The Washington herald., 1911-06-11

edy dealing with that ecclesiastic element
90 dear 70 the heart Of country where
freedom Of thought is held at premium.
The principal characters are a young
girl, Anna; young student, Hans; an old
priest q young priest, and an idiot boy.
Anna IL an flIegitimate daughter Of the
sister Of the old priest, Father Paul, and
has been reared, by him. The young
priest persistently pursues the girl with
entreaties to enter convent and atone
for the sins Of her mother. Father Paul.
however wishes the girl. who has
bright, sunny temperament, to enjoy the
full pleasure OF life. Hans, Anna's
cousin, pays a visit to the old home.
while on his way to the university. AL
most at the same time the young priest
receives word that the girl has been ac-
cepted at the convent. He renews his
efforts to make her become a nun. and
Anna, driven to choose, falls victim to
her impulsiveness, despite her love for
Hans.
Father PAU is then confronted with
repetition Of the sorrow that he in
eurred earlier in his life. He knows the
ehaplain's insistence and realizes that
the girl has Jeen victim of circum-
stances. He commands Hans to leave
at once ana 60 to the university until
he may return and marry Anna. The
idiot boy, however, mercifully takes a
hand in the proceedings. He becomes
Jealous of Hans. attempts his life, but
kills the girl instead, thereby releasing
the audience from the further tortures
OF a Teutonic masterpiece. ,....
Mr.. Hops ambition is laudable. AS
has been previously stated, he aims to-
ward the production Of foreign master
pieces for the instruction and edification
OF New Yorkers in general and the
Wage-earners' Theater League in par
ticular. His selections, however, have
failed to stand the acid test of critical
New York and so far he has been unable
to put across winner.
Miss Louise Woods, In the role Of
Anna, fails to catch the spirit Of her
part. She IL not at all convincing: her
dietion is poor. and on the whole her
rendition Of the scene where the girl
chooses between her love and the church
Is rather fiat. David Manning, on the
other hand. makes a most convincing
idiot. He plays this difficult role with
wealth OF business that would have
done credit to the silliest inmate Of an
insane asylum. Pell Trenton, who plays
Hans, and Robert Wade, ST., as the old
priest both acted their parts WE'LL while
Ralph Newman as the chaplain quite sur
passed himself in religious zeal, which,
II turned In the proper direction, would
have been better expended in pleading for
an indefinite postponement Of the pro-
duction.
Society in "Pinafore."
New York's 400 are planning an en-
trance into the theatrical world early in
July, under circumstances whose oddity
will cover a multitude of the sins OF
faulty production. They will attempt
nothing less than a rendition Of Gilbert
and Sullivan's classic opera, 'Pinafore," "
on board q model Of the Half Moon,
Hendrick Hudson's old ship moored in the
sequestered recesses of Manhassett Bay,
Long Island. The Half Moon will be
turned into a stage for the actors, the
scenery will be most realistically COM
posed Of water craft, dressed in the
garb OF war ships Of the early eighteenth
century, and an orchestra will discourse
sweet music from a barge moored along
side the stage" while those fortunate
enough to secure bids will view the per-
formance from various boats loaned for
the occasion by the several exclusive
yacht clubs interested.