South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-12-30

Today, a Vital Drama,
is Well PreSente d

There is no doubt Uhat the writer's
OF To-day" have struck at the roots
OF a VeritabIe cancer among the Ills
OF modern society ia American cities.
And well directed as their scalpel rs
Ia locating this cankerous growth and
skilful as il is in setting an sides OF
it 10 view. yet Gas i'm all problem
pla,-sJ the power which locates the
evil is unequal to the task OF eradi-
eating it or Of suggesting the means,
and one leaves the play with some
hing OF the hopeless feeling OF one
Nho has followed a blind alley 70 his
establishment.
The satisfaction which comes from
Today" is that which comes
with the appreciation of a plot, based
upon vital theme, worked out with
admirable skill and due regard for
accuracy in detail and fulniung the
spirit as we'll as the letter OF the law
OF probability. And underlying II ali
is the realization that truth Is there.
That fact in itself neutralizes in
some degree the hopelessness which
is Il vivid impression OF the play.
IL there is one place where the
writer's, who by the way are George
Br0adhurst and Abraham schooner,
come near suggesting the solution OF
the problem which they present II Is
in the third act. The exercise OF
little of "husbandly tyranny" com
pels the obedience of the wife. Illus
bandte tyranny" is not popular in
these days OF sex equality" talk, but
IL ought to be admitted that little
stern discipline is the only medicine
for the whimpering Of this childishly
rebelliOus wife.
IL would seem safe to say there is
not an American home which has not,
in a greater or less degree felt the
whitening effect OF the evil which this
play deals with as frankly, as brutal
~. as any subject ever was presented.
In that fact must lie the breadth of
its impression. IN that fact also must
lie its significance. Keeping up APP
pearanceS' is a very real problem Tor
almost any American home.
The type Of woman who precipi-
tated the tragedy in To-day" is the
average woman except in the de-
gree Of her passion for the fiEery and
the things that wealth alone can Sc
cure. Self decoration seems to have
become instinct in the feminine be
ing And as there are those who are
forced by actual want TO sell them
selves for necessities. no doubt there
are those whose luXury-lOve drives
them TO the same sacrifice
The story of To-day" as il has been
dinned into the ears of the public
needs but one addition. The husband,
having discovered the sacrifice his
wife mas made TO obtain the things
which once were hers through him
but which because of financial re-
verses he is unable for the time to
provide, kills her in the frenzy of that
disiuusionment, and then explains he
old il because "he loved her"
The company which presented the
play was adequate. Hallet ThOmp-
ION in the role OF E'rederick Wagner,
Full t., thn
demands of a difficult role, restrained
himself in tense situations and met
the terrific climax with sufficient
power. Miss Eleanor Miller playing
the wife. was quite as convincing
There is tendency to associate the
role with the actress to a degree I'M
fortunate for her personally but
which is certainly "a tribute to her
presentation. one feels the shallow
wlful pettishness of the woman so
really that il actually gets on the
nerves"
Miss Marie Reichardt and Anton
Ascher in the roles of the husbands
parents, "a fine old German couple
happily unaffected by the evil beset-
ting their sons a-ws. except as they
grieVe for the sons unhappinesS.
were indeed admirable. Miss Reich
ardt especially was simply and truly
natural in her refreshing character
Miss Phoebe Bates left nothing to
Lee desired in her presentation of the
role OF the woman who found the
way out" for the young wife She
handled "A difficult part with skill al
lowing none of the effect OF innuendO
To escape. but never. on the other
hand. allowing it to obtTude. Miss
Marie Dantes must be accorded
similar praise for her presentation of
the part Of Mrs. harrington, who
keeps an apartment"