New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-07
Willow Tree" Needs Prun-
ing, But 1t Is a Play
of Great Charm
BY HAYWOOD BROUN

IL takes an axe TO fell "Ihe Willow
Tree" but there is still need of chop
ping. If the new play which was pro-
duced at the Conan g. Harris Theatre
last night maintained throughout the
charm of the first two acts it might
linger until . a. m, till 8, till 4, even
till bedtime, for all we should care.
The cutting is needed not because the
play ran almost until midnight, but
because much Of the final act is dull
and needless. There is. fortunately,
a splendid rally at the end.
Perhaps it is captious to complain at
being bored little when one has been
entertained during the greater part Of
the evening, but the charm of the play
is inevitable and the dull spots are
spurious. The play is rich in magma
ton and whimsy and richer still IN
Fay Banter. This actress. who stayed
bit in Arms and the Girl" is back
again and playing better than ever. Her
performance of the Japanese girl IN
THE Willow Tree" is one of the best
should the review proceed without pay
ing immediate tribute 10 the fine work
of Shelley Hull. The team work be
tween actor and actress is delightful.
II seemed TO US that their love making
was just about all IL should be.
Everybody in Japan knows that II
you put mirror upon the breast OF
an image the woman of wood or stone
Will gan a soul and come TO life. Ed
ward hamilton does not know. but he
tries after the old image maker has
told him the legend of ltumodo and
the Princess. His Galatea is a geisha
who charms his heart and soul. lie
gives her the world, and she accepts
il and loves il because il is his world.
The lovers forget the legend of ltu-
modo IN their JOY, and we must confess
that the audience quite possibly may
also forget il. for the final twist Of
fortune il not foreshadowed as def
nitely as drama demands.
According TO the legend, when
enemies came against Nippon Itumodo
was summoned to fight for Japan, but
he refused because he would not aban-
don his princess The Princess of the
Willow Tree. more strong than he,
commanded that the tree which gave
her life should be cut down, and when
the tree fell ltumodo turned 20 find
that where his love had stood there
was now nothing but green willow
branch. And so he went home and won
honor and fame as "a victorious general
Just so the news OF the Great War,
which leaves nothing neutral nova
days. creeps into the life of Hamilton
and his love. He too, refuses TO heed
the call of service. and the princess,
like the other one OF the legend, has
the tree cut down and dies to save the
honor of her lord.
This simple plot is complicated by
the fact that Edward Hamilton also
loves an English girl. who has perhaps
in her something Of the soul Of his
princess. At any rate. the two women
look strangely alike, and Fay Banter
plays both parts. This necessitates
much legerdemain while Miss Banter
changes places with a wax dummy and
breaks all records for changing cos
tunes. Some of the substitutions are
dramatic, but some seem rather heavy
sleight of hand.
The best magic is the acting of Fay
Banter. This young player out Of the
stock in the sticks seems able 20 do
everything. The business of being cute
is dangerous work. Women who try
and fail are often hung, but the naivete
of Miss Banter will never bring her
into danger Only in the opening Of
the third act did her work pail, and
here We believe the playwrights are
chiefly at fault.
This reminds us that we have not yet
mentioned these estimable gentlemen.
They are Benrimo, who was one of the
creators OF 1.-THE Yellow Jacket" and
Harrison Rhodes. The present play
has little of the literary quality which
occasionally is present in the Chinese
story. 1.-THE Willow Tree" is perhaps
shade more sophisticated. Occasion
ally we think the sophistication mars
the mood. Perhaps it was not possible
10 keep the Great War out of the story,