Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-18
Columbia.

Tyrone Power and Henry Mile. S
band of players with Charles Ram
Kennedy's wonderful play, The Ser
want in the House." constitutes the at
traction at the Columbia Theater this
week. The performance last night
held the deep interest of its audience.
The Servant in the House." has been
proclaimed by leading critics as the
greatest drama of the generation" the
most beautiful play of all ages and
"a work of art true enough and SIM
pie enough to touch the heart of the
world Close and continuous acquain :
ance with 1t sustains the thought that
1t is a powerful sermon presented with
marvellous force and conviction.
Mr.. Kennedy has employed symbol
ism Of high order to teach in dramatic
form the lesson of the brotherhood
of man, and yet that symbolism is so
| simple and SO forceful never to
leave the simplest mind in doubt as to
its purpose. The characters Of the
play typlfy conditions in all walks Of
life. The Bishop of Lancashire stands
for ecclesiastical inSincerity; the drain
man for the unfortunates among the
toilers; his daughter for the simplicity
and perception of innocence; the cler-
gyman's wife for love that might be
characterized human idolatry; the page
boy for the class that has been taught
to serve and bow down before caste;
| the vicar for the weakness of human
tty, that still aspires to the good.
while Manson. the servant in the
house." crucibly symbolizes the teach
Ing of the Christian religion.
Tyrone Power, as the drain man, next
to the story itself, was the dominant
feature OF last nights performance. His
forceful impersonation of the character
that is the very soul of the plot viii
always stand out in towering superiority
1t was masterful portrayal in its every
detail. Next to him. perhaps. Wilfred
house." and Miss Jessie GlendinninS, as
Mary, the daughter of the drain man.
claimed attention. Mr.. Rogers concep-
| ton largely follows that of the original
in the role, although he invests it with
a human coloring that makes it more
realistic and less mysterious. Miss Glen
DINING gave presentation OF the role
of Mary that developed in charm as the
play progressed and she became less
self-conscious than in the first act. when
1t was Manson and not the audience that
should have had her close attention.
George w. Wilson's Lord Bishop of
Lanca shire was good. David Glassford.
as the vicar, uncle of Mary and brother
of the drain man and the Bishop of
Benares, seemed lacking in familiarity
with his part, which caused him to over
look several excellent opportunities, yet
his performance had its merits. Miss
Edith Cranes work, as the wears wife.
was earnest and conscientious. THE
Servant in the House. unlike the aver
age DRAMA demands of its players the
highest capabilities always. Such Is the
dignity of it's story and so intensely a
part of it is each character employed in
it's telling that the slightest inadver-
tence, the least departure from the re-
auirements, of role. is to force itself
home upon the audience. Last nights
performance was a good one and held
the thinking attention Of the audience
from the rise of the first curtain until
the fall of the last. The audience in
Guided men and women in every walk of
life. and there was a large representation
of clergymen present. who followed the
lines and the development of the drama
with the closest attention.