The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1909-09-15 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

ROYAL COURT THEATRE  MISS EVELYN MILLARD IN "IDOLS."  After the brilliant performance of "Idols," given at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool, on Monday night, the success of the week's visit stands practically assured. There could be but one verdict upon the production, and that was that it was most admirable in every detail. Seeing that Miss Evelyn Millard's London company is responsible for the piece, such a result, of course, was to be anticipated. The whole of the leading parts are sustained by leading actors and actresses, and the entire setting of the play is charming. The story of "Idols," which conies from the pen of J. Locke, ia exceedingly simple and strikingly original. Irene Merriam chooses to marry Gerard Merriam rather than his friend Hugh Colman, and takes infinite pains that thie marriage should not in any way go to destroy the friendship of these men, which has been of many years' standing. In fact, at one time; before the wedding, Hugh Colman had saved the life of Gerard Merriam. Accordingly Colman lives on most intimate terms with the Merriam!, with the not unnatural result that in the end Gerard Merriam becomes so jealous that the spirit of comradeship is .overclouded if not completely destroyed. But the wife goes on her way in perfect innocence, looking upon her husband as an idol, who can do no wrong, and who thoroughly understands her. There are complications, one of them being that Colman has made a secret marriage with the daughter of a wealthy Jew money-lender. Miss Minna Hart is the lady. She is an angler for a prospective title, who when Colman's prospects in this direction vanish is much annoyed, the more so as she knows that her father will disinherit her should he discover that she has married • Christian. Minna Hart is a most obnoxious character throughout the story. Cohnan dares not tell old Mr. Hart that he has married his daughter, and after a remarkable interview with his wife, swears, at her request, to set her free by never breathing to anyone a word about the secret marriage. Unfortunately, while this interview is going on in Minus's boudoir, Jacob Bart is murdered in the drawing-room by the butier—and as Colman was the last person seen with the old man he is arrested and tried for murder. The assize court scene is a most remarkable one, and quite sufficient in itself to "make" the play. Colman, as a man of honour, refuses to prove an alibi at the expense of the dead man's daughter. Irene Merriam. believing that her husband would give his life to save his friend, goes into the witness-box and with an inspiration of self-sacrifice swears away her reputation by saying that Colman was with her on the night of the murder, the husband being away from home fishing. Thus she saves Colman from the rope. Strangely enough (and this is the flaw in the story) Colman does not break his oath to his worthless wife to save Irene Merriam's honour. He goes free. and Mrs. Merriam's idol is shattered. Her husband does not believe in her. Before the fall of the curtain, however, things right themselves, and although Gerard Merriam has behaved like a cad, he gets infinitely more than he deserves from the hands of his adoring wife. One of the most successful parts of the play is the trial scene, and is a very striking achievement. The entire production by Miss Millard's company is brilliant, and the acting gave complete satisfaction to the audience which filled the theatre on Monday. Miss Evelyn Millard's work as Irene Merriam was particularly finished and unforced. Her impersonation of the part of Irene Merriam was lifelike in its grace and movement, and fascinated everybody. In the lest interview between Merriam and his wife her powers as an emotional actress were seen at their highest. Mr. Norman Trevor acted with eminent success in the part of Hugh Colman, while Mr. Hills Norwood, as Gerard Merriam, was equally successful. Miss Mary Allestree, as Minna Hart, and Mr. Charles Langley, as Jacob Hart, are more than satisfactory. Again and again at the fall of the curtain .Miss Millard and her colleagues were recalled.