The evening world. Newspaper, October 30, 1918, Page 18

“Peter’s Mother” ‘Sympathetic but Dull BY CH “ HERE is nothing in the world quite so selfish as youth, especially in ite relation to mother and son. This idea is given a poignant touch by Mrs. Henry de ta Pasture in “Peter's Mother,” acted—and very Well acted—dast night at the Playhouse. Frankly, I think the author shoult # # have left her story in its original! yim of the glory he has won in the OW =H - Boss Down Book form, for it ( WETENE. SOHNSO as LaDy MARY CRE WY! quality, She might have written it in the days of the Boer war, since it deals only with an individual case of sacrifice—that is, with a boy who goes to the front and comes back with only one arm, For some reason “Peter's Mother” is called a romantic comedy, possibly because Peter wins the girl of bis heart with merely one arm to hold er close to him and his mother re- news her lost youth with the man who stands by her after her aged husband has died under an opera- ton. If this is romance, certainly death ¢an have no sting. The boy who has lost his right arm may be a hero in eyes of those about him, but his has little dramatic trenches. After ull, the home ts the thing that counts in the end, and the | boy who leaves it ts more than likel | to learn what it means to him, Peter takes it for granted and thereby leaves his mother at the cross-roads of life, Fortunately, she finds a refuxe |in the arms of her devoted cousin. But middle-aged romance can neve be the life-blood of the theatre, We | take it as we would take weak tea It may be pleasant, but it is not ex | hilarating. The man who is forty-odd | and the woman who is in her thirties | may smile serenely, but they haven't | the power to quicken the pulse. Lat | them, by all means, live happily eve after, and at the same time let them | die at the first comfortable moment | they can find. “Peter's Mother” is sympathetic, | but dull, ‘The people in the play talk about sofa springs, walking |sticks, drainage and things—never forgetting drainage, Plumbing seems to be part of the business of the English playwright. There are some | things, on the other hand, that we |don't talk about, accepting them as | necessities and worrying only about jthe bill that arrives with the first of the month. | As for the sentimental value of the | play, some one remarked It will |be a good moment for us all when | Peter returns,” whereupon Peter | popped in through a window, This Jig the sort of play construction cal }eulated to appeal to an architect The heart isn’t touched by It However, Selene Johnson was un |tailingly tender and sensitive as Peter's mother, Human and sincere, she never fell into the error of giv ing an “emotional” performance. She was a charming mother of whon any boy could well be proud, and jin the second blooming of Lady Mary's romance she suggested a beautiful, full-blown rose. Lumsden Hare played the discreet ways gives to his work, and Charles A. Stevenson brought distinction to the role of the aged husband who died conveniently. Philip Tonge acted Peter with boyish spirit, and pretty Gypsy O'Brien, with her red hair, was a most attractive sweetheart Katharine Stewart and Lillian Bren- nard were thoroughly mid- Victorian, In short, the acting was better than eeifiahncss ts so apparent the play. About Plays By BIDE ILLARD MACK is a versatile W sort of person. Those who attended the opening per- formance of “The Big Chance” at the 48th Street Theatre Monday night didn’t expect to see him in the play. Cyril Keightley had becn engaged for the role of Larry, but it was Mr. Mack who played it. Sunday night about & o'clock, just as the dress rehearsal was about to begin, Mr. Keightley left the cust. Mr. Mack, who directed the staging of the play after re- writing it, stepped into the part on | y, ten minutos’ notice and went through it without a hitch. At the conclusion | of the performance he became a reg- | ular member of the company. “I know the play so well,” said he yesterday, “that with the aid of a! skirt and a few tresses I might have ly played Miss Nash's role.” SAM SOTHERN ENGAGED. fam Sothern, who has arrived re- cently from London, is to appear in James M. Barrie's comedy, “Dear Brutus,” which Charles Frohman, Inc., will produce with William Gil Jette in the role of Mr. Dearth. Mr. Sothern will act the role of Mr. Pur- | je. He created it when the play was juced at Wyndham's Theatre. FOR MEN ONLY, Grace George, Chairman of th Committeo on Sunday ht Ente: tainments for the § War Relief, has reques @wer 4 question put to her. that tho Sunday shows at the the tres under the auspices of the war re. Mef are for both men and women in| "MARLEY,2%4 IN EVON‘244 IN. dances at the Winter ( ' 0 and Players DUDLEY uniform. B takes the view that they are for men exclusively. Miss Geurky rines from camps and ships--men wh have only Sunday night free. We f confident that the women will be am- ply taken care of with the tickers distributed during the week by the War Camp Community Servic REPUTATION, ‘There's @ wonderful thing that they call repute. tion: at's exceedingly 30u corral it, hard to obtain you’ find the’ whole there they har ditty Applaud jou and praise yous the) re all for you wrong, oF a0, 11 bring them “all to you. bay. TE really don't know, TO-DAY'S JOYFUL JEST, Georgie Price, not quite sevente years old, has been engaged for new “Midnight Frol) eorgte gan his career at the age of four in a litue picture hall on the east side, Ho sang a song after each picture ant his salary was 6 cents a song. Now he gets more, but not at his own t hest, His father, it seems, has raised his Price GOSSIP, Joe Kiaw, who has been ill with pneum is out of bed Florence Nash, in “Kemnant will open at the Morosco Theatre Nov. 18 Maggie Teyte has recovered from her illness and will sing in Butterfly” at the Park night Gus Hill has placed seven com panies, halted by the influenza, in re- hearsal again. Frank Tannehill is directing | Douglas Fairbanks walked up Sev- enth Avenue past the Palace Theatre dealerday afternoon and disorganized Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Drew will ap pear in “Keep her Smi! " the 100th Th o-night ona H1 Anish its ckerbocker Saturda night, and be shown in other secthny of the city Allan K. Foster ha by the Messrs Shube charge of the work of # Madame Theatre vo n enga aint A THOUGHT FOR TO. DAY. Many a person who | t gum hates to ger thers indulgir the practice FOOLISHMENT, @ Wilke ga hl father Wane wo FROM THE CHESTNUT TREE, Teacher--What animals are skinned to provide women with *W lie oi) ae wraypa? oP suitor with the well-bred air he al- | Seeyrieet INE Prose Penne Co 18S Powe ams THE BIG LITTLE FAMILY WoT TH’ Sam HILLS e ; TH MATTER THIO MORN f ( ME.” BANK-ROLL” Luke -‘Y'LooK Like UNDER MY PILLOW TH WRECK ©’ HESPERUS mt | JOE'S CAR [Caorright. Ie Prose Publalveg Cot OH, MEAN ED ARE dust GONNA RUN DOWN AN’ PLAY A Few HOLES BEFORE DINNER! HERE Now! WHERE 11) DYou “THINK YOU'RE GOING? LOoIw IT PooR. TO CHARLIES GOIN? 7, oTsje! SE “ 4 NO A Gox OVER ) THE & TO AIS FREN BILL! SEO OE MSE Pal Think OF SOME IGETCHER Boots Ov SMOKES? THING ToSENO !T's Some THING —_——— oves.> > WORTH WAILET {Neu Cont, TOOTSIE BRAINS IL NELOA GSS GEEUMLAN Awter [Om Bovs wisn tRESED = TWAS ‘OVER THERE ae TO PLAT A MAND MUTA AIM! — H\AROLO Knows NOU'RE 4 maar TIWEETIE | = Sap SUGTA fenow WAAT T DAWGONIT !'T LEFT WAAT DAISYTS SENDING COME guick~ \E4 © SAT RIGHT & ON A HORNE Rae. OH! WELL- Your AINT SHE ? i « (s THAT so? WELL, I've GOT To HAVE. THE car FOR MARKETING OR “THERE Won't BE ANY DINNER! CANOY To HER BEAU-THE | Loo-TEeNAnT TO On.oraR! rt FORGOTALL ABour | | CANTCHA A TIN Gox-AN? | LINO THESE L.Gor Sort CANO INS TE AP | aacend Gan «| 2] Oo HAIRO! DERVANT 16 eae ) ? PAWS JUST NAILED DOWN “The TWENTY POUNDS HE'S ALLOWED “AIS Own SLNO, AMEN MAY COMES IN WITHA MORE THIN He WwouLD —. ro <Bossie. He \ Just Feetcs He S AFRAID He MASHED ~ . ie eoent SHE LL TAKE 4 BUT, NOTHING! “Tuat's ALL THERE IS ToT! SAY ED — LES MAKE IT SOME OTHER DAY ~-— LFEEL KINDA Puny —_—, Homer's LUSG! WS TO SEND O% WE TAIKES 40 _CHANCES! 77 on, scusa! I KNOW MY IKAMERE! TELEPHONE SIE'S BACIK AGAIN! SHE'S 'PHONING To HAVE SOmMEGBORY Do UP A PACKAGE For He To OVER To SERGEANT { IF AYOuNG LapY ADDRESSED & ) PACKAGE TOA LONE i FRANCE WLO YOU SAT IT ( ' , | SAY, OY EXPEC \ TH! GOY' MENT TA SINE TA A ' NEVER (SPECIAL ISNEACH Jor * ) Gurss waars | 5) =) \Con Vor ROESS S| FRANCE D) OA; RUBBERS: EAR - Murr s- y tre MCLANCHOL? PAAUOE -ENo) MISS-DIRECTED! { WANTA Sr THIS “END, TH! (aa VERY ' MISS -TERIOUS He has sympathy. for th, convictea proviteer, P All lash is ANOTHER CHANCE (to ouss the public before the war ends!) nn 9