New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-04

THE CAST
lanes How .-......... Henry Stephenson
Walter How .......... ... Charles Francis
Robert Cokesou. Observation-Disclosures. O. J.. Hsgge
Nl' lam fdider ...... John Baryr =
~seedie. Cecil Glove "
Wisfer . ............ = Cecil Butler
tONIcY " alison Nhte
NJ Justice F'0vd Observation-Disclosures. Wallis CLARK
Harold Cesyef ................ Thomas Louden
Hector PRONE ............ Lister lOnergan
captain Dausou. Y. C.............. Rupert Harvey
The Rev Hugh Miller ............. Walter Ger
Edward teuclS ..........-. John : obnen
WoOder Ashton Tor gs
Mo4usy ......... Charles Dodsworih
Itllpou. ....... Waiter Melvin
O'Cleary Observation-Disclosures Warren T. HI
A stark, realistic and deeply impress
sive tragcdy-a play that is always
dramatic without ever being theatrical
that is John Galsworthy's Justice"
Written simply and with tremendous
sincerity, ssvoring Of grim truth and
never OF the stage, it is play that de-
ponds for its effect upon the simplicity
and sincerity Of its presentation. The
production that was seen last night at
the Gambler Theatre-the first produc-
ton OF the play in America-was i'm
pressive because il struck this note Of
truth. " it occasionally embodied de-
tails which might have been ordered
differently, if here and there it might
have been a shade more effective, II
was nevertheless on plane far above
the average in this day and age-a fine
production Of q singularly fine play.
Void of the theatrical except that
aJvc.fran HpnlC-s
the passage Of man through the re-
lentless machinery Of the law. Oals-
uor,hv makes no attempt 20 temporlze
with either William Fslder Is a
guilty man. a man who, under the law
merits conviction and imprisonment
He has confessed his guilt, and the law
cannot take account OF the fact that ne
* q person Of nervous and highly SEN
sitive disposition. Either he was IN
sane at the time Of the crime or ne
was not: if the former he will be con-
fned in an asylum, and If the latter IN
prison. There is no middle way.
Similarly, the law can see only the
prospect Of the prisoner immoral re
lations with the married woman lot
whom he stole. This, of course. makes
his crime the more serious. mat Ihe
woman was maltreated by bruta! nus
band. that between her and the prisoner
there existed only great and honest
love-this, too. is a distinction that the
law cannot be expected 10 grasp. Inc
iudge. being but an instrument OF JUS
tice, can do no more than administer
the law.
Within the prison walls there Is the
same disregard OF the human equation
1t is a fact that Falder, IN solitary CON
fnement. is obsessed by countless hor-
L. hn+ tho YpcOr0C
of the prison doctor show That ne mas
not lost weight. Furthermore, II the
doctor recommended less restricted con-
fnement for Falder he would be com
neled to recommend it for al least IA
dozen others deserving, all OF them
The prison governor is far from hard
hearted. He wants TO do everything IN
MS power for the prisoners, but
As might have been expected, TINS
plav exerted Il tremendous social m
Auence in England. II is SAID tha'
prison reform followed II wherever IL
was produced. II is bit unlikely that
its influence on this side OF the water
will DO As great. for the simple reason
that this country is already awake 10
the necessity Of such reform. But u IS
possible that u will accelerate any
action that NAV now be under way
In the present production the play
reaches IT'S tragic height in the second
act The sight OF the prisoner IN his
cell produced a fair effect OF horror
but the obvious faculties in the way
of staging such scene mitigated
against il. The trial scene OF Act II,
however. was magnificent probably tne
most superbly impressive act ever seen
in New York. Certainly no tngllsh
trial scene has ever held an American
audience in the way that this scene
held the audience last night. Nowhere
in the play is the utter absence OF the
theatrical more vividly evident.
In staging this picture p. lden Payne
has had recourse 10 several excellent
exnedients to heighten the effect-and
has also used one which detracts. The
Icasnal manner in which attendants and
visitors stroll in and out. thus empha-
sizing the fact that this administra-
ton Of Justice is all a matter OF the
DAVIS business. is excellent. Even bet
Ter ia the manipulation of the green
shaded lights on the various desks 'he
at time these were turned on more
and more light as justice rolled on ana
truth triumphed. Nj. Payne error ~
this scene was the spotlight that
nlsved on the face OF the prisoner an
unfortunate theatrical touch IN scene
tithesis Of theatrical.
John Barrymore although not Ideally
fitted to the role, gave IN the charae-
Tor Of Falder the finest performance
Of his career. With only the absence
Of his mustache TO aid him. he sue.
ceedcd in completely losing the old ana
familiar Jack Barrymore In keeping
with the spirit OF the play, he accom-
plished his effects with an excellent
restraint. In his recital 10 Cokeson'
i'm the last act. he projected all the
horror Of his experience without ever
r.sorting to obvious methods.
Cokeson. the chief clerk. WAS IN me
hands OF o. p. HeggIe, the never 70
bc-forcotten Androcles. Mr.. Heggle
was thoroughly satisfactory IN part
,,bich. though important. is not dim
eult 10 play. Such humor as the play
contains IS vested in Cokeson. II IS n
bitterly ironical humor inserted NOT
for its own sake, but because IL IS OF
great aid In pointing the tragedy ~
takes the form, for example. OF Coke
sons whimsical protest that an TINS
excitement about the arrest OF raider
has taken away his appetite Tor iunGn.
Henry Stephenson. looking ana Talk
ing "A great deal like Montagu Love
rave a lne performance OF the senior
mariner. Lester Lonersan was m eN-
cellent Young advocate and won the
greatest applause Of the evening oy
.hc manner in which he delivered the
long speech in defence OF talder. tath-
leon Nesbitt, playing Ruth Honcywill'
1.-The only feminine character IN the play
reycr WAS completely in the picture.
70 n