Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-07
MARGARET ANGL|N' s
PLAY RARE TREAT
The Awakening of Helena Richie
Is a Prose Epic of
Mother Love
CHARACTERS WELL ACTED
Emma Lowry to Succeed Grace
Gardner at the BeIaSCo.
Theater Gossip
BY SHIRLEY OLYMPUS

b1 SbA1NLEL OLAMFIOS
"The Awakening of Helena Richie"
is a real treat. There's enough in the
play to take ones mind completely off
the heat and create series of thoughts
which make the silly season not so
silly, after all. Judging from the ap-
plause which followed the final cur
tain, the treat was enjoyed to the full
est by the representative audience at
the Mason last night.
Margaret Deland's novel from which
the drama was adapted Is prose epic
of motherhood. 1t teaches that, no
matter how far a woman may stray
from the path marked by the laws of
God and man, she always has that di-
vine spark of mother love which kim
dies easily into a flame which will re-
fine and ennoble. In the play the les
son is brought out boldly, so that none
may mistake and misunderstood.
Though Helena Richie had sinned be-
cause she was human and wanted hap
pness, although she experienced un-
happiness in the end, everyone was
glad in a sincere and thankful manner
the precious bundle of urchin humanity
was placed finally and for all time in
her keeping.
Most of us are inclined to think that
In the days when grandparents were
young there was no such thing as sin,
no scarlet women, no men leading dou-
BILE lives For some mysterious reason
we have come to believe that the rot
tenness of society has come into exist
ence only in the present generation.
Possibly our belief is based on natural
regard for our progenitors. 1.-The
Awakening OF Helena Richie" goes far
toward correcting the impression and
making us realize that a good deal of
the old Adam was raised up in the men
80 toI fRV
the period of the play is about 1860
Stu the play does not disillusionize us.
Rather does 1t instruct, for 1t is more
educative than iconoclastic.
In 1.-THE Awakening of Helena
Richie" there's not character not in
tensely human. And In Miss Anglins
production there's not role poorly or
improperly acted. Unlike many stars,
Miss Anglin has surrounded herself
with a company of capable, tried play
ers, each of whom has ample opportu-
nifty to display his talents. Miss An
glin herself has the role of Helena
Richie. With all the art which has
made her a star does fhe portray the
unlovely, yet sincerely human. woman.
Miss Anglin's comedy is delightfully."- in
fectious; her emotional scenes grip
piigly intense. She plays the part as a
woman would feel. And that means
true to life. Even at time when
Helena Richie shows herself at her
very worst, Miss Anglin compels SYM
pathy, which is a tribute to her acting
Sally williams makes Martha King
an exact copy OF the prying, narrow
minded, "holier-than-thou" female per-
son met In every village. Gertrude
Swiggett has every mannerism of the
small-town servant. Walter Howe
knows we'll how to portray a country
doctor. Ones feelings divide between
sympathy and pity for his straight
laced ideas, when he, as DR. King,
forces Margaret to reveal her past
John r. Crawford makes DR.. Lavender
dSar. lovable old clergyman in voice.
manner and appearance. Master Ray
mond Hackett is every inch a boy, and
a capable actor, although he does wear
his hair bobbed. Halbert Brown has a
voice a bit too resonant powerful and
smooth for the age of the man he por-
trays. But Mr.. Brown succeeds in
making Benjamin Wright a most re-
pulsive, relentless. cruel and entirely
despicable old creature, whose own life
would hear no investigation. For re-
markabIy fine performance Eugene
Shakespeare must be given credit. He
makes Sam Wright, the poetic, senti-
mental and crafty -impulsive youth
stand out like a cameo.
1t isn't very easy for leading man
to enact a moral coward. Therefore
many persons may overlook the artistic
efforts of Eugene Ormonde. His Lloyd
Pryor is such part as to make every
spectator believe the cruel cad should
be taken out in some quiet vacant lot
and shot. Pryor's cowardice is based
on waning passion and selfishness su-
preme 1t isn't an easy task for an
actor to convey such meaning artisti-
cally, but Mr.. Ormonde succeeds,
thanks to his ability.
''The Awakening of Helena Richie"
is worth while. 1t will be presented
tonight, Friday night and Saturday
matinee. Saturday night Miss Anglin
will present her greatest success, MRS.
Danes Defense" For the production
she has brought q special cast from
New York. Although the play is an old
one, it will be more than worth seeing,
for no actress has ever approached
Miss Anglin in the role of Mrs. Dane.
Charles Giblyn yesterday renewed
his contract with the Belasco company
for another year.
Manager Blackwood of the Belasco
theater yesterday engaged Miss Emma
Lowry to succeed Grace Gardner. Miss
Lowry is a cousin of Clark Howell
editor of TIL, Atlanta Constitution. She
is clever young southern girl and