Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-04-06
Novelties Mark
Current Dramas
French Themes Taken for
T'aCo Popular Plays
IN Gotham.
BY ZAYDA GLOVER.

; NEW YORK. April 1.-Two distinct
. novelties i: ;:~a:a. mark the current
Metropolitan play bills Both Of them
arc French in subject. Both of them
are unusual in treatment. Eoth OF
them are powerfully presented, Sell
dom has the New York stage had two
simultaneous productions with SO much
fof originality in construction and so
One OF these novelties is Phillip
Moeilcr's ;Molicre.'' The other is
The Honor Of the family" The for
before. Blu, both are running neck
and neck in popularity
Moeller has tempered with the facts
o. biography in constructing his strik-
Ing picture OF the best French drama
It's: az the seventeenth century Tie
has introduced incidents III his play
that are without FONDA ion in his
tory. But dramatic license can well
be ald 10 offer poioey for scenes that
round round out his stirring; II theatrical,
Htor OF comedy has been accorded a
place but little below the standard OF
our own tclovod Will Shakespeare
Critics Find Some Fault.
Critics are finding fault with the in
PRODUCTION OF scene in which Moliere.
in eloquent language. denounces the
Grand Louis. But Moeller's f:ieuis
eU 3s 10 eject siif i The ~ "srea; sSene.
and that the current condemnation Of
kingly autocrats adds plausini!it% TO
nigh: NO. have happened.
i:u: the players rather than the sui
JSct ihaEc tho play so remarkable as
ito set it down as one Of the seasons
Miller. arts, that he is in Stacecraf;
has probably done nothing 50 weii as
characterization of the GiideA Mo;ere.
He has made Of /; study 'hut shows
"a, rare insisht and /" genuine sense
a &, F
OF the great dramat!st ,hat Is both his
lorically Illuminating and genuinely
those two sterling performers, Blanyae
Bates and Holbrook Elinn, who msst
Se'iShi IN dclincatin2 TWO out stdNdiaG
historical characters Madame !I.p-
tospan and King Louis-in place of jhe
tanciful and incoherent ninccmpcopish
charactSrs into whom tneN have oe-
.asionaliy been called on 10 stt,.ntpt
"a throw some semblancc o: life and
reality.
skinner Again lit.
Otis skinner sterling actor THAT hc
/ IS. with record OF remarkable CT, u
lions that easily cntitle him to u fore
stars. has done nothing better than
his portrayal Of the swasssrinG Col
oncl Philippe Erdcau in The Honor
d.nces that crowd the G Git%S" IL GS
must bring cheer to the heart OF AN
actor who has created as many strtk-
ms portraits as any man in CouteM-
porary theatrical annals.
While The Honor OF the Fu ally"
is really Il revival. il has all the an
peal OF new and successful play.
. Mr. SINNERS art seemingly never
wcar,cs. never ceases developing.
From play to play. and from scene
10 scene. hc goes on showing us an
array OF unique. Original characters
striking. picturesque and dramatic
characters that in the case Of a man
o; less ability might we'll descend 10
mere puppets OF baldcrdash. Hut
:. Skinner portrayS no character tiar
; docs no, seem to breathe Iifc. rIis
: knowledge Of dramatic effects appe,
;, ~ times uncanny. Seen in naturally
= appellant roles. he interests he en-.
), ;Gr'ains, he cnthrallS
= New Comedy Drama.
~ lint in none Of his long list Of roles
has he given US such "a carefully
rounded out. such On arts,icaliy dc.
Nv!oped, such a moving characterize
ZION as this ColcIel Br!deav. The
.@mc o: many an actor Nigh, wei