The Washington times., 1906-09-18
THE GREAT DIYIDE"
OPENS THE BELASCO
Margaret AngIin and Henry
Miller in a Powerful
New Play.

season with a successful new play. Last
year il was THE Girl of the Golden
West" a melodrama so full or human
interest and so beautifully staged that
il leaned into instant popularity and
fame. Last night the Shuberts began
their Washington season with The
Great Divide production that is any
thing but a melOdrama, yet one hat
is sure 10 arouse the enthusiasm OF IN
teIligent theatergoers. From the dra-
matte standpoint the Moody play is 1ar
above the Belssco.
The story begins in southern Arizona.
Ruth Jordan New England girl, who
is thoroughly imbued with the tradi-
tions and prejudices OF her Puritan an
cestors. is left alone at night on ranch
which she and her brother are working
together. AS she is making her prep
arations to retire for the night. the
cabin is rushed by three drunken
'toughs." who easily overpower her.
They agree 10 throw dice for her own
ership. The girl, in an agony of de-
spair. appeals to the least brutal Of the
the three. She offers 10 become his
property il he will protect her from the
others-to go anywhere with him, to
slave for him, always TO do his will If
he viii but save her from the others
and give her the benefit of a marriage
ceremony.
us your talk on the IeveI?'' asks the
partially sober man.
Her Only Hope.
And when he has listened 20 her
frantic reiterations of the proposal in
which she sees her only hope from the
horrible degradation that threatens her,
he makes a sign of aCquiescence and
turns 10 his drunken companions. One,
a Mexican "greaser,' he satisfies with
a chain of gold nuggets. The other he
fights outside the cabin and drops.
For a few moments after he returns 10
the girl his better nature prevails and
apparently he Is willing 10 spare her
But when il becomes plain from her
manner 10 him that if he goes he viii
have no opportunity TO obliterate from
her memory the horror of that night
and return an honest suitor. he rough
~ orders her 10 come with MIN ana,
leaving. note for the absent brother
the two ride forth into the night 10
seek justice OF the peace
In the second act the couple are dis
closed 'on the loot oi me WDllu- over
looking the CaTduleTas-" stephen Ghcnt
has struck gold ana has wondcrtui
plans for the woman DE has married Dy
force Her brother finds her in her
mountain home and insists on an eX-
PLANTATION Of her seeming remarkable
conduct. But the unwilling VIE GUARDS
the secret of her unhapplneSs ana IN
PRODUCES her husband, addressing him
afectionately as steve
When the brother has left she eN-
plains to her captor that, being her
husb~nd his name and honor are sacred
20 her, even though she loaJheS him.
Then she produces the chain or mug
gests with which she was bought from
the Mexican. She has bought II back
with the money she has secretly earned
by basket and blanket weaving durinS
her husbands absence on business.
She exhibits her toll worn hands, tells
him she has not used cent or his
money, even for the food she has eaten,
bags him TO take back the chain of mug
gets with which he bought her, and give
her her freedom. The brother returns.
Client tells her she can choose between
them. She turns from him and falls
into her brothers arms Ine curtain
descends upon Client standing at the
head of the trail watching with bowed
head her departure from his mountain
home.
A Duel Of Personality.
Tie last act is in Mrs. Jordan's house
in Milford Corners, Mass. A child has
been born. which receives only a per-
functory care from its mother. Ghent
follows his wife. and by hribing ser
wants manages TO get news OF her and
10 see his infant son He has the sym
pathv of Ruth's mother. who meets him
without her daughters knowledge. and
arranges that he shall see his wife.
The final scene is exceedingly strong.
Ruth has told her mother the truth. and
Mrs. Jordan tells her she should have
accepted death rather than life at such
a cost Ghent-is admitted 10 the house
by Polly, Ruth's sister-in-law, and
makes final appeal 10 the woman who
DAD TH "a
force of the Westerner wins I'm a re-
markahle and extremely realistic duel /
of personality. Clients triumph is as
logical as it is dramatically strong.
S1 honest criticism of 'Thp Great Df-
vide admits one objection The sec
ond act Is somewhat long-its appeG! u /
act IS Niched low an- she acting or
beth Mis\ Anglin and Mr.. Miller very |
represSed. II Affords Miss Anglin the (
best opportunity for her wonderful tai
eut IN depic&ug emotion she has ever
had. The audience last night was
swept of its feet by the power and
dignity of her work. Mr., Millers per
fcrmarce IS q revelation. His playing
throughout commands the highest adj /
miTatiOn
The FIRST act is. it is perfectly fair to /
admit. melodr5matic After that the
appeal Is TO tho intellect rather than
the emotions. although the interest is
highly sustained 10 the last curtain. l
Mss Auglin's scene when her CaptoTs
are gambling for Fe- possession is one /
OF the strongest exhibitions of dramatic /
strength and wonderful facial control /
that Washington has seen for wears. |
The final duel between the two Is q /
suitable climax Of a powerful play. ex- /
cee,imgIy well acted,
The stage settings snow Mr. AIiIIer's |
genius for details and The scenery in /
the second act is beautiful. II depicts /
the mountains Of Arizona. and the -ich /
color effects are true 20 nature.
Miss Anglin and Mr. Miller practical |
" m0aopClize the stage. Their entire 1
supporting company is uCCcDtrhi /
Laura Hope Crews is excellent as Polly /
Jordan Robert Cummings as Lon /
Anderson makes n small part very
prominent by his good work. Charles |
G0tthold handles the part Of Winthrop |
Newb4ry satisfactorily
William Vaughn NoCjv has given the /
stage an excellent play that affords two 4
Of Americas leading actors every fac /