh p
We admit havi K bit Of qualm IN this
scene, chiefly due TO the fear OF what
was 10 come "Come over az O'clock
said Farraday, and we anticipated a
rather narrowing third act. Mr. FAR
raday, however, proved 10 be by no
means as much Of a rotter as we had
feared, and he promptly sent the gar!
home again when she came 10 ms
rooms. Bori5ka came TO Farraday's 10
find her sister, and II was there that
she broke with her newspaper lover
when she found that he simply could
not help doubling her There was
suggestion that perhaps she was sacri-
fc'ng herself for the sake OF Sari. who
had formed an infantile affection for
the reporter. but we did not choose 20
,ska the story IN that way. Az any
rte. Boriska went back 20 her old lover
when. in an agony OF fear at losing her,
he promised marriage.
Not much Of a crowd. as we have
said. but decidedly much OF a play, and
for our part We think that the wicked
people OF the theatre are the pleasant
est sort OF q relief after watching a
number Of heroines whose virtues are
as thiek as layer cake.
The critics all seemed 20 like me,
except one. who am told Is a base
ball reporter" says Miss Ethel Barry
more. through the courtesy OF Inc
New York Sunday Herald
"He roasted me-" continued MISS bar
rymore. 81 was sorry, for am a base
ball fan and read baseball stun IN the
newspapers very diligently, admlrlng
almost everything that Is written about
baseball. While this baseball reporter
may be star when It comes 70 dia-
mond comments. still there Is some diff
ference between the theatre and the
field is there not ?"
Assuredly dear lady; almost as much
as between "Our Nrs. MeChesney" and
M d-Channel."