The evening world., 1911-10-27
aZaEhlle New Pa%x2zs
MGA "7be Only Son" MGgM
WMEAN Strikes a Really Qk1GW
~N Sympathetic Chord N%
@ u - -
81 CHARLES DARNTON.
Y CHARLES DARNTON.

ss-,fIE ONLY SON" draws ot the handkerchiefs-and that's always a
good sign. When an audience weeps,a as he ne at the Gaiety Theatre
e 1 did lastn night. the author may rejoice.
winchen Smith. in his latest play. strikes a really sympathetic chord. The
Only Son" Ia IN emotional appeai. hat every mother an every mothers son
Of 10 Is bound. to feel A boy who is good to his mother may always be sure
" . place in the affections OF people whose hearts are in the right place, for
there's something in devotion Of this sort that strikes very close to tn heart
Mr. Smith evidently wrote his play with a clear understanding of this side of
human mature. He las taken n simple truth and made 1t of theatrical value.
That's the tog m sho Of his three-ac; play.
Aside from this. however the authors shows a keen sense Of Characterization
Proof of this is to be found in the peculiar feminine quality of young Tom
brainard, who, after having shown himself good for nothing except a life
SVEN up to chorus girls. stands by his mother when her husband turns her
wsakhng makes nut a strong case for himself the very moment afer the girl
he honestly dmres has frankly told him hat lie isn't Mt to live. md his father
as assured hm that HI is no 1000 IN earth.
There st much left Of Inc hero afer the author gcst through INTRODUCED
MI Toms only virtue Il! that he bears his sins lightly. That h o Is capable
OF taktns anything seriously is never suggested until sudden catastrophe over-
X his smother. Even then he is true to his careless He merely
turns n asks "Whaen we TO- MOTHER" al hou he we're waiting IA t.o
her out for the evening.
Oddly enough. las; nights audience ok this question iaughingly. II ala no,
% the change In Tom simply because Wallace Eddngcr acted quite as he had
lone AL along II tish happens every night Mr. Eddnger surely is not oblane
~" u" play the part just as u mould be played. INK at TIT en- OF the act when
Tom drops do" almost stunned by what has happened. his whole attitude how
natl e mas sheen hit n hth hard. There Is something approaching feminine soft.
ness In Mr.. Eddingers acting HI uts the character renorkahv uu o,
Voush MS hys"r'"a'" 'fonrst a he cad of the play. when father and mother arr
rsunhed. seems lutte Unnecessary and rather silly.
1e scene mat has the greatest sincerity Is the one IN whhch Anne Lester tells
Hom NAT se Knows n Is going to Denver to shield his mother mott for the SAX
OF MS health. HIS trumped-up cough dies in his throat m he facest M s,ra,h,
gill In n straghtforwarl manner II father n on ~ g onv bT ~.
frank when they meet at he cottage near Denver instead Of STARING AZ each o,bsr
In silence the play you'd be a great deal. better of.
a. me sm VINO nHps ron TO make a man Of hinse'M Miss Olive wyndham is
. real gr. who makes one feel that She Is exertng a real influence rho civ
WIN hr IS nat Ne Is inclined to emphasize almost every word she uthrs
As the mother. Miss Louise Randolph is dhressngly emotional in tho Hrs, no.,
ot. once Ter tearsh have hd thit way She settles down and does good yorr
Eau GiNlngwater as the husband, also grows steadily better as he goes o,org
lie Is SO grin at hrst that he's seems STACEY. Miss Vivian Martin is uernyn ro,"
ner mother The author has gone out OF his a to get his contros, bo,u"sn
stands out for more than Il is worth, n the other ch,r,c,e, 49,. - Nv p.
hands But 1t is MIR. Eatnse. mos, of all who makes The 0r re san %n IN nn Soo
and interesting. -" Wv" s" human