The Washington herald., 1913-07-08
Last Nights Theatrical Offerings
POLLS.
"Nnn and Superman.-

That a week is insufficient time for
even an excellent aggregation Of players
TO master the words in which such rapid
fire cynicisms as are contained in the
dramas of George Bernard Shaw are
couched was given ample demonstration
hv the Poll Players last evening in their
first presentation of Man and Super
man." that three-act comedy from the
Pen of the famous English dramatist.
who. more than any other, depends upon
smoothness for the carrying power of its
sarcasms aimed at the hypocrisies of the
feminine sex.
Man and Superman'' holds up the
foibles of human nature to ridicule in
such manner that the auditor feels the
dramatist laughing with him, rather than
at him. and IS assured that the boone
rangs which he hurls at mankind and
womankind catch him on the rebound in
such satisfying fashion that his multi
tudinous slams are accepted without Bit
terness In il Mr. Shaw gave his &C.
centricities such full reign that its re-
peated revivals have invariably scored
success, no less so than during the last
season. when the piece was presented In
this city with Robert Lorraine in the char
acter of John Tanner. the cynic, the role
through which Edward Mackay paved his
way last night; which does not mean that
Mr.. Mackay is incapable of the varied
lights and shadows which the role de-
mands, however. but simply that 1t is
tremendous task to maste- the invectives
against womanhood which the whimsical
author puts into the mouth Of John Tan
ner, who is the hub upon which the wheel
Of the whole drama turns.
Ia ner is a cynic who poses to his
friends as something of a woman-hater.
declaring that woman is the pursuer and
man the pursued through life: accusing
the whole of society of hideous insinceri-
ties and obvious hypocricies: a man who
is a curious blend of satire and philos-
ophy, himself pursued by his ward Ann
Whit efield, who, in the end. triumphantly
makes him marry her. His railery rings
but half sincere, for back Of 1t Is the all
too eager willingness to yield himself to
the infatuation of the one woman, a
characteristic of which the audience 10
quite aware even while he utters his
most scathing invectives against her.
And when one considers that Miss Jewel
is the enchanting Ann in the Poll pres
entation this week, one cannot wonder
at Tanners Ultimate capit,ilation to her
charms OF voice and magnetism of per-
sonality. In the role tie popular leading
woman of the Poll company was quite at
ease last evening. covering much OF the
choppiness of the performance of the
piece with her contagious humor ana IT.
resistible piquancy.
As the love-lorn aspirant to the hand OF
the hypocritical heroine Of the story.
Dudley Hawley paints very sincere and
amusing portrait of Octavius Robinson.
fit subject for AIMS caprice.
As Roebuck Ramsden, joint guardian
with John Tanner of AIMS difficult self.
Robert Cummings is excellent, while Ora
ham Velsey and Lolita Linthicum. as
Hector Malone and Violet Robinson re-
spectively, furnished an entertaining mi
nor love theme in the story Of Man and
Superman." In other minor roles. Helen
Tracy. Hazel May, Tom Williams, Frank
Shannon, and Gertrude Bondhill are con-
genially cast.
Mr.. Robins, the new scenic artist at
Polls, is to be congratulated upon the
settings he has given the production of
Mr.. Shaw's entertaining comedy, the
last one of which. showing the garden
of a villa in Granada, was so effective
as to have won the appreciative applause
OF the audience last night.
And what there was of unevenness In
the first Of the performance is Of such
a nature as to be readily overcome be-
fore the week progresses to any extent,
thus assuring the devotees Of the Poll
Players a week Of most refreshing enter
tainment.
l. q MANI