Mr Galsworthy’s Latest Play.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 September 1922, Page 4

Mr Galsworthy’s Latest Play.

In “Loyalties” his latest play, which was produced in London a few months ago. Mr Jilin Galsworthy returns to a theme, one aspect of which was dealt with in “The Skin Game,” namely the conflict between two strata in modern society. On the one band, there is tlie old order, the close corporation of birth, sure of itself, conscious of fits own superiority and clannish. On the. other are the newcomers, the intruders who by virtue of flieir wealth seek to break down the exclusive barriers of taste, and jvlio have in a measure sueeceded. But. they are aware that they are regarded as aliens in this milieu: they arc- it the tiest tolerated when they are on good behaiionr; at the worst despised and hated. Ihe knon- [ ledge rankles, and when the opportunity comes they pay off their grudge with interst. Tn “Loyalties” the plot

turns on the theft of a sum of money from a young Jew, the son of a wealthy carpet-seller, when a guest at Charles Winsor’s country house. Hitherto De Levis has got along well enough with the Winsors, the Haneys, General Canynge, and the rest of the members of their set. but his conduct on learning of his loss stamps him definitely as an outsider in their eyes. Scandals do not. or should not, occur in Meldmi Court and should be handled discreetly. But De Levis comports himself as though this temple of good form were a questionable hotel. He insists upon having the police called in, bullies tlie servants, and hints that the butler, in whom AYinsor places the most implicit confidence, is the culprit. With very subtle touches Mr Galsworth.v indicates the manner in which De Ley is “gives himself away.” the growing distaste

with which the other members of the party, not forgetting the impeccable butler, regard his failure to observe the proper conventions, while De Levis himself notices and resents their altered tone. It makes him the more determined to get to the bottom of tile business, and to disturb the complacency of these superior persons. As a matter of fact, De Levis discovers n clue which appears to incriminate a fellow-guest, a soldier and a,gentleman. who belongs to the circle of the elect. T‘.:e others refuse even to suspect Captain Dancy, hut they know that in .this censorious world an unproven canard may he fatal to a reputation. and that the stigma would attach, not merely lo the individual himself, hut to the whole order. As Winsor says: “I entirely and absolutely refuse to believe anyhing of the sort against Ronald Dancy -in my house. Dash it. General, we must do as we are done by. It hits us all—it hits us all. The tiling is intolerable.” So they agree to bring pressure on De b“vis by a kind of social blackmail. Jf he whispers his insinuation to anyone lie

will be expelled from his clubs at tlieir instance and "ill become a social outlast. But ti c scheme tails. 1> Bevis is blackballed without their intervention .nd thinking that the compact has ! cut br-.ken | ukl.ily accuses Dancy <f theft. The latter's friends do not doubt his innocence tor a moment, but insist that lie must clear bis name by a libel i s it. They remind him that it is not a i|iiostion of himself, but oi the order to which he belongs. Dancy is stiangeIv reluctant, but the thing lias to be j and during the bearing of t.io action information comes to the ears , f liis legal advisers which makes them withdraw fioin the ease. Though his friends are rudely disillusioned, tey will stand by him to the extent of helping him to get away to Morocco, where he can join t’’e Spanish Foreign Legion. But Dancy prefers a. more direct method of escape. The thing is admirably done. The loyatly of Dancy’s friends is not simply due to a conviction of his personal integrity, although that enters into it. It springs from a belief, nay, a religion that among the AVinsors, the Daiicvs, and Canynges. and their associates such things as Do Levis alleges are not done. It is a class loyalty. Even'the old General who harbours certain vague suspicions will hardly admit them to him se’f. To Lord St. Erth, the filial arbiter of all questions affecting honour. the idea that Dancy is guilty is unthinkable, but that after all is a secondary consideration. The main point is that the good name of the order must be established. This loyalty may lie illogical and anti-social—as one

character observes, “Prejudices—or, rather- loyalties-- T don’t know which, criss-cross”—but there is something fine alrout it. And De Levis, too. is Icynl lifter his fashion—loyal to his . rn£e, which lie conceives to have been insulted ; loyal to its traditions, which is to requite good with good and evil with evil. Tlic play abounds in dramatic situations, and should act very well. It is rich in characterisation. Xo single figure monopolises our attention, hut all are compact of life, and even the subordinate characters are intensely vital and significant.