Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-15
ST. ANTHONY'S HALO
TO GLOW In PLAY AT
THE LITTLE THEATRE
Maeterlinck's Drama, "Over-
ruled" and Bernard Shaw's
Three Women" to Be
Presented Tonight
REHEARSAL is PROMISING

Must a saint scratch? Is it part of
! the play?"
I This very audible whisper came from
! the pit of the Little Theatre, where the
| Stage Society was holding a dress re-
| hearsal Of its third set of plays. Tonight
/ three plays will be produced: Three
| women an anonymous play, and over
| ruled by Bernard Shaw. and The
| Miracle Of Saint Anthony" by Maurice
| Maeterlnck.
st. Anthony, young and smooth-faced
| with one of those modern harcuts that
| leave mans ears so Isolated, came down
| TO earth, his habitat being the Little
| Theatre Mo" MaeterlinclS had employed
him to work a miracle and MO" Speiser
president and general manager OF the
| Stage Society, was there to see that he
carried out his job.
II wonder" said the Saint. in truly
humble and meek spirit, what would
happen If my Talment were soaked-in
water-for n day or two. Its rough SUR
face has an irritating effect even on l
martyr. but this is the question: How
will It shrink? If II shrinks from east
to west all will be we'll" and he took a
firm grasp on the bias tuck that kept
him from slipping through the neck of
his gown.
But If it shrinks from north TO south,
woe Is me-" and the Saint glanced shyly
at the retiring hem Of his robe ''tf II
retreats on the front much more, | will
look like a wood nymph Then, YOU
know, when my halo is In working order,
there will be wire to bring the neces-
sary current to the halo. And suppose
the audience sees that tail? What will
they think of it?" and Saint Anthony
retired to consult with Madame Hortense,
the creator of his costume.
'"T'he Miracle is on" and the Spanish
cavalier from the cast of Three Women"
tu,4pg hfn,gpIf ba duties pf hoy
and comes galloping down the narrow
white corridor, knocking at the closed
doors like another Paul Revere.
out comes the Saint in his rough brown
burlap robe. long vamped OXfords and
silk socks. an earthly concession to the
weather Madame Hortense who Is dead
when the curtain goes up. and whom the
Saint awakens. trailed along In her
voluminous shroud and the comfortable
red Romeos on her feet
on the stage all the stage managers
were giving directions to the genius VINO
presides over the lights. Such mystical
terms as dim the lights" more juice"
ION with the red" and kill the blue
noated backwards to the audience
Back in one corner sat an electrician,
saying words that should never be used
in the making OF a halo. But the halo
turned out work of art. bright brass
circle was held at the right angle above
the Saints head by parallel bars, which
disappeared under the edge of the burlap
gown, probably into a straightIacket be-
low
"I have come to wake Madame" re-
iterates Saint Anthony to the credulous
crowd of relatives.
"If she could see herself in a mirror.
she'd wake herself" was an Irish bull
of a criticism from the depths of the pit.
Madame Hortense is finally awakened
and in stage whispers beseeches her
weeping and waling ncphews not to weep
and wall with SO much enthusiasm, lest
her wcak-kneed bier succumb in sym
pathy.
Saint Anthony in due time becomes
persona non grata" to the family and
in disgrace is sent out in company with
the gendarmes.
THE play is acted well,' said voice
from the dim darkness of somewhere.
"They" say it belonged to Mo Maeter-
linck
IT'S n good play. even though I say it
myself" said mo" Speiser to Mo"
Maeterlnck.
Honestly" came from sleepy critic
after the second rehearsal at I n. M.
wasn't Saint Anthony himself the mir
acle?"