The Washington herald., 1909-03-30
LAST NIGHT AT THE
LOCAL PLAYHOUSES
THE BELASCo.
George Arliss as the DeviI.


George ArIiss as the Devil.
No nan mesns evil. bur the Devil. and We shall
know him BY bis horn&-Ths Merry Wires OF
Windsog.
The influence Of evil upon mankind is
the theme of Molnar's play. ''rhe Devil. "
a translation Of which by Alexander
Konta and william Trowbridge Larned
came 70 the Belaseo Theater last night.
with George Arliss in the leading part.
Aside from the fundamental idea. which
IS admittedly unique, one is inclined 10
wonder why such a wealth OF discussion
and opinion was precipitated by this play
at the time OF its initial production on
this side of the water.
Admittedly The Devil'' Is a literary
effort OF no unmeasured Importance. II
is a complete sermon on the fact that
whatever tendency a man has for evil
is a far more powerful Ingredient in his
cosmos than his instinct for good. Look
ing upon the Devil In his character in
the play, he Is a suave. insinuatiEg in
trigant. whose principal leaning might
be said TO be toward mischief. were not
the results OF his Vaccinations far-reach-
"a
symbol Of incarnate fendishness. He leads
weli-meaning people who are fghting
their unholy tendencies. TO abandon
themselves 10 the easier path which leads
from the straight and narrow. He char
acterizes himself as a citizen OF the
world" but certain overt illusions to
his anteeedents give the audience TO IN
derstand pretty clearly his diabolIeal
origin.
The play is brilliant with wfttioisms.
but they are all. alas! cynicisms. such as
the Devil voices when he says that a re-
mote ancestor Of his once undertook 10
advise a woman. and the episode has been
a blot on his family escutcheon ever
since. On another occasion he says. "A
wife is Ike a monocie: an elegant thing.
but without which the vision Is clearer"
Being literary rather than dramatic.
''The Devil must intensely interest the
student OF the psychological drama, but
there are long periods during which moth
ing happens but conversation, hence it
cannot enjoy a wide scope OF popularity.
Its very smaTtness in dialogue is fatal
defect. since this Is plainly used as a
cloak 10 hide structural weaknesses.
While we admire the brilliancy and the
audacity OF the idea. and marvel al the
splendid acting OF not only Mr. Arliss.
but the whole company, We cannot but
regret that the play IS morbid. that Il
harps continually upon the chord OF hu-
man weakness. that its lighter passages
which pass for comedy and lead 70 laugh
ter are literary gymnastics. the epigTam-
matte frOth that gives but momentary
satisfaction. Yet The DeviI' has a mes
sage. and the lesson to be drawn from
the working out OF its story is one which
VIII always prove beneficial II shows US
how rigidly we must shun even the ap-
pearanee Of evil. that II once we allow
suspicion and doubt TO influence Us. We
are led on 10 boundless unhappinesS. The
moral Is drawn without resort 10 fatuous
sermOniZing, but put into sucl. speech
that the intelligent may find food for
thought.
or the acting OF George Arllss as the
Devil nothing but the highest praise can
be said II Is so rare treat 20 watch the
movements OF a finished actor like Mr.
Ariiss as 20 be almost unequaled-cer-
tainly not among our native talent Mr.
Arliss has a most intelligent conception
Of how 70 play the Devil. both physi-
.
I tax the ingenuity and perhaps bshle the
ordinary actor. But Mr.. Ariiss plays with
a suTeness OF touch. and shows a stu
dents keen knowledge Of human weak
nesses: al least, his Devil so impressed
/ the writer, who had no opportunity Of
comparing this actor with any other OF
| the numerous ones who essayed the part
and failed. Therefore. Mr.. Arliss must
be pronounced master Of this part Just
as he has proved himself TO be a master
OF whatsoever role he plays
OF the supporting company. Hamilton
/ Revelle gave a most intelligent interpre-
tation OF the artist. whose love affairs
I both legal and Illegal. interest the
! Devil so profoundly, and with which he
succeeds In playing havoc. Miss Anne
/ Sutherland was not an ideal JOlan-she
was perhaps a little more stoical than a
woman would naturally be under the cir
cumstsnces. Possibly she took her cue
1 from the pace Of the performance. which
| Jagged in spite OF the stars efforts. Her
I bert Budd was adequate as VorOss, who
really has little 70 do but furnish one
point Of the triangle composed Of himself
/ his wife. and the artist. Mrs. George
Arliss as Fanny. the model. was natural.
and. therefore. pleasing. and Marion
Ruckert as Wilma also good
WILLIAM OSBORN.