New-York tribune., 1918-01-24
BY ]. Alexander Pierce

IN spite of the parlous times the
washington Square Players keep up their
famous spirits. Their new programme
dabbles in four kinds Of omedy-satir-
zeal, melodramatic, critical and bur-
lesquc Psychology comes to the fore
IN two of the playlcts. The mysteries
OF mental processes, indeed, and espe-
cially of abnormal processes. are
among the most reliable assets of tho
company
Iho first piece plunged boldly into
tne mysteries Of hen dream, Mabel
who came from Chicago, dreamed that
she was a hen. The Hebrew prophets
would undoubtedly have been at a loss
to account for such vagary, but it
was elucidated with the greatest ease
ey Maoers sister. Mrs. Brewster, a
wished to leave her husband and run
of with young Eggleston. Mabel re-
pudlated the idea warmly, but when
her sister pointed out the obvious re.
lauon between hen and an egg there
was little to do for the time beinr but
accept the probability Of "suppressed
DESIRE"
When the curtain had dropped and
gone up again to show that two weeks
had elapsed, Mabel and her brother
ln-law had apparently been in collu.
SION, Tor they had beautiful new in
terpretation of the hen dream. "Sten
Hen" significd Stephen, that is. R,ew'
ster, and "Hcn" stood for Henrietta
1t only needed the further explanation
that Brewster meant "Be rooster" to
disgust the older sister with her fad.
| Suppressed Desires won its first
fame last year when produced bv the
lrovincetown Players 1t is a legiti
mate satire on the psyche analytical
hocus-pocus, though a mere trne and
ondlng only in a crackle of puns.
Frazer River in the Canadian North
west is the setting of "The Sandbar
Queen Government inspectors appear
to suspect Slim of the low habit of
peddllng booze, but they fail to get
evidence and give place to woman
visitor, the "Qucen" herself. What
the Queen" can want with such a
specimen is the mystery that keeps
everybody interested. Slim is deter
mined to put her out, but she is equal
~ resolved to stay. She may want evil
on the other hand, her intentions NAV
be entirely honorable. Anyhow, the
woman -hater demonstrates finally the
old adagc that there amt no such
animal"
Helen Westley hit off the "Qucen"
IN regal way for those parts. With
auburn locks, frontier garb and plenty
OF reckless DASH she was beyond per-
adventure one of the sightliest sirens
that ever drifted down the Frazer
RIVER. One can scarcely doubt that
somewhere about, for, without disre-
spect to Arthur Hohl. who represented
Flatboat Slim, it would have been un-
usual for lady of her wide expert
ence to lose the last glimmer of rea-
son over a hermit with the manners of
an epileptic wooden horse.
The most serious Jeff fort" of the even
ing was Habit" Here the penchont
for psychology was again manifest.
The keynote lay in the line, "The
habits you can't see are the worst" or
words to that effect. The habits re-
ferred to were possessed by Antoinette
Baxter and Burley, fact that be-
came obvious when they had disposed
of their respective spouses by trivial
errands; but Frances came back most
inopportunely while Buricy and An
toirctte were in each others arms.
The scene was note! roof very
simply and effectively simulated by a
sort of trells affair, with rustic arches
and blue backdrop. a catastrophe
was foreshadowed by reference to the
possibility of fire in the hotel, and so
when an explosion came and the lights
went out the preparation was adequate
for dire doom. The manner of the de-
nouement, however. was a sheer sur
Prise. A ray Of light tinged a con-
vulsed face, showing it in relief like an
agonized mask. The mortal whom it
represented. was confronted by a ggan-
tic figure of death.
One by one the impotent creatures
of habit pleaded vainly for life, urging
their good intentions for the future.
Only the sweet and innocent Frances
welcomed the dark angel. The audi
ence waited with calm but respectful
attention while each mortal held its
grim parley. Then the lights came on.
The guests had only had the scare Of
their lives and returned blithely to
their respective habits.
Clara Tree Major, who was Antoi-
nette in "Habit" and Henrietta in "Sun.
ished and appealing playing in both
pieces that she was a valuable acquisi
tion to the company Marjorie Vonne-
gut found in the same two playlets
roles that were admirably suited to her
natural, charming style. Frederick
Roland, as Antoinette's husband, and
Robert Strange, as Burley, also per-
formed their parts with credit. The
play was reminiscent of the ordeal in
"The Deluge."
AS for "Pokey," or "The Amorous
Indian" it will have to suffice to say
that it was in Mr.. Moeller's happy vein
Of burlesque, and was felicltously exc
cuted in humoristic setting.