The Washington herald., 1913-01-21
THE NATIONAL.
.The Governor. Lady

For many a long day We have been
hearing the wall that there is no great
American play-typical Of and peculiar
TO our own country-but the cry must
now be stilled, for THE Governors
Lady" the first piece from the pen of
Alice Bradley, which was presented last
night in the New National Theater by
William Elliott and David Belasco, is
American to its core.
From the beginning of its action, which
takes place in the home Of Daniel Slade
in Western city, to the epilouge, timed
two years after the third act and laid
in Chfld's restaurant in New York City,
the auditor is keenly conscious that the
tragic heart story of Mary Slade could
have come only to the wife Of a self
made man of America.
The Governors Lady was first pro-
duced in the Republic Theater in New
York early in September, under the per-
sonal supervision of Mr.. Belasco, which
is equivalent to saying that the story
is perfectly framed. Not only was the
occasion of its premiere another evi-
dence of the discernment and genius of
David Belasco, but proved an epoch in
the career of Emma Dunn, whose pa
thetic appeal in the title role has not
been equaled since David Warfield wrung
our tears in his portrayal of The Music
Master"
The story is simple, homely, direct, and
vital. A Western miner strikes It rich
With an instructive yearning for power,
he grows ambitious, and his money buys
him political preference. He wants his
little wife, who has shaved for him, loved
him. and mothered him, to help him
push the ladder upon which he has
climbed from under his feet. ascending
with him to high social and political
position. But she cannot, and she Will
not try; so the man makes up his mind
that she shall not stand in his way.
In the beginning, when he proposes a
separation. she is mystined, but not
alarmed, because so simple has been her
life, so narrow the circle which has
bound her existence. that she can think
of her Dan only as a great big boy.
She agrees, however, to live apart from
him If that will help. But when she
learns that he wishes to divorce her for
the purpose of marrying Miss Strick-
land, prettier, younger woman, her
womanhood, with its new knowledge OF
life, is born within her, and she rebels.
Katherine Strickland is the daughter
of one of SHADES political tools, and
her beauty, worldliness, and executive
ability convince the politician that, as
the head of his house, she would be
most fitting Governors Lady," and
the girl smothers her love for Robert
Hayes, a poor young lawyer, because
of her craving for money and the
power it brings. She agrees to- the
proposal of SIsde that she shall marry
him as soon as he shall obtain his di-
vorce, but when she hears the story
of the broken little wife whose heart
is eaten with misery, she breaks down
completely, denouncing her own self
ishness and ambition. and advising
Mary Slade to fight the divorce to its
finish.
And when Daniel Slade discovers
that the beautiful Miss Strickland has
tired OF her bargain before the chance
has even come for its fulfillment, he
turns again to Mary. eager to make
amends. but the wife's pride has been
stung. and she will have none of him.
She insists on the divorce now, and
gets il.
! Two years go by before they meet. 1t
Ese bitter. clustering winters night.
'Slade has been speaking IN public hail
nearby Child's restaurant. in New York
City, where he comes at midnight and
finds his one-time wife over her cup or
coffee. Sweeping away her protests, one
and all. he gathers her into his arms and
practically carries her on for second
marriage, having come once again into
. state of sanity.
Miss Dunn came into prominence on
Broadway when she played Mother at
the present Harris Theater two seasons
ago but even then no one realized that
she was capable of such emotional power
and wonderful poise as that which char
acterizes her portrayal OF the character
of Mary Slade, the Governors lady, who
did not find it in her to lead any but
the sane and simple life in which the
man she adored first found and married
her. Her cumulative emotion, which
reached its height in the third act, was
revelation to Washingtonians last
night who have not seen Miss Dunn
since she appeared here in the National
Theater with the late Richard Mansfield
in Peer Gynt.'
In the selection OF Miss Dunn's sup
porting company, Mr.. Belasco has Sc
lected his players judiciously. Emmett
Corrigan, as Slade. the husband, gives
sincere and realistic portrait. which
serves an admirable contrast TO that of
simple domestic, and motherly wife.
Gladys Hanson, as Katherine Strick-
land, is superb, sartorially and physi-
cally. and gives a natural impersonation
OF an unpleasant chara cter, while Mil
ton Sills, as Robert Hayes; William H.
Tooker, as Senator Strickland: S. X.
Walker. as Wesley Merritt. and Teresa
Maxwell-Conover, as Mrs Merritt add
much to the consummate artistry of the
Story's enactment.
THE Governors Lady made tremen-
dous appeal to a large National audi
enCe last night Miss Dunn and Mr.. Cor
rigan each having been called upon to
respond to repeated curtain calls. The
piece is certainly one of the most ap-
life which it has been my good fortune
TO see this season. ]. {. MANI.
CASINO THEATER