New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-27

combinations sufficiently interesting 70
induce the audience 70 let life 90 hang
for two hours and a quarter.
Mr. Harcourt foes not ask much ma
terial for his play. "Give me- he
might say. "a m ddle-aged husband. a
young and beautiful wife, handsome
man and 100000 francs and ! will tell
YOU a story which shall hold you spell
bound" he keeps his promise. ne
Intruder devours attention. There's a
thrill and tingle TO the triangle yet I
only you know how TO use the blessed
device.
The play is unfolded with a clarity
which would make IL unfair 20 tell us
story sloppily and hastily here. Let u
suffice that the lover o. the wife IS
placed in a position where he must adj
NIT his relations with the woman OF
shoulder the blame for robbery
Audiences have always demanded tna'
a gentleman 10 such. a predlcamen-
should sacrifice himself. and he does
A somewhat belated softenlng by the
husband gives him freedom. Inc
kappv ending does not quite belong 20
The plav. but since Mr. Harcourt r.
dealing with an entirely theatrical
product he may do well enough 20 yleld
10 the tradition Of the theatre in this,
too.
There is one structural defect in ad-
dition 20 the somewhat 20 be questioned
ending. The incident which overwhelm
the lover is the fact that MS parting 20
the wife al a. m. IS heard by a burg
lar. hidden behind the porueres OF me
apartment. The thief turns up sud
denly in the second act and blackmaiIs
The lover Mr. Harcourt has CHOSEN
10 make the thief a suave and numor-
ous figure. The part ls eXcelleutly
PLAYED By II. Cooper Clitfe. and the au-
dience liked the humorous lnteriude-
but we think the shift IN mood s a
mistake. The play ia told for tnrIl
and the breathing spell OF laugn.er
rather lessons the tension which ne
Intruder" demands for success.
The author Of The Intruder is
also the author Of a Pair Of six
Stockings" but he has wisely and De
Lberately made no attempt 20 "Il-e
good lines. He has chosen instead 20
write good dialogue. This SOUNDS ilhe
dramatic composition course stun
We'll. IL is: but it's true just the sam e.
We defv anybody who mas rea! teel-
inc for the theatrical 20 watch ne
Intruder" and come away WIN q
realization Of the fact that much OIL
the dialogue Is fiat, bald and witnou.
frils of any sort The man VINO
tbrills will be TOO much interested III
observing what is happening TO me
people Of the play 70 let his ear S eN-
More the lines more than superhcla4ly'
The character drawing Of the play -
sunerScial. naturally enough. ms Is
, virtue and not defect. Wnen you
lave a theatrical play you don't want
real people 70 tramp mud all through
/. therefore there are no very neaFg
demands on the actors. But the piece
is well plaved lust the same, though II
i surely actor proof. Frank hemole
Cooner as the husband is best. Vernon
steel as the lover IS something more
than adequate. and Olive Tell does
Good work az the wife. The play Is not
Injured A bit By the fact that she Is
one Of the most beautiful women on
the American stage. co.. e..
We like 20 see life sliced up loL
stage purposes, but they're not DONG
i his season. Far preferable TO the
combinations OF one-eighth lie ana
seven-eighths theatre IS thls play
which is all theatre. Anybody VINO
has ever written a play or ever IN,
tends % should see THE Intruder.
Just so long as the drama depehus Oh
tricks it IS enjoyable TO nave 'hem
done well.