Life, 1909-04-15 · page 17 of 36
Life — April 15, 1909 — page 17: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains theater reviews and advertisements rather than political cartoons. The main content discusses Broadway productions, including "The Conflict" (adapted from Balzac's *La Peau de Chagrin*), which critics found well-acted but ultimately derivative and unconvincing in its supernatural elements. The section "Place aux dames!" (Make way for ladies!) expresses the social commentary: the author notes that women's increasing prominence in society—their fashions, club activities, and social roles—has become more dramatically interesting than theatrical productions themselves. This reflects early 20th-century anxiety about women's expanding public presence and changing social status. The illustrations show period theatrical scenes and a woman at a vanity, typical of Life's satirical visual style addressing gender and social topics of the era.
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standing of its spectators. Its cen- tral idea is taken from “La Peau de Chagrin,” and there is enough of Balzac in it to arrest the attention. Unfortu- nately, the author of the play, Mr. Mau- rice V. Samuels, in that conception of the dramatist’s art which makes it his duty to tickle the present-day audience as well as interest it, brings his effort down to the commonplace, and in his psychology becomes boresome. The ele- ment of the supernatural which he takes from the great Frenchman is also diffi- cult to put over the footlights in a play which is otherwise realistic. “The Conflict’ was remarkably well produced and the ensemble work of the company excellently done. Mr. Drove lent credibility to the least credible of the characters—the Raphecl, whose pos- session of the magic skin gives him everything he wishes for, but at the cost of a shortening of his life for each wish he makes. An unusually good piece of character work done by Mr. N. Sheldon Lewis as Cesare Resapha, the antiquarian, who at ninety falls in love was with a ballet girl, Very attractive, also, was Miss Florence Lester as the ingenuc, Kerenice, and good work was done by American, Mr. Guerbet and as one of the special Mr. Leighton as a breezy de Lasaux as the schemin Miss Robertson POPULAR PLAYS “WHAT EVERY WOMAN KNOWS’ PLAYING THE class of women Balzac loved to analyze. “The Conflict” is sufficiently inter- esting and well acted to deserve some thing better than the slight consideration New York gives to serious dramas un- less they make a very quick and pro- nounced claim to recognition. 04 AED Be Chg Place aux dames! The next issue of Lire so far as its text is concerned, be supplied entirely by lovely woman. The opening of the spring theatrical season, which takes place in Easter week, would naturally be reviewed in that number, bet the rapidly increasing importance of the sex eclipses even the drama in interest. And who wouldn't rather hear what the .cleverest. women writers in America have to say than read about a bunch of plays? To-day herself is about the most dra- matic thing in sight. Her clothes are roaring farce, her club proceedings come pretty near being comedy and her ill- directed efforts to find her real place in the scheme of things are, in some of their aspects, almost tragic. woman Metcalfe. LIFES GxfivenpiaL | GuipE | The THEATRES Academy of Musice—That excellent actor, Mr. Robert Mantel, in Shakespearean reper: tory Astor—" The Man from Home.” to the front and Europe thrown background, ighable comedy. Belas g Some.” Notice later. Bijou—" 2 Nleman ‘from Mississippi."* Our national capital and its political ways turned into laughter. Indiana into the RACES _ Broadwe in movi Casino—" Hav edy with Mr. Ja —The Johnson-Burns g pictures. prize-fight Pleasart musical com T. Powers as the come- Englishman's Mome."* the middle-class English and the British militia, Daly's—Last week of Mr. E, I. Sothern 1 excellent, support in. Mr. Rarrie'’s. la his own country See opposite ris Keane as the star in “The Happy Marriage.” Notice Hackett—-Grace George in “A Woman's Way." Clever comedy of to-day charmingly seted by Grace George and good company Herald Square—* The Beauty Spot.” No- tice later. Hippodrome—Mallet, spectacle on large scale, Hudson—* The Third interesting drama of present-day life Madison Square Garden—Ringling Bros.’ Circus, | Quite up to the Barnum & Bailey standard Majestic —" The, Newlyweds.” gant but amusing burlesque based , known comic supplement feat Marine Elliott's Theatre he Bachelor.” Light comedy by Mr. Clyde Fitch, Amusing and well presented Savoy—" The Rattle." in. socialism with Mr. chief instructor. Wallack—Henrietta Cros Comedy of New York soc well acted. circus Degree.” Highly Ew -ava- well- Elementary lessons Wilton Lackaye as an in “Sham.” Pleasing and NOT YOR THE YOUNG PERSON —"The Queen of the Musical farce more vulgar Moulin than Cire Rouge. artistic. Lyris The Mlue Mouse.” fut laughable German farce, Mr. Clyde uytesan per circles of the Tende picted by Mr. Eugene Walter ved. Weber's —“The Girl from Rector’s: Rough-house French farce. More stupid than naughty. Questionable climated. by The Fasiest Way." The up- graphically de. nd very well