Life, 1915-12-16 · page 26 of 44
Life — December 16, 1915 — page 26: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page reviews theatrical adaptations of literary works. The main focus is Charles Hopkins's stage production of Robert Louis Stevenson's *Treasure Island* at the Punch and Judy Theatre. **The central argument:** The critic praises Hopkins for successfully adapting beloved literature to stage despite genuine obstacles—New York theatrical managers typically avoid investing in literary properties lacking romantic subplots or roles for female performers. The *Treasure Island* adaptation is celebrated as rare: faithful to source material while remaining theatrically impressive, with notably effective casting (Mrs. Hopkins plays Jim Hawkins; Tim Murphy plays Bill Bones). A secondary review discusses *The Ware Case*, a crime play adapted from a recent book, suggesting the book is superior to this theatrical presentation. The "Scrambled Dramas" cartoon sketch humorously depicts theatrical chaos—plots colliding and overlapping—reflecting the page's focus on adaptation challenges. The tone is congratulatory toward Hopkins for achieving what the critic considers nearly impossible: a literary dramatization satisfying both book-lovers and theatre audiences.
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For Pirate-Lovers and Others LL the boys, including the old boys and the young boys and the old-young boys and the young-old boys and some of the girls, who need not necessarily be tom-boys or suffragettes, have a new treat in store for them. Of course, if they have had the proper bringing-up, they have already had the joy of reading the book Robert Louis Stevenson wrote and called “ Treasure Island.” Had Stevenson never writ- ten another line, he would still have been entitled to immortal gratitude for this one work. Now comes Mr. Charles Hopkins and puts Jim Hawkins, the dear pirates, and all the other folks of “ Treasure Island” into ing, speaking, fighting, cuss- ing flesh and blood. Mr. Hopkins is advisedly given the major credit, for although other dramatists, actors and stage-directors might have been found for the hazardous undertaking of mak- ing “ Treasure Island" into a stage production, it is as man- ager and backer that Mr. Hopkins has made it possible. Any- one, even with much more promising material than this, knows what are the difficulties of securing even a hearing from a New York manager or theatrical capitalist when it is a ques- tion of taking a chance with anything that is handicapped with literary merit. And worse than this, the story has no love interest and, with a straight cast, no opportunity to employ artists of the gentler sex. SH =P BW OS T was no easy task to make a stage version of this particular book. It might not have been difficult to throw together some kind of a contraption that would have followed the title and introduced the characters, but no such version would have satisfied the lovers of the book or held the public for an hour. In the production at the Punch and Judy everything has been done with loving loyalty. Mr. Jules Eckert Goodman, who wrote the play, has followed faithfully the plot and language of his original. Mr. Hopkins has stinted no expenditure in producing scenic effect. He and his associate producer, Mr. Ed- SCRAMBLED DRAMAS “THE UNCHASTENED WOMAN " PUSHES “ THE GREAT LOVER " INTO “ THE MOUSE OF GLASS” ward Emery, have shown excellent judgment in choosing the cast, and have evidently worked long and hard in rehearsing it. The result is that rare accomplishment—a dramatization that is perfectly satisfying as a play and to the complete liking of those who know the story best. Even on the small stage and in the not enlivening surroundings of the Punch and Judy, it is impressive in a spectacular way, especially in the scene showing the fight on the drifting Hispaniola. In the cast the honors are to be measured only by the amount of work that each member has to do. Mrs. Hopkins is physi- cally a delightful realization of the boy, Jim Hawkins, and enters admirably into the spirit of the part. Mr. Emery gives to Silver exactly the gentlemanly unction to contrast with the roughness of the other pirates, and Mr. Tim Murphy makes a really remarkable character study of Bill Bones. You will enjoy “ Treasure Island,” even if you have never read the book. If you have read the book, you will actually live it when you see the play. HE Ware Case” is a crime play. also taken from a book, which was published in this country not long ago, The presumption is that the book is consider- ably better than the play, at least as the play is presented here, for in England both play and book have had a very considerable success. Two acts of “ The Ware Case” are taken up with scenes in an English criminal court, The fidelity of these to real life was evidently counted upon to interest the public. = | LIFE AS IT 18 FILMED