Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-17
ADJUSTMENTS
New National.

Each year a new play is expected
from Mr. Robert Edeson. and the
task of providing him with a con-
genial drama is one of recurrent in
terest. Mr. Blossoms limitations are
not so much those of individual ca
pacity as of popular impression. He is
an actor of genuine and manly style,
with a strong magnetic grip on the
sympathies as we'll as compelling
but judicious, sense of comedy. The
public. however. has become accus-
toned to seeing him in a situation
which exploits primitive manhood in
an environment of higher civilization.
In his latest offering. The Cave Man."
prepared by Mr.. Gellett Burgess from
novel entitled Lady Mechanic" Mr.
Edeson no longer represents the
American Indian. who finds the doors
of social opportunity relentlessly
closed to him. He appears as a coal
HEAVIER. creature, who. though pur
porting to be a type, is entirely
creature of the authors energetic
imagination and the actors skill. Mr.
Edeson takes it vigorously in hand.
and. by his single character portray
al, gives the piece back bone and fiber.
The central idea is SO striking and en-
PERTAINING that its appeal cannot be de-
stroyed by method OF treatment super
fetal in the extreme. He is brought into
a device not strongly fortified with logi-
cal force, and while there discovers the
rather obvious fact that the people are
insincere and devoid of soul Lady
Mechanic, vivaciously played by Grace
Elliston. confides to a young woman the
belief that she can make a social lion
of the first man who picks up a card
thrown from her window. A coal HEAVIER
puts in his appearance-dirty-f faced be-
yond human semblance, sodden and sub
dued. Lady Mechanic is not daunted
by the idea of turning her bathroom into
an AuSean stable, and summons two
French BARRIERS to perform the functions
of Hercules. Having cleaned up the
coal HEAVIER, she introduces him to her
friends as a settlement worker
The satire on mushroom aristocracy ad-
dresses itself chiefly to questions of table
manners, the inference being that the
Lady Mechanic, who for some reason
that does not appear in the dialogue. con-
dennis herself to the associations, be.
comes gradually oblivious to the coal
beavers disadvantages and comes to ad-
mire the real manhood which asserts
itself under more luxurious surroundings.
She becomes convinced of his native SUI
periority by his development of a talent
for creating violent caricatureS in hard
colors, denoting future in the field of
poster decoration. and as conclusion to
the drama frankly dispenses with such
little artificialitieS as knives and forks.
QTllkS peer ITOHu d DOtlie anu vows, III
effect that. let society say what it will.
she will be the coal heavens wife-even
though he has given up his job and tied
a red ribbon on the handle of the shovel.
An unsympathetic recitation of the plot
outlines makes it the more remarkable
that by force of brisk dialogue and good
character study the play should consti-
tute so agreeable an evenings entertain
ment. The events through which Mr..
Edison's character moves are an assem-
IL x.f1 h..
character itself is sturdy and convincing.
The comedy is frank and emphatic and
shades of human emotion are finely yet
vigorously contrasted. The auditor is
soon able to discard the suggestions OF
imprObability which assert themselves
and to follow with unhindered amuse
ment the adventures of THE Coal HEAVIER
in Wonderland"
The subordinate cast displays a prof.
cheney quite equal to the demands of the
story, and the stage setting representing
the home of newly rich family is very
ella borate.