Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1914-02-03
THE HIGH ROAD, ;
NEW STYLE Of
POLITICS PLAY
Mrs. Fiske PIeases Atlanta Audi
ences in Drama That Ignores
Many ConventionaIities.
BY CARLETON COLLIER.

II is all very well TO laugh and be
gay. but If you are Mrs. Fske and
great person, you are endowed
with an inevitable mission, whose
purpose and intent is seriousness
And that is as it should be. because
your seriousness. in this case, is ef-
fective, and your message well worth
while
Very serious-and, indeed, very
ponderous is "The High Road" Ed
ward Sheltons play in which Mrs.
Fiske appeared at the Atlanta The
alter Monday night, involving Gov
errors and near Presidents and Big
Businesses, and a very unconvincing
National Committee.
No levity here. And yet it is very
much worth while, If for nothing else
than to reveal the versatility and in
nate talent of Mrs. Fiske, and the
charm and poetry of an idyllic first
act. That first act, strange to say
is pretty in spite Of the fact that
the Rich Young Artist from the City
not at ALL however, the conven-
tional Lothario-takes the Wistful
Maiden OF the farm away with him.
without bann or bell Of matrimony
And Mrs. Fiske plays the Maiden.
Little OF the Conventional.
And through it all, there is moth
ing conventional about The High
Road" not even a single punch in
five acts, nothing save the intellect
ual appeal OF Mrs. Fiske.
But hold Nothing conventional
did we say? There is one spot whose
badness can not be overlooked Inc
National Committeeman gather with
the prospective President OF the
United States in the big fourth act
for "A conference that is Tery trite,
because of-what? Perhaps it Is be-
cause of the National Committeeman
The story is epic in its proper
tions. telling of the life of the clan
destine girl who left the farm. very
pretty farm ii was, with realistic,
cleaning river in the background, and
with leaves over the ground. and a
fine meshed gauZe across the front or
the stage to invest the picture with
romantic twilight haziness. But she
leaves il because her father is--well
we may have overlooked another
conventional figure in him-a typi-
cally cruel uncomprehending father
once in the city, she develops and
Male Parts Are Strong.
thinks After three years she re-
fuses marriage with the rich, indul-
gent dilletante who took her from her
home and who seems to be rather
decent fellow, after all. She goes out
and becomes an Industrial leader,
lobbyist, and all that coming IN con-
tact with the Governor who is the
prospective President.
They marry, are happy, and he is
about to step into the highest office
I when the ghost of her three years
| life with the artist stalks out TO
| crush him But the wife, being a
| sort OF superwoman, makes all end
well and wins over the blackmailer.
Mrs. F'iske is fortunate in the men
/ of her support. Except for neu-
rasthenic haste in his speech, Arthur
Byron was right acceptable heavy
as John stephen Maddox, the mil
ionaire blackmaier, Eugene Or
monde is effective as Governor
Barnes. and Kenneth Hunter with
grace and cello voice and knack
Of pMytng Chopin, is a real enough
artist lover
THE High Road" will be at the At
lanta for q matinee Tuesday and
performance Tuesday night.