Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-03
Columbia.

"Polygamy." a new play i'll four acts.
by Harvey O'Higgins and Harriet Ford,
authors of THE Dummy and The Ar
gyle Case" was presented by The Mod
ern Play Company. for the first time
on any stage, at the Columbia Theater
last night
The play is an attack upon Mormon
ism, with its scenes laid in Salt Lake
City, and it is claimed to be a presen-
tation, from the inside. of the beliefs
and practices, especially as regards
celestial marriage, of the religious
sect which has its headquarters in
Utah. One of the principal scenes Is
the council chamber of the Mormon
Temple at Salt Lake City. the inside of
which no one, other than Mormon II
is said has ever seen. Where the m
formation upon which the play is based
comes from, therefore. is a question. 1t
IS perhaps proper to recall that MI
OHlggins once wrote series OF aftl-
eles. in collaboration with former SEN
ator Frank j. Cannon of Utah. entitled
Under the Prophet in Utah.
Strictly speaking. "PolygamN is not
play. 1t is prea chment. As such
probably it will attract attention from
opponents of the Mormon religion. The
average theatergoer probably seeks
something more than sermon. no mat
ter how strikingly the preachments Of
the stage are driven home. and 1t is
sit through four acts whose interest
and suspense have been we'll MAIN
tanned, only to find. when the final cur
tain drops. that the most important
thing that happens is the expression of
a resolve by one of the characters to
run away and ask for,an investigation
of Mormonism al the hands of the gov
eminent. In Salt Lake City such de-
movement might he thrilling climax.
Ihere is nothing new advanced about
Morlnonism. although an attempt is made
to show that Utah Mirmons still practice
polygamy in secret The play pictures
the evils OF polygamy in d country like
the United States. and it wins sympa-
thy for the sufferings of young Ameri-
cans in Utah who do not embrace all
the beliefs and practices which were
admittedly part of the Mormon re-
ngIon in Utah in its early days.
A young Salt Lake City business man.
Daniel Whitman. happily married, with
two children. wins the approval of the
prophet and council of the Mormon
Church and is given high appointments.
lie and his wife, both brought up In
the church from childhood, accept the
principle of plural marriage in theory,
but not in practice. He thinks he will
never he asked to take another wife.
She has brother Brigham kemble
who is said to have been ruined by the
Mormon Church because he leaned
toward apostasy. Kemble is in love
with a widow. Annis Grey whose hand
in marriage had been refused him be-
cause of his tendency away from the
church. Her father. member of the
council of the Mormon Church, had
given his daughter instead to an elder
ly Mormon. Later she became a widow
To punish kemble's apostasy, the wild
ows father then forces a marriage be-
tween his daughter and young Whit
man. The climax of the third aai comes
when Whitman brings home tire second
wife. His first wife faints at the door
of the bedroom in (which the second
woman has taken refuge from Kemble,
who still loves her and will not give
her up. The first wife mistakenly be,
Heves her husband is in the room.
The end of the play comes with KEN
ble's announcement of his intention to
take the woman he loves to the east
and there bring about an investiga ton.
Miss thrystal Herue plays the part of
the young wife. Zina: Ramsay Wal
lace. the part of Daniel Whitman, the
young business man: William b. Mack,
the part of Brigham Kemble, the broth
er. and Miss Rosalind Ivan. the part
of Annis Grey, the widow.
The play is put on with an excellent
company by Gustav Won Seyffertitz, for
klaw d Erlanger, although the real
owners, are concealed under the name
of The Modern Play Company