The sun., 1918-12-29
Give Somewhat
Historical Plays"
NFR. PHILIP MOELLER has distin-


an experiment in the field of artificial
comedy as an American author has put
to his credit"
Mr. Moeller's Fire Soneukdf Historical
Plays brings together In volume practi-
cally all of Mr. Moeller'S one act plays.
HeIeRd'S Husband. AN Historical Com
edy," is widely known 10 readers of the
drama and habituts OF the best little
theatres. Il Is good lulInored travesty
with a remotely iireek background and
Enthusiastically twentieth century charac-
tiers. Mr.. Moeller ma, here accomplished.
only along the lines q. hisL comedy, what
Hugo Won HotnanrSthal accomplished in
his E1ektrd: tie modernization of an an
cient story. Shaw has been particularly
successful in this field. and his Caesar and
Cleopatra and The NaS Of Destiny we're
very evidently In Mr.. Moeller's mind wien
be wrote.
Dramatists of Shaw's and Mr.. Moeliers
temperament seem TO take particular
pleasure in asking themselves: now, what
was Caesar really like, or Menclaus, or
Napoleon or Louis XIV? Decidedly, they
aanswer, not far different from you and
me- This is a comforting doctrine, and
surely not one TO be easily proved or dis
proved and, most important, it makes
capital comedy.
The Little Supper. a Comedy of La
Grande Mattress" is delightful within
sieality Sisters Of Sasdtagh, "a Biblical
Farce" is a too evident shaft aimed at
the COmstockians: one is always ehuckling
at the appositeness of the dialogue, but
on the whole the play is rather too per
sonal.
The ROdE oa>e IN 4rden. "A Whimsi-
cality,' is notable contribution To tho
fictional material on Shakespeare. The
play can be enjoyed merely as a whimsi
cality. of course, but only the initIlted
can taste the finer subtleties. Bacon and
Shakespeare have come to 4 little road
house, where the two enter into a dispute.
Says William. after a little preliminary
battle % wits:
CIVILIAN
Angels and ministers Of grace defend me.
BE thou spirit of health or goblin OF t:,c
damned
''FRANcI> (>tcpping ont into the room).
Stop quoting me, William.
CIVILIAN. Alas, poor ghost
"FRANCIs. You know perfe'ily well
that no theory of spiritualism has ever
been irrcfutably proved.
"WuLIAM (cnniug forward. That be,
ing 50, all ! can say Is: Oh, that your too.
too solid flesh would melt.
"FRANCIS. i heard you, It's disgrace
full the wa You are treating Mistress
young girl like this.
CIVILIAN. With NY wife have moth
ing to reproach myself with.
>..FRANCTS. Why not?
"WILiItd. IS shrine for memory,
have viilcd her my best bedstead.
"FGANcIs. Is that the way to repay me
for writing half your plays for you?
CIVILIAN. Only in return for nay WIT;
ing most OF your essays.
"FRANoT>. oit. sharper than the SCI
penis tooth.
"WHIrRu Even because you're cx-
cited YOU needn't drvulge our literary Sc
cretS.
"FRAHci> (fum:ng). Thou canst not
but be false TO every man.
civilian. Francis, don't-eyen be-
cause You are angry-doa't misquote me.
"FEANCIs (stoming1. Angry? Nothing
in the world can make me angry. I'm
philosopher. Come, lets search the
house.
This ], excellent fooling, and in Mr.
Moeller's best VEN
Pokeg. or the Bear'if~l Legend Of the
Amoro,,> IpdiaS. "A Cartoon COMEDY"
Is the osIy play Of Mr.. Moeler's on an
American theme. II skaters another Idol
pnrshoutaS Same day Mr. NoaIlar uiu