New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-06
NIGHT or SNOW d"
"IlFIENA.s HrsBAND
Rv HEYNOOD RROUN.

King william the Conqueror. ...........- Billy
By HAYWOOD BROUN.
When the French soldier in Fire
and Water" took of his undershirt We
felt that we had been properly intro
Guced 10 the B2ndbox Theatre We ac-
cepted the discarded garment as the
symbol of theatricalism. commercial sr'
and conventionality. Not that it was
q bad sort of shirt as such things 90.
On the contrary, il seemed to be one
Of those alphabetical garments with
cut-out sleeves which affords Just so
much liberty as is compatible with any
shirt. Yet for symbolic purposes il
served as well as the most irritating
set Of iaegers.
The Washington Square Players are
emancpated. and liberty. whether it
be from shirts or theatrical conven-
tons, has its dangers as well as its
delights. The first bill at the BandboX
has four short plays, which no other
organization in the city would attempt.
Two. we think. would fail of produc-
ton because they are so good. and
two, we believe. would perish because
they are so bad. This is exactly as it
should be. Perfection would DESTROY
phere Of the Bandbox. and for our part
we like a play which is sufficiently in
dividual to gain an uncompromising
success or failure. A pretty good play
is like a pretty good egg.
Fortunately for US the plays which
we thought were good were placed
numbers 8 and on the programme,
and the impression which we took away
from the Bandbox was one of delight.
After watching Lydia Lopokova romp
through Percy Mackaye's "The Antick''
we felt glowing enthusiasm for all
the world. We could not even hate
very much the man who translated
might of Snow" and returned to the
scene Of his crime 20 act the chief part.
The merry humor of "Helena's Hus-
band" left US all but recOnciled TO the
somewhat aimless "Fire and Water"
We regret now wasted adiectives and
we pine for every superlative with
which we have lightly parted. All
words denoting. connecting or apper-
tanning in any way 90 charm we would
bestow on Lydia Lopokova.
As Julie Bonheur, a Canuck girl, she
is a mite mighty in enticement. Never
have We But, no; we'll set no time
limit on our opinion, for Julie herself
complains: These Yankees, they say
only that: I love you always, forever!
Why not they say: love you-all this
week."
And so, until Tuesday, October ~, we
will continue 10 maintain that Lydia
Lopokova is the most charming young
person who has trod the stage in New
York this season. But she did not
tread. She did not even walk. She
skinned. she danced, she pranced, and,
as like as not, she never touched the
stage. Or so it seemed.
Ii is big stage which Percy
Mackaye sets for the dancer-bigger
than that of the Century or the Hippo
drome; bigger, indeed, than any which
Griffith can include in the range Of his
motion picture camera. II is stage
lust so big as the mind Of the poet can
range and the imagination of the
audience follow. And. for our part, we
would rather see Lydia Lopokova rise
TO her full four feet seven inches on
extended toes than watch two hundred
chorus girls climb 70 the roof Of the
HIppodrome on their rope ladders or
electric lights.
New England is the scene Of "The
Antick" and the play concerns the bios
soming of a nature from its half out
wintered Puritanism." As the old
preacher, eloquently played by Robert
Strange. saws: "The Lord is the
temptor Of life, but our virtues scorn
His allurements." In addition TO Miss
Lopokova and Mr. Strange, splendid
work was done in the play by Holland
Hudson and Josephine A. Meyer.
"Helena's Husband" by Philip Noel
lar. was Internationally the most popu-
lar play on the programme. Gravely
called by it's author ian historical COM
edv." 10 reveals the fact that Helen Of
Tro- was the original Hermione and
that her half-baked mental processes
bored her husband TO death. In fact,
according 20 the playwright, Menelaus
connived at the affair with Paris and
was overioycd 10 find the note from his
wife telling him that she had run away
with her lover. The note, by the way,
began: 81 am not a bad woman"
Unfortunately for the peace loving
Nenelaus, the discovery that Paris is
A prince Of Troy makes the affair inter-
national and forces the spear into his
hant.. The treaty between Sparta and
Troy. as the aged Librarian informs his
majesty, is nothing but scrap of
papyrus. and Sparta, with the aid Of old
Zeus I'd there. cannot fail TO triumph.
The whole thing is done in an ex-
tremely witty manner and with all the
iollity and good spirits Of an under
graduate. 7, is, however. amatcurish IN
nothing but these Astounding high
spirits.
The acting was excellent. Noel Had
don was an extremely coquettish Helen,
Harold Meltzer a handsome Paris and
Frank Conroy best of all as Menelaus.
Might OF Snow" was a fearfully
talky tragedy concerning young man
who could not escape from shameful
heritage. Ralph Roeder translated the
play from the Italian Of Roberto Bracco
and then acted the chief part. lie
stormed through the play az top voice,
and certain passages he fairly sung
Agnes Mccarthy was an engaging
Graziella, and the scene designed By
Karl Schmidt and Robert Lawson was
excellent but the play itself was fear
fully theatrical.
Fire and Water" is comedy of the
wa by Hervey White. Despite d few
good bits, It struck as a rather aimless
affair. Yet IL serves TO give US moral.
Speaking for ourself, the average the
atregoer. We see splendid promise in
the Bandbox Theatre and the Washing,
ton Square Players, If only authors and
actors, speaking collectively, Will keep
their shirt on.