The sun., 1919-01-16
LAUGHTER OF GODS
FOLLOWS TWO PLAYS
New Dunsany Work Has Its
American Premiere at Punch
and Judy Theatre.
AN 7 ARTISTIC SUCCESS
Curtain Raiser Written by
Maxwell Parry, Missing L. s.
Filler. Plcases Audience.

The new play oy Lord Dunsany. The
Laughter of the Gods" which had its
American premiere last night at the
Punch and Judy Theatre. proved flaw
less work OF art, worthy Of being placed
on a twin pinnacle with The Gods OF
the Mountain The production further
more was highly capable and artistic
and all of the principal roles were most
satisfactorily interpreted. Two other
plays. "A Night in Avigron,' by Gale
Young Rice. and "Stingy." by Maxwell
Parry, make up the first programme OF
Stuart Walkers Portmanteau Theatre.
incidental music for all three pieces
was written by Herbert f. Hyde. ~
Lord Dunsanys play was the last
The other two are deserving OF less Sc
rious consideration as curtain raisers.
OF these "a Night in Avisnou," mere
episode of tho love OF Francesca Pc
trart a, the Italian poet. and Madonna
Laura. made the slightest impression
upon the audience. George Gaul had the
leading part and Margaret Mower
played opposite him. 1T was in blank
verse and mingled conceits after various
styles, Ellzabethan, pre-Raphaelite and
others less tangible.
Work of Missing Aviator.
"Stingy" was a pantomime of mlser
and his unfortunate daughter. with such
accessory persons "a "A Burglar Who
Isn't" "a Perfect Little Gentleman
and Wonderful Grandma" A line on the
programme told the story Of its author.
Maxwell Parry an American aviator in
France who disappeared July S, 1918.
after having brought down his second
German machine in five days. This little
fable was characterized by excellent act
ing and by the musical accompaniment
which helped to elucdate the narrative
by numerous motifs. Edgar Stehli was
the mser. Elizabeth Black his daugh-
ter and Elizabeth Patterson the grand
mother
The first line of ",rhe Laughter of the
Gods came like breath from the sea.
The curtain rose on the court OF King
Kdrros in the jungle city OF Tick about
the time of the decadence OF Babylon
Inexorabl fate was again the theme OF
the Irish dramatist. The play was di-
vided into three periods. called acts. the
first OF which ended upon chord pre-
monitory OF impending doom. From
then on there was 10 escape for court or
the city OF Thick One might suppose
that denouement SO unequivocally
foresha dowed which became gradually
more and more ineludibie might lessen
interest but on the other hand it had
fascination OF its own
streets IcRd TO n Jungle.
The Court OF King Kd,ros was i'm
patient with his love OF the city OF
Thick which was surrounded by the
enCroaching jungle, and implored him
III vain 10 remove to the beautiful me-
tropoNs OF Bnbul-el-Charnak Three
lords Inchfhdriou. Ludtbrds and Hdr-
pu1as. professed to take delight in the
jungle but their ladies' were inconsol-
able. They walked down the great
street only to find that 1t ended in the
Jungle and they returned TO the palace
with wailing and lamentation There
were 10 shops in which to buy clothes
and Jewels, nobody TO admire them and
no urban pleasures. 1t was 7hnrnltd
who conceived an intrigue to bring
about their desire by haunting her
husband she impelled him 10 make a
priest utter false prophecy that the
oitv would be destroyed II its in
habitants did not fee
The king listened TO the prophecy un-
moved. lie believed the prophet when
he foretold things that were likely to
happen, but the threat that Thick would
be swallowed up left him cynical and
cold For three days flute was heard
playing in the palace, but no man could
find the player. The mad queen who had
long suffered from groundless fears was
at last quieted. She recognized the
omen OF the gods relentless wrath.
At the end OF the third day after the
utterance OF the false prophecy, the city
fell with great crashing and the pal
ace stood roofess under the sky. While
the ruins were still totterlng distant
thunder reyerbersted like the ironic
laughter OF the gods returning to the
hills. Although the play could have
ended In no other way, Duusany was not
without subtle resource at the con-
clusion
George Gaul as Thr-Ioicr- of-the-
Gods carried an authority and conviction
that was worthy OF one Of the ancient
Hebrew prophets. The other leading
piaAeIS we're comMeudable especially
Mckay Morris az the King. Margaret
Mower as the Queen, and Elizabeth Pat
terson az Thnrmh. Miss Pattevsons
playing in both OF the pieces in which
she appeared was delightful There
were twenty-three in The Laughter OF
the Gods" to say nothing OF the acolytes
and women.
ORITIARIES