The Washington herald., 1908-01-21
The BeIasco-"The Great Divide"

Ht bEAaHtN---E ht DsN
The single performance Of THE Great
Divide" which was given here last
spring seems to have only whetted the
appetite of local theatergoers for more
Of this remarkable play, for a most dis
tinguished and attentive audience was
present last night at the Belasco.
"The Great Divide" which Is from the
pen OF Prof. William Vaughn Moody,
is straight-from-the-sh treatment
of a moving subject It pictures duel
between a man and a woman-a duel
fought to a finish between two widely
opposing natures, with the vastness of a
Western desert land for setting II is
a powerful problem that the author has
set himself in this play, and 10 its logical
fuifllment he delves deeply into the
secret reCesses Of the human soul
The story of The Great Divide" is
daring. but is handled In q direct man
ner, without unwieldy ramlfeations of
subplot or unnecessary verbal adornment
II is a play of feeling. rather than Of
words. For whole moments during the
action no word is spoken, yet the work
ing Of the minds of the characters is
TO the audience as an open page.
stephen Client, a type Of man who has
become rough and careless through dis
appointment and lack Of inspiration.
rescues a woman, who is his social an
tithesls. from an unspeakable fate at the
hands Of two desperadOes and literally
buys them of at her entreaty. She turns
10 him because he is the least degraded
Of the three who have set upon her-alone
and unprotected in her cabin at night
She gives herself 10 Client. even though
he grants her a chance for freedom. be-
cause she has given her word that their
bargain is 'on the square" Although
hts treatment Of her is fair, the inevitable
recurrence in heF mind Of the horror of
the beginning of their life together blinds
her to the real nobility Of his character.
awakening under her unconscious iHfu-
ence. The outcome is "a perfectly logical
and satisfying one. and az no time is the
atmosphere OF uaturalness violated or
the theme lost sight OF.
Mr.. Miller and Miss Anglin have PLAYED
their respective roles OF stephen Client
and Ruth Jordan without cessation for
nearly two years. and have gained a sue
cess therein that is now stage history
{
perfect harmony In which they blend
their joint interest in two such widely
divergent characters speak volumes for
their artistic ability.
Mr.. Miller has long been regarded as
one of the intellectual actors of our
stage-One who has a purpose in what be
does. and who. In The Great Divide, %
has given a classic 10 the native drama.
Miss Anglin's emotional power IS well
known. and out of a wide variety Of
roles in which she has appeared thcr
( is none she has so completely imbued
with a vivid reality as Ruth Jordan.
/ The company. which is the same as
last year includes Mrs. Thomas Whiffe1.
the dear old lady of the stage; Laura
Hope Crews. who continues h-r breezy
WAYS as Polly; Charles Wyngate, Charles
GotthOld and James KiTkwOod.
J The stage setting for the second act. a
scene 'on the roof Of the world. over
I looking the Grand Canyon, was exquisite.
/ The appreciation of its beauty was shown
/ by the burst of applause that greeted its
disclosure. Miss Anglin and NJ Miller
were also obliged 10 respond To half "a
dozen curtain calls after the suOng scene
at the end of this act.