Evening star., 1923-02-14
GARRICK-"ANew Way to Pay
Old Debts"

scenes from an age when emotions
We're expressed easily and when
words came forth as easily as swords
were transferred to the stage of the
Shubert-Garrick last evening, when
Walter Mampden and his company of
players revived, as a part of their
weeks repertoire, Philip Massinger'S
famous old comedy, "a New Way to
Pay Old Debts" Like others who
followed in the wake of Shakespeare,
this dramatist had a substantial out
put from among which there is one
outstanding play which survives the
oblivion that over took the mass.
Those writer's. lacking the qualities
that made Shakespeare master,
studied his technique and showed a
certain cleverness in the lines that
they wrote.
The action of "a New Way to Pay
Old Debts" vividly presents that
phase of society which has engaged
the attention of some of the earlier
masters of fiction and in which there
are characters that seem to be able
TO exist and to gain some prominence
without visible means of support.
Their movements are entertaining
and they seem to derive satisfaction
from life, Notwithstanding the pre-
carious nature of their existence. A
study of the livelier phases of their
experiences always affords pleasure.
While the development of the plot
b one in which comedy is uppermoSt.
Mr.. Hampden's share in the comic
effect is, achieved through a char
acter. that Of Sir Giles .Overreach. in
which he has abundant opportunity
for the display of the emotions of a
VIGOROUS personality. Although Sir
Giles is amusing in his reactions, he
Is also serious in his ideas and pur-
poses and the play presents a pleas
ing combination of an emotional role
with the setting of somewhat hilari-
Gus and altogether engaging group
of associates. The other players of
the company turn with skill from
tho more tragic roles of the opening
night of the engagement to the light
er incidents of MaSSinger'S most pop
ular production.
There Is an echo of the older NOR
ality plays in the naming of the
characters by such terms as "over-
reach 'wellborn." greedy" etc,
which supposedly indicate the quail
There Is further evidence of these
qualities in the lines of the pro-
duction, as when Justice Greedy re-
marks, "Why should we talk when 1t
is time to be munching?" The
characters are sycophants. snobs,
they are pitted against one an
other in a plot which works out to
the advantage of the virturous, while
Sir Giles, avaricious and hopeful of
worldly advancement. reaps the re-
ward of his evil ways, his final col
lapse bringing to Mr.. Hampden a
fine opportunity for the display of
his powers.
Ernest Rowan as Wellborn, Will
liam Sauter as Lord Lowell and
Charles Brokaw as Allworth. present
somewhat serious roles effectively,
while there is much good light come
dy by Z. j. Kelly as Justice Greedy.
Edwin Cushman, as Marrall, and
several others. Mary Hall as Lady
-Allworth acts with dignity and sin
cerity, while Elsie Herndon Kearns
as Margaret, daughter of Sir Giles,
gives an attractive picture of the
merry girl of the times who conducts
her counter-plot with an infectious
laugh and good nature throughout.
The costuming was appropriate to
an age of elaborate dress and the
settings were all excellent, especial
ly that in the reception room of the
home Of Sir Giles, with attractive
lighting effects.
Mr.. Hampden and his players will
appear in Hamlet" this evening.