The Washington herald., 1914-04-07
NATIONAL.
"T'he strange woman..

The premiere of "The Strange Woman
at the National Theater last Novempe.
was acclaimed by critics and public alike
dual masterpiece, representing q
marked advance in the work of the prom
. lstng young playwright. Mr.. Hurlbut, and
likewise OF the charming young actress
Miss Ferguson. This verdict has been en-
Enthusiastically confirmed in New York
Boston, and elsewhere since that time,
and last night an appreciative Washing
ton audience greeted the return engage
ment of this exceptional play with re-
newed approval.
The dramatic force of The Strange
Woman Is due to the presence of the
two essential elements of all the best
drama-namely, Intellectual and emotional
appeal. The heroine. a finely sensitive
ture- loving young American archi.
tect Of homely, provincial origin, en-.
| counters IN the young mans simple-heart-
ed, devoted old mother the balancing
force which is needed TO restore her re-
cognition of social obligations-as as opposed
| to her individualism~ A hideous expert
ence has made her rebel against cere-
monial marriage, and her lover has sur
| rendered his own judgment to her per-
suasions. The struggle becomes the hard.
er for 1nez. because, when visiting John s
is brought into contact with the smue
conventionality and superficial morals oi
village gossips and finds herself regard
| ed askance for her far finer and truel
ideals and thus driven the more to re-
volt The self-conquest she achieves
through her appreciation of the mother
love and self-sacriflce, and her ultimate
surrender Of her intention are portrayed
by the dramatist and by Miss Ferguson
with supreme sympathy and skill.
The village types, so far as the author
is responsible for them, are excellent
portraits, and their hypocritical conven-
tionality vividly enforces the distinction
OF moral values so sanely discussed and
emphasized throughout the play. The
coarse hbertinism of the Don Juan of
Delphi and the shallow ambitions and
ignorance of the female representatives
OF Delphi society, constitute a potent
argument in support OF Inez's position,
while the gentle simplicity and essential
understanding and allegiance between
John and his mother pull both reason and
the sympathies back to a normal ten
sion. Nor does the story interest at
any time disappear through overweight
OF the character values.
So much has been said of the perfec-
tion Of Miss FergusonS Interpretation
of the principal role IN this play that
Is lcll 10 dOo- Suc uOl Oilig
the orchid-like personality, but the in
telligent art necessary to the finest real
ization of the character of Inez de Pierre
fond. Charles d. Waldron gives manli-
ness and refinement to the part Of John
Hemingway, he- lover, and Miss Sara
Won Leer is well cast in the appealing
role of Johns mother. Next to Miss
Ferguson, however, first praise Is due to
AlphonZ Either for his almost unbear-
ably realistic picture of the village Don
Juan. and to Miss Lois Frances Clark
for an almost equally truthful portrait
Of his countryfied wife. Miss George
Drew Mendum also is to be credited with
an effective piece OF work as the d.
vorcee. Others of the Delphi types are
this time, as on the first presentation,
So much overplayed as to detract seri-
ously from the ensemble, and certain
monstrosities OF business unfortunately
still persist also to the detriment Of the
general effect.