The Washington times., 1914-01-20
PAGEANT BRIDGES
GAP FROM GENESIS
"Joseph and His Brethren" at
New National, Remarkable
for Stage Settings.

lis a long. long step from the TWEEN
tieth century to the days depicted by
Genesis and the other books OF the Old
but modern dramatic licenses
has done much toward lessening this
great breach in time. AS an illustra-
tion. Joseph and His Brethren, the
paceant drama direct from the Century
Thester in New York, which is at the
New National this week, has done just
this thing.
Joseph and His Brethren IS the
third of the pageant dramas Whlch lHe
Century Theater has sent us IN recehl
ears. THE Garden or Allah and TN"
Daughter OF Heaven being the othei
two. This. the latest of this character
is in many resGects the best. The set
tIngs the lines. their interpretations.
the high class of men and women con-
st1tutinr the makeup of the company
sII work toward making the Droducuoh
a remarkable one.
Pageant In Four Acts.
The pageant play is in four acts, and
is based on the Biblical narrative Of
Joseph. 1t deals with that young He
brew from the time he is plotted against
by his brethren till years later, wnen
these same hands that planned his de
stl uction. were forced 10 carry ioou
from storehouses over which he pre-
sided, to prevent starvation.
The opening scene depicts the tliIe
when Joseph, just come of age. is pre-
sented with the coat Of many colors bE
Jacob. This was the emblem OF dignity
ard authority. In the presence Oh MS
brothers. the coat is presented Joseph.
Their enmity, already aJ high pltch,
IS driven TO fever heat. They d0:ide
to destroy their fathers favorite. The
next scene shows the wells of Dothan:
the brothers plotting for the doWnta!l
Of Joseph, the quarrel when results ",
his being thro"n into a SLIM pit, ana
eventually his rescue by Iuleika, bride
OF Potiphar. second greatest man in
Egypt The concluding scene or the ACT
shows the great distress falling on ia
cob at the news of the possible loss by
death from wild beasts, of his son.
Reaches Dramatic Heights.
Joseph and His Brethren" reaches
dramatic heights scarcely expected Of
a Biblical narrative in the next act.
Here il is that the author has wan
Cered from the text OF Genesis, and
inserted a scene filled with thrilling
1nomC nts. Vet harmOniZinS perfectly
with the rest Of :he performance. 80
carefully has he worked in TINS seen"
that il is impossible. except for those
yfTv familiai. with Genesis, to deter
mine where the Old Testament leaves
off and the authors lines begin.
IT is in the third scene of this act
that Miss Pauline Frederick is given
AN opportunity to show her AGILITY as
an emotional actress. As the designing
Zuleika. she forces Joseph to come tC
her room. and there places before him
/ temptations which he iiTds il almost i'm
possible TO overcome. He succeeds. how
ever. but at a dreadful cost. He Is cast
/ INTO prison. Later nc is thrown into q
! dungeon al Iuieika's request, and twt
s.cars later IS brought forth 10 inter
| prct the dreams of Pharaoh. He is ele'
/ vated. and finally is enabled to carry
cut the prophecies Of his youth, that
his breathren would see the day thai
/ they would call on him for assistance
Are Excellent Company.
/ As Joseph. Brandon lyman gives al
! excellent Interpretation Of the famous
! Biblical character lie depicts every
phase Of cmotionalism. from eXuberent
/ youth TO premature age brought on b!
( his dungeon sentence. Miss Pauline
! Frederick is an excellent Zulcika, hcI
I beauty assisting her wonderfully II
playing the delicate part assigned e
! her. James O'Nclll AS Jacob, and latel
as Pharaoh gives q perfect study o.
those two characters.
Altogether. the company Is an excel
lent one. The play is well worth sec
ing, and is different from the average
pageant drama. In that its interest does
not lag a singl" moment during the cE
tire performance.
owing to the length Of the perform
ancr. tho curtain will be- ralS"d at
O'Clock at the evening performances, a
o clock ut the matinee performances.