New-York tribune., 1919-03-18
Drama
'Moliere" at the Liberty Has
Warm Welcome From
Audience
By Haywood Broun

Philip Moeller has struck full ro-
mantle note in his new play, "Moclpiere
Whlch vsI was produced at the Liberty
theatre last. night. The play is in a
spirit radically different from the au-
NOR. NOR other excursions into history
.helenas Husband" "Pokey" and all
the rest of the short pieces were sheer
burlesque, while "Madame Sand" was
perhaps satirical burlesque. Of course,
potn nurlesque and satire are general
~ foreign to the romantic mood 1t is
dlmcult for an author to laugh at his
nero and exalt him at the same time.
In the new play Moeller is chiefly CON
cerned with Molliere, the hero. The
only trouble with this method of treat
ment lies IN the fact that great com
eo!an appears as man practically de-
,'o vo'o Oh humor. This is due in part to
the playing of Henry Miller. but more
largely in the writing.
we are not inclined to cite this as 3
lault. Moeller is under no bond to
present historically accurate Moliere
Inc hgure set before the audience last
nlght is interesting and appealing, and
tnls is ever so much more important
tnan truthfulness. In fact, the roman
.lc mood is largely passionate pro
test against truth. 1t is an attempt to
nh1 world more active. more heroic
% ano more interesting than the one in
winch we live. From the ferventlv ex-
pressed approval of the audience last
Inlght; there is every evidence that the
New York public is ready to turn back
10 days before life became tro1,spred
creased and drab. ~
"Molllere" is frankly artificial. which
Is as it should be. There is Just the
proper spice of bombast in the talk
OF an the folk; In fact the finest mo-
ment IN the play comes in the second
act when Miller is allowed to get two
hands around the throat of long speech
and throttle it. This is the heroic
moment of the play when Molliere de-
hes the favor of his king and dedicates
ms work to France.
VI the players Miss Blanche Bates
IS by far the most skilful in attai1linr
the proper sweep and fire which vivi-
mes school of acting not often seen
on our stage in this day. Her per-
1ormance is superb not only in its top
waves but in more restrained and sub
Tie moments. 1t was largely to her
credit that the exciting and stirring
second act won the audience so com
pletely last night.
Inc performance of Henry Miller was
also good, but hardly as consistent. He
was admirable in depicting the death of
Mollere in the last act, but less eff
fectlve in the defiance scene. Here we
felt lack of force and were certain of
a lack OIL clear enunciation
1t is an admirable death scene after
final picture of the play is one of the
worthwhile memories of the theatre.
And yet we feel that there is one con-
dltlon of the modern world which
handicaps romantic drama. As Moliere
lay dying and the little group about
leaned forward for his words, motor
horn after horn from the outside world
ripped into the atmosphere of the
scene.
This is unfortunate. 1t can be rene
died There should be an ordinance
forbidding all such auto signals in
the theatrical district from the hour
of $3.50 to 1880. A few pedestrians
might be killed, but this seems to us
q. sacrifice which most be of would be
willing to make for the American
drama. After all, there are so many
people and SO few good plays
Holbrook Blinn would seem hardly
the type to be cast for the foppish
Louis XIV, and yet he gave an admira-
Bile performance. His neck is too short
and too thick for that of king, but
probably nothing can be done about
that now. The long necks of kings
have been one of the prime factors in
the spread of democracy. Regicides
invariably report that their job was
easy.
Estelle Winwood is picturesque
Armande in the play, little more
satisfactory to the eye than to the
ear perhaps, but still successful in
her part. The supporting roles are
adequately played but the piece rests
almost entirely on the shoulders of
the distinguished quartette men
toned
The plot of the play is simple and
essentially dramatic. After rather
slow opening the story of how Mollierc
lost the love of his wife and the favor
of the king and how he regained them
on the eve of his death is told in
thrilling fashion.
More extended consideration of the
play will be reserved for next Sunday
There is only time now to say that
"Molliere brings back to the theatre
gesture, a mood, and a manner
which has been lacking. And more
than that it has been missed
Moliere's ''Le Misanthrope'
Given at French Theatre