Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-08

- s3atIa rHtsf -7,E ne could turn out
"a a& his 2O00 words n
day without hav-
ing TO stop to sandpaper But the
truth OF the matter probably was that
ne happened TO be on Pegasus that
month. and the old nag was feeling his
oats. The result was a classic, one of
those Juveniles for all ages, In which the
widest impossibilties are not only prob
able but while YOU are under the spell.
actual occurrences. 1t is a curious thing.
by the way, that when the writer's and
publishers OF gunpowdcr books for bovs
today seek to justify their peruicous
activities they always cite Treasure
island in their defense, failing entirely
10 realize that it Is just this careful and
painstakng and artistic probability about
the impossible which keeps the book
wholesome for boys. because It does not
violate the logic of life
Well this best of boys books, this roar
ing tale Of pirate gold, has been turned
into play, a regular old-fashioned pirat-
icai melodrama, and produced by Charles
Hopkins AT his tiny Punch and Judy
Theatre. 1t Is the kind of a play they
used TO put on at Drury Lane and the
old Boston Theatre, and here II is done
today on a stage no bigger than the Bos-
ton Theatre box office Times do change
but the pirates, bless 'em, are eternal!
Be the stage small or large. n pirate is
"A pirate. Besides, it has been many and
htiiS a. year SlIltt Il genuine DuCCaneer
texcept the immortal Hook i'm Peter
PAM has trod the boards. and the pub
lie was doubly ready to welcome Black
Dog. Long John and the rest of that
unholy outfit.
The play was made by Jules Eclsert
Goodman. Curiously enough. he made his
play by following exactly Stevenson's
tory. with only the inevitable condeusa-
ions. and by using, word for word, the
stevensonian dialogue. His play thus
nade, is n dandy-and poor Stevenson
himself could never write a play.
II opens in the Admiral Bcnbow Inn.
night. with Captain Bill Bones waving
lis cutlass and compelling the guests to
ing
Fifteen men on the dead mans chest.
Yo, ho, no. ana bottle Of rum.
This first act, of course is connected en-
lrely with the coming of Black Dog, who
ias his fight with Bin Bones. and then
he coming Of blind Pew (the tap, tap tap
If his STAFF outside being n really un-
canny stage effecD; the presentation to
I'LL of the black spot. and finally of his |
leath and the rescue Of his map OF Treas
IRE Island by the hoy Bill 1t is an act
hook full of the richest kind of melo-
lramatic excitement.
The second act shows the wharf at Brls-
oil. with the Hispaniola moored alongside.
nd introduces that oily ruffian. Long
iohn Silver. and his parrot showing how
long John got around Squire Trelawney
and shipped his cutthroat crew aboard
The third and fourth acts show seven ]
Genes. starting with the mutiny on ship |
oard, when Jim was hiding in the barrel. |
nd ending in Ben Gums cave, where |
he pile of Spanish gold is disclosed. We |
ee the fight in the stockade, we see Jim |
ut the Hispanola adrift. we see the |
discovery of the skeleton and, above all. |
lerhaps, we see that consummate rascal, |
Long John, save the boys hide (and his |
7wn) and win the immunity he so richly !
lidn't deserve. Stevenson loved Long |
lohn. and Mr. Goodman has realized his |
uperlor value also.
But the play would hardly be the sue !
;ess It is, however, If the acting were not
exceptional, Mr.. Hopkins. the producer, |
sFho Is n young man, and one trained at |
Yale rather than on Broadway, has |
neverthe eless given us all n lesson in pre- !
oaredness Knowing he had the kind OF
I play to mount which is seldom acted !
nowadays, he went back a generation, |
almost for his leading players. For in !
stance, Bill Bones Is played by Tim Muir |
ohy. Only once in the present writer's |
memory has Tim Murphy been brought |
to Broadway since his old Hoyt farce |
flays-and that was when Mrs. Fiske had |
aim with her in Mrs. Bumpstead Leigh" |
But Tim Murphy can act, and make no |
mistake about that. His impersonatiOn |
eowardly, horrible and iovable old rascal !
fills the whole stage-or II would, If pres |
emily Pew didn't enter, impersonated by |
Frank Sylvester. Here Is an actor who |
was last seen as the nut" who thought |
he was Napoleon, in the THE Misleading |
Lady" AS Pew he is grim. sinister. |
powerful figure. There is one comical |
pirate, George Merry, and 10. he Is played |
by w. j. Ferguson, who was acting be-
fore the memory OF the oldest theatre
goers began to work.
Long John Silver. with his parrot and
his wooden leg, appears In act two-and
he Is played by Edward Emery. Emery
may not be an old. man, by any means.
but 1t is now nearly a generation ago ,
that Clyde Fitch realized what a fine
actor he was and made much or him
in his plays. while more recently he has
dropped comparatively out OF sight OF |
course. he is an exceptionally able player.
and his impersonation OF Long John is
splendid blend OF oily obsequtousness and |
yelled cruelty. of wIckedness dashed with |
humor and humor spiced with malignity. |
He and Tim Murphy. between them,
would mako any production notable. act /
ing as they do here However, all the /
parts are well played. and all the actors /
lfear into the racy. piratical story with |
Joy and abandon. The scenery is excel |
lent. too. All in all, Treasure Island
Is q rare treat. and deserved success. !
Moreover. 1t is a play the children can go |
to, wlth Just as much pleasure as their |
parents.