The New York herald., 1921-11-20

narrow existence.
After all, the curtain falls on an
unresolved chord. VIII hope bring life
hack to her? Can patient so far adj
vanced in tuberculosis be ever re-
stored by the fulflment Of her desires?
1t last, the man she has adored loves
take the place of all those who have
passed out Of her life. VIII this hap
piness and hope Of a life with the man
she has so long desired bring her
health again? Mr.. O'Neill does not an
swer the question.
No playwright Of the day seems to
promise so much for the American
theatre as Mr.. O'Neill. ",rhe Straw" is
a remarkably logical and human drama.
When the author selects subjects that
interest the public as well as him,
there need be no end to his success.
SO far none of his works has equalled
in originality and imagination EN-
peror Jones'" There WAS immense
promise in Beyond the Horizon" and
an undeniably bizarre and tantalizing,
II somewhat repulsive. appeal about
"Diff'rent." None of his works seems
so commonplace to the writer as
"Anna Christie" and this is not alto
gether due to the readjusted ending.
All these plays are immeasurably SUI
perior to the average American drama.
Indeed, Mr.. O'Neill seems to lack few
qualities needed to make him appre-
ciated as widely by the theatre public
AS he Is by the little group that studies
his work.
British Connubial Bliss.
When did the deep affection be-
tween married couples become such a
distinguishing mark OF British family
life that tho playwrights had to cele-
brate It? Two plays Of the last week
had such a connudling pair of wives
and husbands as the stage has rarely
seen. In 1.-The Title" the wife and hus-
band quarrelled mildly over the ac-
ceptance of the Governments offer.
she wanted It; he did not. The usual
difference Of opinion over the question
came out for hearing.
Yet there was never harsh word.
Just when 1t seemed as If Mr. and
Mrs. CuIvcr might begin to differ Sc
riously, they sat down on a sofa d.
rectly in the middle of their drawing
room and embraced one another.
There was no hint Of sudden passion
In the adventure. They merely folded
one another deliberately In their re-
spective arms and enjoyed themselves
until an intruder interrupted them.
They bfckered affectionately, disputed
lovingly. Such a picture Of marital
happiness Is rare In the British drama
or any other.
The Broxopps Also Lovers.
They had, so to speak, nothing on
the Broropps. They were. IL possible,
still more demonstrative. Only the
eagle eve of the butler who had been
in service to a duke. kept them in or
der at all. It was almost impossible
to look at the stage Of the Punch and
Judy Theatre at any time between
$3.50 and the three hours that followed
without seeing Iden Payne on the
point of kissing Miss Pamela Gay
thorne. No wonder the butler was
rather put out by such insistent oscu-
Iation even If 1t were wholly domestic
IN character. Buffers have feelings.
When an advanced young woman
announces that she didn't believe In
kissing, Mr.. Broxopp could only ex-
plain such phenomenon on the
theory that she never had tried IL. Yet
he was supposed TO be the inventor
of a health food. The kissing in 'The
Great Mr.. Broxopp" is very deliberate,
as perhaps family kissing should be.
Or it may be deliberate to keep II In
step with the play. Its rhythm Is un-
deniably deliberate.
This Is rarely the pace for comedy.
Certainly Mr.. Paynes venture would
seem to have better chance Of sue.
cess were he to make It move more
rapidly. He would have to begin by
stepping up himself. Artificial and
fantastic as the acting Of George may
have been when he exploded and
bubbled over as a baronet who knew
less than he thought of finance, he
at least woke up the play whenever
he appeared. Sometimes, It really
looked as if he were necessary. Not
only the play but the audience was
more than once on the point OF snooz.
ing.
Mr. Milne had the courese Of his