"THE HYPOCRITES."

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 869, 15 July 1910, Page 6

"THE HYPOCRITES."

H. R. ROBERTS-BEATRICE DAY CO. "The Hypocrites," a play in four acts, by Henry Arthur Jones. Cast:— Tho Rev. Edward Linnell Mr. H. It. Roberts Sir John' Plugcnet Mr. W. J. Montgomery Mr. Wilmore Mr. A. E. Greenaway Lennard Wilmore, Mr. Harry Sweeney Mr. Viveash Mr. Conway Wingi'ieid Itev. E. Danbeny Mr. F. John i'orde Dr.. Ulaney Mr. liarry Herbert Goodyor Mr. it. 0". Oswald Mrs. Wilmoro Mies tfeatrico T)ay Helen Plugeuet ...... Miss; Ehvyn Harvey Mrs. Linuell •. Mary Lamg-Meeson Mrs. Blaney Miss Kate Towers liachael Neve Miss Ethel BasUford Patty Miss' Lorna Forbes ' So unused Imve we become to the" higher drama, as represented by such playwrights- as Pinero, Ibsen, Wilde, Carton, and 11. A. Jones, that "The Hypocrites," by the last-named author, came rather as a shock—a pleasant shock, be it distinctly understood. We had fancied that the whirligig of time had ushered the perplexing problem play into the obscurity of the dusty past, but the freshness and vigour of Mr. Jones's craftsmanship, as exhibited in "The HypowiU-s," serves rather to throw into high relief what a brilliant incentive the spirit of the "problem play" era—that of from ten to twenty years ago—was to the sound playwrights of the time. Anyone iriLli more than a ' passing knowledge of tho drama known what excellent use Henry Arthur Jones made .of the fashion. . A subtle plothatcher. it master of dialogue, with more tluili ;t trace of Ibsen in his mental make-up, this dramatist, clever as l;e admittedly is, found tho sex problem as cloy to tho hands of a skilled potter, and his predeliction to sermonise, a feature in most of his plays, was given a solid fabric to work on. Can it bo wondered at then thht whilst , other dramatists have picked up new threads Mr. Jones has continued with the old' material. That it is not yet worn threadbare, in this part of the world anyhow, is proved in "Tho Hypocrites." written only four years, anil played by Clarke and Meynell's Company at the Opera House last evening. The play is one ot intense vitality, fascinating in its frankness, absorbingly . interesting in the almost repellaiPUy-human story it tells. The particular problen) it presents is man's duty to the girl he has wronged, and his duty ; to; others in respect of that sin, an unpleasant Bubjcct which the dramatist handles with the gloves. off. Here is a grisly skeleton in tho Wilmore cupboard, which.is not only exposed, but is dragged out aiid dismembered in the light of day, and the moral—that truth must be told, must be faced, and reparation made before there, can he any suggestion of real happiness for those yet in possession of a conscience. Lennard Wilmoro is ordinarily a accent young fellow, with decent ideas, and neverdreams that his relationship with pretty Rachel Neue will have.serious consequences, so returns home feeling quite free to marry the spirituelle Helen Plugenct, who has idealistic views on marriage. Tho event is to take place in n month, when poor Rachel appears on the scene full of ..her trouble, and on the point of a physical breakdown. Mrs. Wilmore discovers lier son speaking confidentially to tho girl, and on being questioned admits everything, and discloses Rachel's plight. At onco on guard for her son, Mrs. Wilmore, a shrewd woman of the world, who is built up on her son's uiarriago with the wealthy daughter of Sir John Plugcnet, orders tho girl to a hotel imposing secrecy on her. En route ■she meets with a slight accident, and is taken to the residence of the Rev. Edward Linnell,. an earnest, sincere, young curate, who dares,all for tho truth, and who has already, set the parish by the ears by the stand he takes over tile hypocrisies,- petty and otherwise, 'which have become conventional through, ages of condoning. Through a . dropped letter lie learns, the whole story,, and immediately and naturally resolves to straighten the tangled skein. At least he resolves tiiat Lennard shall not marry Heien I'lilgunet unless the-latter is rnado acquainted with the case. Bill; Mrs. : Wilmore, clevof and resourceful, summons . all her forces against this intent, and the curate, ~ finds,,,l'liimself . arrayed against everyone- in. the fight for. candour ( and truth. Lennard ,is stiffened into RachaeJ. lies pitifully; I.lrs. Wilmore lies cleverly, and -Mr. Wilmore, honest soul, lies blusteringly. _ Vicar l)aubeny, sleek and unctuous, is, outraged at Linnell's'charge, against Lennard; Dr. and Mrs. Blaney lire staunch Wiliuorites; even Linnell's wife deprecates the stand her-husband takes; and ciever Mr. \'iveftsh, the solicitor,' shrugs his shoulders, nnd endeavours to murder what they one and all term tho bee in the curate's bonnet. Helen is naturally distressed and shocked, but is obsessed of Linnell's sincerity. Matters culminato when Sir John Plugcnet- arrives to seek tho trutli. liachacl testifies that Lennard is not the inan,' the accused scoffs lamely at the idea, and the others declare Linnell a sour fanatic. In despair at the battery of lies directeu against him, Linnell calls for Kaciia'el, and is about' to put her and Lennard on oath, when the lawyer intervenes cleverly. Sir John questions, is lied to agaiii, and is giving Linnell a severe dressing down, when Rachel breaks down'. Lennard, ..who has 'loved her sincerely all. through stand tho strain no longer rushes to support her, anil, liis batter . nature bursting ull bands, declares the truth, to the utter and complete abashment of all. Tho Plugenet marriage being out of the question, Leniiard resolves to , marry Rachael, and receiving an appointment in India through Sir. John's influence packs off'to commence life ajiew, not,.however, before a reconciliation is effected with Mrs. Wilmore.

Taking it ail round the performance was an admirable one, indeed it. is. a loug time since such an even-high quality in acting has'been seen on a local stage. The characters; were ail distinct, and played with a fine appreciation of " tho author's draftsmanship, and there was u refreshing sincerity in endeavour • on the . part of ■ each player in the wellfitted, cast. Jlr. Roberts played Liimell with" quiet ease and strength—a brighl clean-cut reposeful figure, always sus* gesting the hidden power of tin; truth and high purpose within the 'character. There was no effort to strain a point of stress a situation,' and seldom did. he raise the soft tones of his fine voice beyond the tones of ordiuary conversation. Many will remember Mr. lvoberts for his Rev. Edward Linnrll. Miss Day was remarkably well suited as Mrs. Wilmore, and played a difficult part with the ease and resource of a cultured artist. Miss Hthel Bashford had a difficult part; usRachael, but succeeded in. a surprising mrasure, and Mr. Harry Sweeney as also acquitted himself, with credit. Mr. Conway Wingfield made Mr. Piveash a vferjr pleasant self-satisfied person, acting with finish and distinction. Mr. John Forbes as the Rev. Daubeny. Mr. .Herbert as Dr. Blaney, Miss Kato Towers as Mrs. Blaney, Miss Elwyn Harvey as Helen Plngenet, Miss Lorna Forbes as Patty, and Mr. Fitzgerald n.o Sir John Plugenet were all very satisfactory. Mr.■ A. ]•„. Green away was notably good .n Mr. Wilmore, but Miss Laing-Meeson, was somewhat 1 colourless as Mrs. Linnell. _"The Hypcerites" should command the attention, of all lovers of a good play well played.