New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-04
Washington Square Players
Present an American
Programme

the Comedy Theatre the Washington
Square Players presented one OF the
most interesting entertainments they
have offered. An Of the pieces have
American settings and are Of American
authorship. The curtain raiser was
iona Gales "Ncighbors.' which was
first given in New York few weeks
ago by the Wisconsin Players Mt the
Ncighborhood Playhouse, in Grahd
Street. The two succeeding NUMBERS
have more dramatic intensity, the one
falling in the Shavian category OF I'M
pleasant plays and the other pelng
deeply sOmbTe, but both were warm!
approved Finally, there is an aito-
gether delightful pantomme to dismiss
the audience.
"Neiphbors" is somewhat static
study OF rural life which has for its
theme the universally Of the milk Of
human kindness. In spite of the emphs-
sis that is laid upon the queerness ol
folks, and secondarily upon the ~
eptitude Of rustic lovers, tins niue
world is made all akin by the sorrow OF
one Of its members. The play dld not
seem so well suited 10 the capacities
Of the Washington Square Players as
to the company that brought IT from
Wisconsin. The explanation Tor this
may be that they do not know rustic
American life from personal eXper!-
ence. The acting was somewhat anna
flourish. and seemed TO be based on
conventional ideas of country folk.
The second play, "The Critics Com
cdy," by Samuel Kaplan, has originality
and cleverness. II reverses inc oId
situation of an elderly lover and heart
less young coquette, placing the man III
the role Of cherished but inconstant
butterfly. The curtain rises on bou-
doir in some disarray. The footboard
OF The bed conceals its occupant, or oc-
cupants. from view. though uneasy STIR
ring indicate that it is tenanted. Inc
suspense is not greatly prolonged, TOT
the single occupant sits up presently
and reveals herself as Adele Norman,
a newspaper critic, portrayed by Helen
Wesley.
The critic rings for a stenographfer
and begins to dictate review as giloly
as IL She had prepared it all IN her
sleep She praises the performance OF
a play that bored her. and is charging
mon the talent of the leading actor
when that parsonage is announced as
= visitor. She receives him, and Is
attending to his claims for praise when
her husband enters abruptly and Gre
ates a scene. When the crisis has
PASSED, and the actor with It, Adele
confesses that she planned the sltua-
ton TO test her husbands love. She is
satisfied and gives him the money he
desires. Only after his departure does
she learn from the stenographer That
he and the theSpian were play-acting
also 20 impose upon her. As she at
temCts to 90 on with her work she
breaks into tears.
The most ambitious play was Theo-
dore Dreiser's "The Girl in the Coffin
In "A dmlv lighted room in the home Of
William Magnet, foreman of loom
workers, three women tell the details
of tragedy, the suicide of the work
mans daughter. Representatives OF
striking mill hands come to urge Mag
net to use his influence toward the sue
cess of the strike, but he insists upon
being left alone with his grief. As he
sits alone. consumed by his desire to
learn the identity of his girls betrayer,
John Ferguson, strike leader, enters
TO demonstrate with him for not adj
dressing the men. In his opinion "a
girl cannot be wronged by the man she
loves. There's no such thing"
The expectation is aroused that
Magnet will learn through Ferguson
who his daughters lover was, and will
be melted by the knowledge to
harangue strikers. Instead of this,
Ferguson tells of grief of mis- own,
the death of the woman he loved. From
this point in his long speech, which
concludes the play, the interest lags.
Ferguson finally prevails upon Magnet
to 20 to the meeting. He remains be-
hind. and as he is about 70 approach
the bier at the back of the room the
old serving woman enters and gives
him keepsake from the girl. So il
appears that the strike had nothing 70
do with the play, after all. The pur-
pose would have been served as well
perhaps better, if Magnet had gone
into the other room. The atmosphere
and novelty were effective, and the
audience applauded this play the most
heartily of any.
The charm of "Yum Chspab," mean
ing MY Lord the Dwarf" "a pantomime
purDorting to reveal native legends of
ancient Nucatan, resides in its scenic
attractions CAV grOtesqueness and gen
, cral flavor of Dunsanity. Appreciation
, is much heightened by perusal of the
legend printed in the programme. but
there is nothing too deep for the mere
mummery TO convey to the ordinary in
/ telligence. yum Chapab" is an un-
pualifipd inv y