New-York tribune., 1920-02-18

Saptoln DIXON. Charles Francis
The Constable. John Smith
Masefeld's grim little tragedy of life
in the north of England was given here
some years ago with Miss Constance
Collier in the title role. Miss Alexan-
dra Carlisle, who has played the part
at special matinees on the road. notably
IN Boston, was seen in New York for
the first time as Nan yesterday after
noon at the Thirty ninth Street Thea
ter.
The play belongs to the literary thea
ter. When Masefield was last in Anne r.
lea he said that he wrote it as a change
from his sea stories. Certainly great
gifts as dramatist were latent within
him, for "Nan" has the dignity and
tenseness of Greek tragedy. Further
more, he has given lines to the lovers
that recall the poetry of those in
Synge's "Playboy." The story of a mis-
carriage of justice and the girls dis
| illusionment is simply told. Mans
father was hanged-or, as the dale ct
of the play has it, 'oong"-for sheep
stealing. But he was innocent. Years
after his execution officers of the law
tell his daughter of the confession
made by the real thief and seek to com
tort her with gift Of $50 from the
government.
Meanwhile she has been taken into
the household of her uncle. William
Pargetter. The Pargetters, father
mother and daughter, are incredibly
unpleasant persons. They make a
household drudge of her and taunt her
continually with her fathers supposed
crime. Mrs. Pargetter, too, is Jealous
of Mans suitors, fearing that the
thlef's daughter will stand in the way
of her daughter Jenny's happiness.
Jenny, spiteful little hussy, worms
out a confession from Nan of her love
for Dick Gurvil. Already pledged to
Nan, he changes his mind when Mrs
Pargetter tells him her origin and
adds that his father is to take him
into partnership and give him a hand
some present on the day that he
marries Jenny. But with Mans father
cleared of the charge and the prospect
of sharing the $50, matters look differ
emit He would like to turn back to
Nan. But she stabs him and throws
herself into the sea.
lhe least absorbing character Of the
play is old CATER Pearce He is "awav
in the mind" prattles too much about
his dead wife. his white flower" and
is generally good deal of a bore. But
ne has his use, for, as Cutie John in
John Ferguson" suggests the murder
OF Jimmie Caesar to young Andrew. CAT
fer suggests to Nan the thought of
committing suicide.
There is another minor defect in 2
great play. The tragic force of Mans
act in killing the young triher with
her affections is weakened because she
IS not permitted by the playwright to
40 so from purely personal motives,
but made to cloak her deed with the
moral purpose of ridding the world of
philanderer who might make other
women suffer Now. protection in such
matters is mistaken kindness. The
sooner young women face the facts
about sex and abandon the foolish no
tlons of romance as conceived by the
average novelist the happier they are
Unquestionably the finest perform.
ance Of Man" in this country was giver
| by Miss Horniman's company from
Manchester, when Milton Rosmel
played Dick, and his wife, Miss lrenc
Rookie, was Nan. Miss Rookie hac
wonderful voice, an irresistible per
sonality, real tragic force Unfortu-
nately these players did not visit New
York.
Miss Carlisle made her most poign-
ant appeal as the drudge, the victim
Of the dreadful Pargetters. She was
not seductive in appearance and her
scenes of passion were febrile. She
was successful chiefly in suggesting the
girls starved affections, her loneliness
Mr.. Merivale is a most attractive
scoundrel who wooed in the convincing
manner of cavemen. Mr.. Ashford and
Miss Hughes were excellent as the Par
getters, and Miss Noyes gave valuable
support as Jenny. Mr.. Harwood as
CATER Pearce and others in minor roles
gave effective support in an interesting
perfOrmance