Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-29
Columbia Theater.

Henry Miller. with an excellent COM
pany. presented William Vaughn Moody 5
dubious play. The Great Divide at the
Columbia Theater last night to appre-
ciative audience that manifested it's APP
prevail more than once. and in the second
act with repeated recalls
The reception of the play last night is
a full answer to criticism from the stand
point of the people Who patronze the box
office.
That The Great Divide is a very IN
terestinG play is established by popular
approval OF it. That it presents some in
tenSely strong situations cannot be nues-
toned. That it is great play Is a point
upon which criticism may fairly divide.
Great plays should teach great lessons.
Measured by that standard THE Great
Divide is not great play, for its mission
seems TO be TO mix oil and water, and
when the completed compound is pre-
scented at the close those who are skcp-
teal may be pardoned if they doubt that
the mixture has been chemical success.
Tie last act does not measure UP to the
other two i'll any respect. In fact, ii
seems weak tame and forced. Had tie
crown of resenerated manhood been final
~ set upon the suffering brow of the de-
baucled barbarian. Stephen Client, OF the
first act, upon his native heath, where
his downfall had been wrought, the west
ern atmosphere of the play, its chief
charm would not have been sacrificed.
Had the woman he had WronSed from tie
beginning been made to perceive his latent
but unfolding virtues by suggestion rather
than through his bounty To her and her
people, her conversion and the develop
ment of her love for him might at least
have seemed more delicate and less seliis.l.
But the tenderest evidences o. his at
fectlon, tie repeated manifestation OF
qualities Of true nobility. it seems. failed
to move her until, III that honely setting
of a Massachusetts home, she learned
that he had saved the home saved her
mothers fortune. saved ler brother, all
by reason of his money She resigned the
high position she had maintained through
out the PLAY, acknowledged him her mas
ter and besought him TO tea Oh her his
nobility.
Henry Mil!er's portrayal of the role OF
stephen Ghent is masterfu throughout.
II must be seen TO Dc properly apprcci-
ated. 1t discloses his finished ability as
an artist OF high order Perhaps the
greatest interest centers in the charac-
ter of Ruth Jordan, now .mpersonated by
Miss That's i.awton formerly by Miss
Margaret Anglin Miss i.aNtons arr is
consistent and convincing. and her per
sonality magnetically pleasing through
out Not for an instant is there q sem
blance OF forsetIulness or self-conscious-
ness. She is the strong, beautiful char
acter of Ruth Jordan in her every line
and action Laura Hope Crews is an
ideal Polly Jordan. pretty. superficial,
frivolous and Yet withal not without quail
tiles that establish her worth low
able woman. The remainder Of the cast
is quite mp to the standard and James
Korkwood as Lon Anderson. and Arnold
Wilbur as Dutch, with their splendid
character representations. far above ii.
The Great Div de'' VII fiji the Column
bia this week ut every performance AS
it has filled every house wherever il has
been presented during it successful ca
reer.