The Washington times., 1911-02-14
RACE PREJUDICE
IS EDES0N THEME
Author-Star Gives Stage An
other Civilized Indian
Creation.

In striking contrast to recent offer
ings at the National and offering a
diversion that Is rather welcome, Rob-
| ert Edeson, in his own play Where
the Trial Divides opened his week s
! engagement last night before almost
a capacity house which was demonstra-
| tive enough in its approval to induce
the playwright to appear before
the footlights at the end of the second
act and make a graceful speech of ap-
| probation.
OF course Mr. Blossoms play is. an
Indian play, for Robert Edeson with
out his red skin would hardly be Rob-
ert Edeson. Likewise it is a melo-
drama in which guns are fiourished
and shots are fired; a lynching is
| threatened and quick death imminent: !:
it boasts a real hero, who does not
have to resort to violence to cover the
rifraff and there is even a near villain,
! but withal II is decidedly interesting.
Were one inclined to be critical, a
number of inconsistencies might be
| found for the West as pictured as a
thoroughly up-to-date West where the
latest slang is heard and where even
the Mexican breed refers casually to
New York as though 1t were but a few
hours off. On the other hand there is a.
clever blending of pathos, near tragedy
and comedy, with quick transitions that
are gratifying and at times stirring ac-
tion that make the heart beats come
quicker.
Theme Is Big.
Blossoms theme is a big one and not
an altogether pleasant one. Racial
prejudice is the problem about which he
weaves his play. The story briefly told
begins some years before the play be-
gins. Following an Indian massacre
Colonel Lander, a big-hearted Western
er, found two children. the only sur
vivors of the fight. One of these was
little white girl. six years old, and the
other an Indian lad. How. He adopts
the girl and cares for the boy, and they
grow up together, How a white man In
every way except in color.
When the play begins the two are to
be married. Then a nephew OF the
colonel appears from the East, the uncle
dies suddenly, and the girl pays brief
visit to the Decentralization. She falls
in love with the new life and with her
cousin, but. true to her promise and
sense of duty. returns and marries How.
A few months suffices to show her the
mistake she has made She realizes the
attitude of the majority of the whites
and the bitterness of her lonesomeness
as squaw. Then Craig. the cousin, re-
appears on the scene, and How catches
them in each others arms.
Renounces Wife.
The husband has watched her grow
ing discomfort, and realized that he
could not make her happy, but that the
white man could. He fights his battle
out in silence. and finally renounces her,
warning Craig to make her happy, and
the play is over.
All the appeals against race prejudice
that one would expect are made, and
Edeson makes his Indian the noble red
man of fiction. His portrayal Of How
is well up to the standard. and there
are two occasions when he has his op-
portunity and rises to them. One of
these is when he is telling Bess of the
broadness Of his love for her and draw
ing a word picture Of their future life
under the open skies. The other Is his
remuneration in the last act.
Eva Dennison, who did commendable
work in a disagreeable role as the
younger sister in The Chorus Lady" Is
the girl in the play. Again she has a
part that Is not attractive, but she
leaves room for little fault finding in her
Bess Landor.
Mr.. Blossoms support is good in the
main, and several character parts pro-
vide a very satisfying amount of COM
edy. In spite of minor faults there is
something refreshing in the wholesome
thrills and legitimate comedy of the
National offering which will spur the
jaded appetites Of those on whom a
steady theatrical diet has begun to pail.