The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-09-10
Fernando Eliscu and Ed
win Arden Please
Columbia Audience.

>OAOlllOld HQOlOllONs
Arthur Buchanan. George Bachus
Margaret Buchanan. his wife,
Miss JemTCys Lewis
Allan, their son. Edwin Arden
Helen. the daughter,
Miss Eva Condor
Deiia' servant at Buchanan,s
HanHin, furnace Iran
Dora. young orphan.
Little" Florence Burns
Prof. William AddIsoa iIurv=Ss adap-
tation OF T. Libin's domestic drama,
Ruth, presented as ne openine. at
traction at the Columbia Theater last
right by Fernando iciis:L, a. cap
able supporting company, is a play OF
three big situations, but weak in the
knitting together process. Ths theme
IS powerful. and while the pubic has
seen In other productions something sin.-
liar 10 each Of the three int lse scenes.
the grouping is unique
Unlike many OF the so-c4red rel
corpuscle' plays Of the day, Ruth"
does not preach pernicious neral, yet
10 the casual observer II might be COW
strued as philippe against truth when
he truth Is unpleasant. The fact that
Ruth, a woman with a past, WIN has
been happily married. is finally driven
into the streets because she confesses
10 her husband the early sin which kept
EnaWing at her heart, would seem at
nrst 70 argue for the unitarian policy
Of talsehood and deception. in reality
however, the compelling theme Of the
play Is the memorable demands OF purity
and personal integrity. The preacnment
IS not against society nor against lack
OF sympathy on The part Of women who
are good as result OF environment,
but Is intended as an exposition OF the
Nemesis that stalks relentiessly after
The woman who violates the cardinal
tenets of purity and truth.
The principal characters IN Ruth" are
Well-dTaWn, but Clumsily handled. There
is an absence Of smOothness in the en-
frances and exits.
When the father or the mother or the
sister would be helpful In bringing about
a climax that father or mother or sister
is made 10 come before the audience re-
CARELESS CT all rules Of dramatic con-
sJruCtiOn.
One OF the most glazing Inconsistencies
OF the play Is the manner in which the
character Of Hankin, the furnace man,
is handed. whenever Ruth Is about 70
gain the full confidence OF the husband.
Hankln IS dragged into the library III
OEeralls. muddy trousers. unshayen face.
clawlike hands, ct cetera. The excuse
for interpOlating such q character when
ever the dramatist finds IL an easy mat
/ ter 10 develop a situation thus, is that
Hankin Is a socialist He argues with
the sister OF the household and forces
his views upon the family in a most i'm
| Rankin IS brought face 10 face with
Ruth and each time he begins Il lust re-
member now where saw you in former
years-Were YOU ever in" Then Ruth
as often denies that she was. ever in
J whatever place he may mention. We
/ are never told exactly where Hankin
dld see Ruth, or under what Circum-
/ stances. This repeated query as 10
I Ruth. itinerary In her youth, though Il
/ SOUNDS saCT1leg1Ous, reminds one OF the
| Prince Of -Pilsen" and the comedian s
pride in "Ceen-ceen-net-ty.'
huth's confession 10 her husband. her
flight from his house when he accuses
l her OF theft. and her homecoming in
/ order to die in his arms. are ali handled
Z IN foTceful. InClsiYe manner. Had the
1 less important phases OF the play been
I treated With the skill Of the climaXes
/ Ruth would unquestionably be a biz
1 drama. The theme is sufficiently pow.
| eTful 10 warrant reconstruction OF the
/ faulty parts There are number OF
/ minor questions that are left undevel.
/ oped.
Ruth. as portrayed by Miss EIscu. !.
q tragic. compelling nguTe. She does
/ not arouse the sympathy which one
( auditors. a fortunate difference from
q moral standpoint. Miss Eliscu's bis
/ scene in the third act was portrayed
! with great masterfUlpess, though sht
! might have attained the same result,
| with somewhat less fervor.
| Edwin Arden was capital as Allan, TIE
| husband. His reading was with thai
4 sureness which one has become zccus
/ toned TO expect from him, and he gave
I a thoroughly sympathetic portrayal Of
/ the contrite lover IN the last scene Mis-!
/ Jeffreys Lewis, as the mother, was
/ highly pleasing. while Miss Eva Condor
was cast for the most disa greeable role
/ Of Helen, the uncompromising daughter
| The role OF Dora, q young orphan. was
| clCvcriy handled by little Miss Florence
/ Burns
/ It was disappointment 10 the friends
| Of Miss Alice Butler to see her IN ~
\ uncongenial role Of Della, an Irish ser
/ want. The part was unsympathetic, and
I was not handled with skill.
! Ruth" IS handsomely mounted, and
| the production vas free from those
/ crudities which usually mark an early
| presentation Of so ambitious an Offering
! The audience was highly enthusiastic
| and frequently recalled the principals Il
/ the fOotights.