The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-03
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COLUMBIA. ...
COLUMBIA.
"Man and superman."

| o" uhu SoPNho"'
Six or seven years have passed since
George Bernard Shaw's delightful COM
edy, Man and Superman," was first
seen in Washington. with Robert Lo-
raine as the star. and it's and his return
was the signal for the assembling at the
Columbia Theater last night Of one Of
the most brilliant audiences Of the sea-
son to extend a cordial welcome. II is
elmost impossible to take Shaw seriously.
Somehow he makes the impression OF
laughing at himself while utterlng one
atrocious assault after another upon ac-
cepted social canons and twisting logic
and reason all out Of shape. Like pins
In bowling alley, his oondemnations of
tme-honored usages are set up only to
he knocked down by himself. and his
most acerbated diatribe against social
conventions, or the relations of the sexes,
or any other established institution, re-
solves itself in the end into a most joy
Gus giggle. He is the modern imperso-
nation of Satyr and Faun combined in
one. Shaw cannot even hide behind a
mask. To him only the unreal is real,
and reality is a sham.
In Man and Superman" the eccentric
author INDUCES his quaint humor to the
very farthest limit. His hero, John Tan
ner. fairly revels in seeking to over
turn by his augmentation the founda-
lions upon which the social structure has
been erected. He would have US believe
that white is black and black is white.
His invective against marriage, and es-
pecially the part which the man plays in
h..
with the woman, would do honor to the
most ingrained woman hater. and yet
through 1t all there is an. undertone of
something which antagonizes his most
elaborate deductions. John Tanner does
not half believe what he breaches: he is
merely whimsical. At the same time II
would be unfair to deny that in the mass
Of assertion and contradiction there is
not now and then a grain OF solid truth.
George Bernard Shaw is not altogether
sportive.
Mr.. Lorraine is the most perfect inter-
prefer possible OF the authors whims.
He has made the part of John Tanner a
complete creation from whatever angle
it is looked at. From the moment OF his
rushing upon the stage with the will
which makes him cO-guardIan of a
NpNilS SIls lHEoukn All MS
struggles to escape the fate which from
the first moment has threatened him,
until at last he succumbs TO the newt
able and becomes a willing victim Of the
G.rl who had marked him for her own,
his every act and word are pregnant
with life and force. Not for a minute
Goes he allow us to lose sight Of the fact
that John Tanner. while accusing every
body of insinCerity, is shamefulIy insin-
fEr uEif fr1nga
heart he entertains considerable doubt
as TO his own convictions. Mr.. Lorraine
Is rare elOcutionist: II Is a genuine
pleasure TO listen to his speech; not a
word. not a syllable is indistinct. and
this unfortunately too rare accomplish
ment lends additional charm to his de-
lightful impersonatIon.
Miss Renee Kelly is an altogether en-
chanting Ann Whitefeld. She presents a |
captivating picture OF the maiden who |
knows exactly what she wants and i.lso
is not overscrupulous in the employment
OF innocent articles to accomplish what !
she aims at. Winsomc in appearance and
gifted with no small measure of artistic |
skill. she took an important share OF the |
applause which was literally and deserv- !
eddy heard throughout the performance !
Miss Marguerite Unett was a pleasing |
companion picture in the part Of Violet |
INoDlhsoH' ana May seton, as Miss susan |
Ra msden. invested the small part Of n |
vitrioliC old maid with much humor. As |
Mrs. Whtefield Ethel Marryat made one |
OF the hits Of the evening. Louis Massen |
was excellent as Roebuck Ramsden |
Tanners Co-guardan. a. +. Kaye gave |
A splendid portrayal of Henry Straker a |
shrewd chauffeur, who has a contempt |
for people that do not drop their
matches" Radcliffe Fellowes and Will |
lam McNoy. Hector Malone. jr, and |
Hector Malone, ST, rounded out the ad- |
mrable cast.
Laughter-shouts of twas the order
of the evening, and better pleased au-
dience never left a playhouse.
After the second act Manager Berger
that the prize of IS for the
best essay had been awarded to Mrs. II.
B. Hollafeld.