The Silver Crucifix

Examiner of Plays' Summary:

This is an old-fashioned play of which the chief ingredients are the humours of student life in Paris and a bad woman becoming a good woman under the influence of love. Since the present war plays a part in it the period is meant to be to-day, but the whole spirit of it belongs to 1870 or earlier. It is vigorously written, however, and brings off its broad effects. In act I Rene is a poor painter and Pascal, a rich painter and the villain of the play, makes love to Rene's beautiful wife, Madeline, and is kicked out by Rene. Then Rene comes into a fortune, but poor Madeline is knocked over by a motor and dies. In act II he comes back from America and meets Gabrielle, a famous dancer and a bad woman, but the very image of the dead Madeleine. She owes her fall to the wicked Pascal, from whom she wishes to get away. Rene persuades her to sit for an unfinished portrait of Madeleine. In act III she is reforming and in love with Rene, but he cares only for the memory of his wife and she goes back to Pascal, taking with her the little silver crucifix which belonged to Madeleine. But she hates Pascal and in a violent scene sends him away, and he and Rene (who has followed her in remorse) fight a duel. The war has broken out and in act IV it is supposed to be over and the young students rejoice, and Rene is wounded - his life saved by Pascal - and Gabrielle has been a nurse and they come together at last. It is possible that act II, which passes in a 'fast' cafe, with Gabrielle dancing on a table & c. may be lurid in its presentation, and the fun of the students in act IV may be too violent: so as the script goes, however, there is nothing to be cut out. The rest of the play is rather unreal but effective sentiment. Recommended for license, G. S. Street