New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-13
ruE cAsr Oh AlAGL.
By HAYWOOD BROUN

Magic IS the eloquent expression o.
d revolt against the matcrialistic con
ception Of the universe. Il finds won
ders in the world which may not be eX-
planned as so many intricate little con-
spiracies Of hydrogen, oxygen and car
bon. Tell a man that there are
streptococci in his tonsils and he viii
believe readily enough, but tell him
that there ere elves in a moon-swept
meadow and ne viii reserve acceptance
until he has seen them.
Somehow or other scientific dogma
always seems more acceptable than re-
lisious dogma. II is easier 70 convince
people that they are descended from
monkeys than that they are descended
from God. As a matter Of fact, al
though Darwin may be wrong about the
world in general, there can be no ques-
ton that the behavior OF last nights
audience at the Maxine Elliott Theatre
counts for him. II was an ill-msn-
nered assemblsge, which sniekered at
the wrong moments when It wasn't
sneezing.
Gilbert X. Chestertou makes plea
for things that are beautiful, as against
things that are. Doubt. ne says, can
be a madness, as well as faith, or, as
the eonjurer puts it, There is no bigot
like the atheist
The playwright has arranged that ms
side shall have somewhat the better o.
the encounter. The case for material
ISM is presented not in the person or
scientist. but in raw boy who is hlIed
with no more than the catchwords OF
science. This eager little atheist, VINO
declares that all the miracles OF MS
tory sre matters Of lust a panel and
wires" comes in conflict with the con-
iurer. And the conjurer, sorely tempt
ed. astOunds him by three amazing
tricks The first two startle the boy,
but when the red lamp above the doc.
tors door turns blue at the bidding OF
the man Of magic the boy IS thrown
into a mental collapse.
l. becomes necessary that he shall
have an explanation for the last trick
or 20 mad. The doctor, the minister
and the duke all urge the conJurer 20
tell how he did his trick. He cannot
give them an explanation. u was Just
magic. and that's all there 10 TO H.
Finally. 20 save the boy he invents a
rational lie. which serves better than
the truth. By saving the boy he wins
his sister. and so the fairy tale comes
TO an end in the only way Iairy V"!e
can end-it comes true.
The comedy is Chesterton's only IN
vasion of the stage. Shaw, IN tact, mas
referred to 10 as "Fatty's First Play.
Il is not particularly deft from tech
nicaI standpoint. but its beauty OF line,
ia striking imagery and tire power ana
force Of the big scene all serve 20 MAKE
II one of the most notable plays OF re-
cent years.
q. p. Heggie played the conJurer very
vol indeed. He enhanced the eioquence
~ the character BY his delivery and
was not above getting the full value o.
numerous humorous side thrusta WIZ
out sacrificing the a.ootness ana dlg-
nitv which must surround the con- Juror
II he fell short in any respect OF tne
ideal actor for the part, lt was only IN
that moment when the author directs
that the conjurer shall do WhateVeI
passionate things people 90 on inc
stage - AZ,
Cathleen Nesbitt never played with
such charm as last night. In other per
fcrmances she has seemed a little
harsh, but there was no hint OF TINS
c-ossness in her voice last night. she
was an admirably enticing heroine
Frank Conroy did nicely as the minis
ter. but Thomas Louden was not alto
cether satisfactory as the doctor, ana
we were distinctly disappointed IN the
duke. We are by no means certain
hat this WIS the fault Of Wallace
Erskine. who played the part, but we
are inclined 20 think so.
The character seems rich on the
rrinted page. for the duke is a hazy
old dufTer Who has picked up a NUMBER
Of phrases concerning various move
ments without having the least idea
what they mean. Thus we find him eN-
claiming concerning the new puDhc
house: "Very good work. Very GOOD
work. indeed. Art for the people en-
particularly liked that woodwork over
the west door-I'm glad 70 see you re
usins the new sort OF granting 10
ali reminds one OF the French Revolu-
ton" An amazed silence follows.
Magic" is rich in humor. there IS
for instance. the delightful confession
OF the conjurer: Il don't know whetheF
vou realize that It's rather q strain on
a man 20. drink bad coffee at coree
tail when he knows he has just enough
magic in him 20 make a bottle OF cham
ragne walk out OF an empty shop.
But the play as a whole is serious IN
purpose. which seemed 10 puzzle
number OF persons last night. In fact
in our capacity as reporter as well as
critic. il is fair 20 say that the play dld
not greatly interest the audience. his
fault We are sure lay largely with the
audience. but not entirely. Magic,
although admirably acted, and, by the
wav we forgot 20 mention that Donald
Gailaher played the boy with me
shirt. is not very well produced. The
setting matters little, but i need not
be so atrocious. Moreover, the ever so
imrortau. red lamp cannot be seen
from some seats In the orchestra IN
eycusably long intervals between the
acts are also annoying. Nor can we ap-
rrove Of the radical cutting IN the sec
end act.
However. such comment is petty ID
the face of the fact that great play
was admirably acted az the Maxine IL
lott Theatre last night. -.,
magic" is preceded BY The Little
Man" a somewhat difuse one-set play
by Galsworthy.
The new bill Of one-act plays az the
Comedy Theatre by The Washington
square Players VIII be reviewed 10
Wednesdays Tribune.
Amsterdam Ave. Car Runs Away
A northbound Amsterdam Avenue car
got beyond the control Of the motorman
n, l23d Street last night, ignored the