The New York herald., 1921-09-16

"A company Of Irish players Is the
way that Charles Dillingham; describes
the actors that began an engagement at
Henry Miller's Theatre last night. Yet
among them are some Of the Irish Play
ers who have made previous visits here
under the aeg.s of Lady Gregory and
left this country acquainted with the
works of various younger Irish dra-
| matists. Last night the company was
seen again In the work of an Irish
playwright. They acted THE White
Headed Boy" by Lennox Robinson.
| Contrary to their former plan, they will
present only this one work in three acts
instead of the numerous one act plays
that made UP their repertoire in those
pioneer days that saw them here on the
| first visit.
Lennox Robinson is one of the play
! wrights introduced here by Lady
| Gregory and In Patriots his quality
was first revealed. Last year he was
represented by ",The Lost Leader" None
Of his earlier plays gained the success OF
"The White Headed Boy" which enjoyed
many representations In London after Us
| run at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin was
| at an end.
writes From Character.
Mr.. Robinson. to use popular stencil
| from character and not from plot. sc
| this characteristic specimen OF irisf
humor is created by the conflict In views
| II the dramatic personae that gather II
Mrs. Geoghegdn's house in Baliycolmar
where its action passes. 1t is the usua
/ struggle between two families for supre'
macy. financial moreover. as y IS iiKeis
to be. The struggle begins when tnt
white headed boy. the favorite son OF
/ III
after having missed. as they say, his
examination for an NJ. ID. for the third
| time.
| So the self-sacrifcing family VIII SUI
1 FOR no more The boy must so TO can
ada. The aging sisters and the broth
ers. who get none of the family money
/ since n was all sent TO the white headed
nov In Dublin, will now have their turn
II Is. OF course. spread through the vi
lage that the boy sails for Canada 70
| take great place with his uncle. Here
enter the Daffys. The white naired ooy
was engaged to the daughter Of the fam
iIy. SO Mr. DUFFY will have his pound
/ Of flesh for the broken engagement.
The DufDs, represented by John OF the
uk hargle with the Geo0hG0ens through
tho three acts. Now one side Is ahead,
now the other. Just when II seemed as
,f the Duffys had won completely, the
whlte-haircd boy enters with his bride
The two are married There is to pc no
more talk OF a suit for breach OF prom
lee And when the spoiled son OF the
| IA amiIy leaves to take a fine posi-
ton and inherit farm, all the money
that had passed In the negotiations ie
handed cover to him from force OF habit
| Human and Natural I'm Humor.
! Deliriously human and natural is thu
hunor OF the play. II IS not until tn
second act that It's spell is strong enousi
| 10 hold an alien audience captive. Bu
once It Is felt there Is continuous fur
for the listeners. The racy observation:
that come of the shrewdncss and OTTER
mistaken ncumen Of the country foil
are irresistlbly quaint. It would be Idle
to deny that the play has its laughs
But as a whole It is richly comic and al
together plausible.
| The technique OF the Irish player,
suits their drama. Arthur Sinclair. who
| Ia more sophisticated than any of hi'
associates, carried the whole perform
ance on his shoulders. Marie O'Neill. nj.
though somewhat exaggerated In byplaS
at times, gave delightful, unaffect &C
performance OF knowing aunt who was
finally led into matrimony through ths
| breach of promise suit. j. a. O'RourSc
sydney Morgan and Maureen Delans
are old acduaintances. Arthur Shields
newcomer. played the white haired
boy with engaging carelessness. But
| the honors really went to Mr. Sinclair
and Miss O'Neiil.
Among those In tho audience wer,
Mrs. Robbins King. Frederick Y. Dal
ziel. Mr.. and Mrs. John Magee. @. Loui,
Bolssevain Frank Crowinshicid. Mis-!
Caroline Duer. Conde Mast. Mr.. ant
Mrs. George Sykes Wallen, Mr.. and Mrs
r. a. Manice. Mr.. and Mrs. Allen Gou.
verneur Wellmnn. Jules Glanzer. Father
Duffy, Father ST. Vincent de Paul Nc
Gcan. Father John B. Kelly. Mrs. Rich.
ard D. Sears OF Roston. Mr. and Mrs
| Carl l.. Wainwright Sir John Fostei
Fraser. Mrs. Henry McKecn Serriday
Miss Scrriday Mr. and Mrs. Jay i
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