The Washington herald., 1914-12-08
First Performance of The
Fallen Idol" Last Night
Guy Bolton Has Handled
Hackneyed Theme with a
Strong Human Touch.
BY JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

In The Fallen IDOL" which had its
initial performance at the Belasco
Theater last night, Guy Bolton has
handled a hackneyed theme with a
touch so tender and human as to oblit-
crate too obtrusive memory Of the
triteness of the eternal triangle as
subject matter for the drama
He tells the story of an Italian mu-
sician, Victor Valdecini by name, who,
five years after his marriage to Chris
tine, is overtaken by the consequences
of his sins. He has sown the wind and
reaps the whirlwind as is ever the way
with human kind His visitation takes
the form Of a gradual paralysis from
which there is no recovery. and small
promise OF speedy relief through death
He finds himself no longer able to
send out his soul on the wings OF his
music as formerly, and in this dark
hour comes the knowledge also that
Christine, his wife. is bound to him by
duty only. Life has proved more than
once that love may neither be given
nor taken at will, and the young wife
who finds her heart enslaved by her
passion for young James CREDIBLE, the
sculptor Of Mr.. Bottoms drama, is not
cheapened by It, but makes It a beau
tiful thing by reducing II to sub
serviency to her will, and her lover
is also given full opportunity to prove
his true worth in the sacrifice he makes
to shield Christine from scandal when
the former mistress of her husband
makes demands upon Valdecini for
sum for the education of their child
which the musician cannot raise.
The girl is not a blackmailer in the
ordinary sense, but her motherhood is
sacred to her and its first instinct Is
to protect her boy and secure his prop
er equipment for life. To this object
she clings tenaciously. even going so
far as to threaten the paralytic musi-
cIan with law suit IL the money is
not Forthcoming.
In the sacrifice o. the very money
which Christine has helped him borrow
for the promotion of his art to still
the girls tongue the sculptor bids faIr
TO undermine the faith of the woman
he loves, but she discovers the whole
truth Of the matter In time to prevent
this tragic consequence.
Even when one has reached the
fourth and final act there seems no
hope for the happiness of the young
couple save through the death of the
psralytic which the doctor assures
them may be long deferred, but with
all his diabolical qualities Valdecini
stands in no fear of death, and has the
decency to remove his supernuous per-
sonality from the scene Of action by
quietly swallowing an overdose OF a
deadly drug, sending out his life with
the dying strains of the Chopin Bar
carole which he so loved.
The story sounds more hackneyed in
the telling than It impressed last nights |
audience as acted by an excellent and |
well balanced group OF players. The fact |
OF the matter Is that Mr.. Bolton has |
succeeded in imbuing new life into an old |
subject through several mediums. In the |
first place he tells his tale IN a manner so |
simple and truthful as to be tremendous |
ly impressive. In the second the big
ness Of the love element is ever present 1t |
Is q tremendous, primeval power which
one feels instincttvely must conquer by
virtue Of its very greatness. And still
further Mr.. Bolton has greatly enhanced
the interest and value of his play by an
cleverness OF comedy that Is
delightful. In dispensing this through
four acts he has used a style that is
terse and employed innumerable satirical
quips that are delightfully."- amusing
The comedy honors OF the play are
carried largely by Miss Marie Chambers,
whose vizualization last night OF a devo-
tee Of the modern dance was a distinctive
personal triumph for Miss Chambers, and
marked her role one Of stellar Importance
despite its insignifcance in the develop
ment of the plot.
Bruce McRae gave q splendid per
formance as the sculptor, bringing into |
play q wide range of dramatic talent /
through comedy and tense emotional
power. His love scene with Christine
piece of acting.
Miss Alice Lindahl presents a pleas
Ing picture as the wife OF the musician,
wearing a succession OF exquisite
gowns, but failing to reach the emo
tional depths Of her biggest scene with
her sculptor lover. or to impress one
at all times with the sincerity and con-
of her portrayal
As the paralytic musician who is
just what he has sowed, John
Hiltern created a remarkably faithful
picture imbuing his Characterization
With all the diabolical cynicism and
Ielfishness which has been his undoing;
Mss Virginia Pearson makes the ar
lists model an appealing figure:
Cherries B. Wells is adequate as the
loctor, and Robert Schable completes
he cast in a minor role.
THE Fallen Idol shows Mr. Bolton
o be a serious student of the drama,
nd reveals an ability to so combine
omedy with tragedy that the latter is
elIeved by the former IN a most salts i
actory manner.
Joe Weber stands sponsor for the pro- 7
uction, and was present last evening ;
n Ino bdidSCO 1Hedlcr
s was also Mr.. Bolton, who eventually =.
nswered the persistent demand for au- :
hor in a manner which suggested more
early the fright Of a chased rabbit than 4.
hat Of a playwright who was witnessing !
n enthusiastic reception Of his first big : !,
uman drama
Fred G. Latham has provided charming
nd artistic settings for the four acts of d
be play. :