| + − | Am. J. Soc. 13: 273. S. ’07. 920w. |
“The work is rather crudely arranged and written.”
| + − | Ann. Am. Acad. 29: 637. My. ’07. 130w. |
“Most interesting sketch.”
| + | R. of Rs. 36: 638. N. ’07. 100w. |
Hankin, St. John. Three plays with happy endings. French, S:
The three plays are “The prodigal’s return,” “The charity that began at home” and “The Cassilis engagement.” “They have no plots, present no conflicts of character, and are practically destitute of dramatic action.... Familiar as most of the personages are in the world of the footlights—the rich and vulgar parvenu, the complacent parson, the self-excusing wastrel, the East Indian military bore, the quack, the music hall siren, her mother, and their rich young dupe—they are sketched with such happy dexterity and vivacity that they assume a certain semblance of freshness and reality.” (Nation.)
“Since realism has come to mean something violent, something even indecent, let us call Mr. Hankin a naturalist who is doing for the English stage what Constable did for European landscape. He contrives beauty and interest, decoration even, by keeping the tones and values of drama in their true relation to life. He is a fairy godmother who has saved the rather vulgar coach from being run over by the motor-car of realism.”
| + | Acad. 73: 941. S. 28, ’07. 1280w. |