Judge — March 24, 1917 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

| By CYRIL SAW a rather unusual production the other night,” said the Crit “What was that?” inquired the Tired Busin It is seldom that the Critic makes an admission of that lert to ht ¢ ‘I Man. sort, and the Tired Business Man, who is ever on the catch him up on some point or other, hoped that he cover in the statement some violation of the Cri creed concerning things theatrical which would serve as a vantage- point for a bit of crowing, a pastime which he seldom had the opportunity of indulging, at least at the Critic’s expense. If he was looking for revenge, however, he was disappointed atthe Critic’s next words. “T was speaking of Chesterton’s pla: Critic. “Did you sce it?” “No, I didn’t,” confessed the friend of mine told me about it, and I kept away. the idea.” “May Task why?” you afraid of secing something Highbrow “No, it wasn’t that,” replicd the Tired Business Man, somewhat nettled at the Critic’s manner. “1 admit I’m not strong for highbrow stuff, but if I'd thought ‘Magic’ was amusing I’d have gone, highbrow or no highbrow. My friend said it wasn’t funny, so I stayed away.” “Good Lord!” culated the Cri agic’ not funny? It had a great deal more genuine humor, to say nothing of more biting satire, than all your farces and musical comedies put together. The audience, at the performance I attended, were not in sympathy with the play, and in general did not m to grasp the fact that the performance was serious. As a matter of fact, there is something in the advertisements of the play to encourage the idea that it isa farce. The picture of Chesterton in all his embonpoint scrawling the title of his play across the pages of the local press can hardly connote a serious production, The re- sult appears to have been that the audience ex- pected something funny, and were disappointed to discover that the fun was deep and the play serious. I have observed that it is less dangerous to snatch a bone from a ramping lion than to de- prive a New York audience of its inalienable right, never, under any circumstances, to think. It is a risky matter, you know, to take a New York audi- ‘Magic’,” replied the ired Business Man. “A I didn’t lik inquired the Critic, a bit acidly. “Were for a change?” CURTAINS ANDREW ence by surprise. This may account for the somewhat chilly reception of a most unusual, extremely delightful, and alto- gether worthy bit of playwriting, capably acted, and at least fairly well produced.” “Oh, I say!” cried the Tired Business Man. “That’s coming a little strong, don’t you think—your poor opinion of ew York audiences?” “TI do not,” retorted the Critic. “When one considers what are the so-called successes, and how many really great plays are allowed to languish and die, one cannot help feeling bitter.” I interpose ters. “How was ‘The Little Man?’ I inquired, quite prepared for an unfavorable opinion. “Very little indeed,” replied the Critic. a matter of fact, it was perfectly right and proper that it should have been little, as it was intended solely as a curtain-raiser to the main event. It was well-acted and well-produced, but it was di: tinctly inferior to ‘Magic’—which, I repeat, is perfectly right and_ proper.” “What sort of cast did they have?” I inquired. “A most capable cast indeed,” replied the Critic with con- viction, “The honors are about equally divided between Cathleen Nesbit and O. P. Heggic, with Frank Conroy a close third. I found some faults in the production—I mean by that the staging and sets—but they wete small and easily remedied. On the whole, ‘ Magic’ is a real treat, one that has many points of interest. Aside from the excellence of the play as a play, and the humor of the lines, there is the fact thi Chester- ton’s only picce of work for the stage. This alone would make it worth one’s while to see it, if only as a matter of interest. When we add the excellence of the cast and the charm of the play itself, a visit to the Maxine Elliott theatre is decidedly worth whil “But just what is so wonderful about ‘ Magic asked the Tired Business Man. “Ah, that I can hardly tell you,” replied the Critic. n the play the conjurer had to explain his best feat by a lie to satisfy the soul of the materialist. I refuse to prevaricate about some- thing indefinable to please you. Go and see it for yourself.” a word, hoping to lubricate the troubled comicbooks.com