The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-05

auctions. as many OF his colleagues DO.
He keeps in touch with the advance
Of the theatre. He sees young actors
and new plays and thus keeps in touch
with every form Of theatrical progress.
Else no might never have known
that Miss Taylor in "Pes O My Heart"
had much Of her fun with her dilapi-
dated dog. Michael. Miss Ulrich has
some Of the low comedy genius of her
model or at least she has q substitute
for It. So Mr.. Beiasco supplied her
with q kitten. Her fondling OF the
animal occupies a considerable part of
tho second act 1t Is q most insratiat-
ing episode. human. gentle and anus
ing performance. 1t a scarcely be
said that Miss Clrich. with the kitten
which sho christens "Mr. John" ac-
complishes Is much for the play as
Miss Taylor did with Michael. But
Mr.. Belasco has devised a scene which
shows her in a most attractive light.
Mr.. Beiasco has proven his Skill In
treating tho Indian as n stage type be-
fore this. In 1.-THE Girl ] Left Behind
Me-" and in "The Girl OF the Golden
West" lie treated red men with the
same picturesqueness and imagination.
Usually the Indian Is an unspeakable
and grunting bore on the stage. He is
as unconvincing a. he is ludicrous. But
the Belasco Indian Is not Of the to-
bacco shop type. He is real. Then
there Is never too much OF him. which
is. after all. the possible reason Of his
greater FEASIBILITY. In 1.-THE Heart OF
wetona' he Is. excepting in the case
of the chief. so admirably played BY
! William C~ourtleigh. but a decorative
detail.
The Stage Society has ended its sea-
son after three productions which In
| dictated no particular excuse for the
trouble that had been taken with
them. Certainly nobody but Augustus
| Thomas could have found the perform
ance Of his old play 1.-THE Sou! Ma
chine" worth while. 1t must have
amused the author, who was thus able
to enjoy with so little trouble the op-
~portunity Of a tryout. But toward ac'
complishing the purposes OF q stage
society, there seems less progress
made. Was there nothing more worthy
the efforts and money Of the society
than Henry .Adams's drama Of middle
West domestic life? That Mario Tenn
pest kindly called tho attention Of thu
society to the work Is scarcely suni'
cicnt excuse for its performance. Tht
society is supposed to have its owl
readers, who might find a score 81
works more interesting than thos'
which were selected. Perhaps OF th'
three. Strindberg's Easter" was thu
most deserving the honor OF a per
Torrance.
There are great opportunities fol
The work Of such q society in thu
United States. OF course there are
not classics such as Maseleld's Nan
TO be found every day. nor arc there
many pieces OF Continental origin a
piouant as Countess Fritz!e." whicl
was 80 DELIGHTFULLY."- played at n o
the earlier meetings. Torrence's VOC
doc play was remarkably fine as
contribution from native writers
Those were indeed plays we'll worti
while aud so was Stanley Houghton'
study OF a marriage in middle clas
English life.
The offerings Of tho season whicl
has Just ended. however. werc no
Of a character to make the. effort
OF the Stage SoNety seem OF an,
vitality In imparting to tho America
theatre the qualities OF which t stand
most in need, Maybe another sea
son will bring increased intellectual &C
tiyity to the organization, wh!cl
scarcely seems to have served any i'm
portant purpose this season.
The Theatre Francois, which ha
had some competent actors this yea
and has produced many interestin
plays, will now have ample funds !
itx control through the generosity G
the gentlemen who aavs formed 4