Judge — March 10, 1917 — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

BETWEEN By CYRIL at The Little Thea- “DP YOU SE The Morris Dance’ tre?” asked the “I notice that Tired Business Man. some of you wise chaps slated it.”” “Yes,” replied the Critic. “Yet there are many persons who would enjoy it for its incredible extravagance. It is impossible, of course, ) it is announced as ‘an outrageous farce’ who should compl. You saw it? “Yes. And I couldn’t make head or tail to it.” “Because of its failure to live up to the speed which a farce should show, due to the many changes of scene. These changes would be fatally slow on an ordinary stage, but the Little Theatre's revolving stage makes them tolerable: There's a lot of delighting fooling in the piece, exaggerated as it is, though as a play it lacks climaxes and runs along almost monotonously. And there is human nature in it, though most of the characters seem eccentric. There is good acting. John T. Shine as Old Finsbury gives a mellow and finished characterization. Richard Bennett's debonair method fits the careless part of the indif- ferent heir, and Ferdinand Gottschalk is effective as the ex- travagantly-solicitous son. But the play is not made for the multitude, and perhaps that explains Mr. Ames’s venture with i “Huh! And I suppose you think that plays should not be made for the multitude!” “Tn the multitude’s present frame of mind—no. Take- The Yellow Jac- ket,’ for example. :That play failed here, went abroad, returned with in- dorsements, to say the least, and after a troublous season of matinces and morning performances at last suc- ceeded in winning recognition. Now only the other day there was a special matinee—I believe that there are to be a series, and I wish that there would be a long run—of Moliére’s * Imagin- ary Invalid.’ That neat satire and superb example of farce was presented and excellently presented—by the Coburn Players—” “You mean the ‘Yellow Jacket’ crowd?” inquired the Tired Business Man. i Mr. Coburn as Chorus, “The Yellow Jocket™ CURTAINS ANDREW “Yes,” replied the Critic. “The same company. And the ame good acting. Schuyler Ladd was particularly pleasing as Cleante, and Howard Kyle made a most amazing doctor. Then there was Mr. Coburn himself as the hyposhendriac Argan. And little Miss Westman was a revelation asa child actress as Louison. She was really remarkable. Geogre Gaul was im- mensely funny as the chosen husband of Angelique; altogether, the play was a splendid thing—immeasurably above most of the modern offerings. And yet so few will sec it!” The Tired Business Man looked interested. “If it’s as good as all that I must see it,” he said. you know I don’t get this highbrow stuff.” eat Caesar’s ghost!” ejaculated the Crit “Moliére isn’t highbrow. And certainly ‘The Imaginary Invalid isn’t. If there’s anything ‘highbrow’ in a suitor giving his adored one as a betrothal gift a treatise, written by himself, on some ob- scure organ or other, and then asking the whole party to come as his guests to a dissection as a pleasant little social affair, I don’t see it. The trouble with you is that you think that because Moliére wrote the play it must be ‘highbrow, hence you shun it as though it were a plague. But go go to your girl-and- shows, and never that Moliére ex- “But on. music know isted!”” The Tired Business Man taken aback 's outburst. You needn't talk that .” he growled. “I was cking information. I ything about .and Iwant to; and k you about it, and you bite my head off. Rather rough, I say. Just for that I'm going to see ‘The Im- aginary Invalid,’ if it’s still running.” “Well,” replied Criti still “if it’s not. still running it’s your own fault.” was somewhat by the Cri Miss Carroll as Plum Blossom, in “The Yellow Jacket” comicbooks.com