The Washington times., 1910-04-05
Is Leading Figure in Drama
tization of The White
Sister"
REVIVES PROBLEM
OF MIDDLE AGES
Gloomy Exposition on the Catholic
Church ar the Belasco Neither
Offensive Nor Pleasing.
By J. R. HILDEBRAND.

That pretentious failure ''Kassa. " might
have given most managers pause before
they pierced convent walls for another
play. But Miss Viola Allen. under the
direction Of the Lieblers. has this
time bravely shouldered the task Of
portraying the life of a nun Last
night she appeared IN THE White Sis
ter at the Belasco Theater-
Since the opening performance was a
benefit for the Sisters Of Mercy, a larger
portion OF the audience, probably, was
OF the Catholic faith. The drama.
therefore, was subjected 10 a sORt Of
preliminary acid test 1t did not
assay very we'll It could hardly have
given offense TO men or women Of any
creed. If the subject Of nunnery and
vows is to be treated on the stage at
ali The White Sister was acceptable.
But there vas considerable discus
sion between the acts as 10 the wis
dom of weaving dramatic fabric Of
this material.
Brings Up Dark Ages
why stir up fires that have been
mouldering since the Dark Ages asked
one Catholic, paraphrasing a line in
the play Many of the audience may
have regarded the presentation in the
light of the Roosevelt incident at
ROme-as an unfortunate occasion for
dlsputation. In the opinion of the
Catholic quoted above, to members Of
. his church, the play ended scarcely
after II had started, while To others It
was hardly ineligible. The produc-
ton should give 10 broad-minded PrOtes-
tants a clearer insight into the Catholic
faith, and it is TO be hoped that II will
not cause endless discussions between
zeaIots Of other creeds-
All this hasn't much 70 do with the
play from a dramatic standpoint The
impression left with the audience. IL
IS 10 be feared, Was that OF hearing q
sermon or an exposition OF q ceItAln
phase OF religious belief rather Lnan
that Of a stage narrative That Is the
biggest fault OF The White Sister.
In dramatizinE the story the melodra-
matte episodes have been plucAed Out
and they are not toned BY the rich Ital-
ian atmosphere that F Marion Craw-
ford could convey on the printed page.
The play is concerned alone with sister
Giovanna and her lover. Captain Glo-
vanni SeYeri The captains departure
for the battlefield the reports OF his
death. and the despair of his sweet
heart who seeks refuge in the church
take place before the curtain rises The
play Is concerned with his return and
with his efforts 10 make the White Sis
ter break her VOWS 10 marry him. Her
refusal results In his sGiclde and she
seeks sOlace in service among the lep-
ers Of Rangoon-
Story Soon Told.
All Of this Is told in the first two
acts, save the fate Of the captain, and
there the play ends as far as the inter
est IS concerned. The last two acts
convey the effect of having been man
for a theatrical performance. As they
progress the structure becomes wobbly
and pretty nearly the whole edihce top
pies down by the time The Countess
CEiaramOnte and Lieutenant BasiH I'm
ish their colloQuy in the last act.
The austere garb Of the sisterhoOd.
which enveloped her figure in uncom-
promising plainness ard nearly hid her
face afforded Miss Allen Iessened op-
portunity to exercise that grace Of
movement and mobile expression that
make her acting a delight. There were
no love scenes 10 tighten the SOmber-
ness OF the play. But despite all that
Miss Aliens acting was the chief jus
LITIGATION of the production.
The spirit OF her representation was
hardly less striking and correct than
her costume. Even her expressive voice
was mOdulated TO almost a monotone to
add to the effect.
The rest Of the cast was hardly as
satisfactory. James O'Neil, as Mon
signore Saracinesca, looked every inch
a soldier in prelate's robes and lacked
the benignauce generally attributed to
his Office. That other excellent actor
William Farnum, added nothing 70 his
reputation by his portrayal Of Captain
Severi He showed a marked predilec-
tion for methods generally accredited TO
melOdrama.
Giinna Gale was acceptable in the
thankless part Of Countess Chiaramonte.
and Fanny Addison Pitt Overdid a char
Gcter part in Madame Bernard.