Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-04-20
New National.

II is seldom that A reflection IN the
lodern theater of some play strongly
ssociated with tradition does not
ring :, singular thrill of freshness ana
TALLY rather than the impression
hich might be expected, of shadoWy
eminiscence. The revival of stand
rd drama Invariably awakens popular
interest, and it also seems to carry
it'll it a new inspiration for the play
IS who have been so busily engaged
trying to winnow out few grains
dramatic substance from delirium
f chaff.
Diplomacy" is Sardou play. 1t is
picaI of that great craftsman in that
deals with the mechanism of events
nd introduces thrill after thrill as the
lot is shifted in unexpected surprises.
csta blished Sardou as competent to
rite a drama absolutely free from
Ie faint of suggestion. The problem
neither social nor domestic, and the
iece contains no sneer at conservative
3pinion BY way of demonstrating
ha, he has not limited his talents to
he fields of strict propriety, Sardou
Proceeded Immediately after 20 COM
Divoreons In Diplomacy" the
ta-e has a political drama. one of
le few of that character since
he kespeare transferred the story of
lllus Caesar to the footlights.
The >ardou play revels in the atmos-
h." 81 intrigue and espionage that
as pcrvaded Paris for centuries and
htch. perhaps. is even now being
wcpt away forever by the world
r.atest war. Diplomacy announces
cpiuiom and throws no side light on
istorical events. 1t is purely a tissue
intrigue in which the authors Won
frfui plot facility dominates consid
rations of character drawing or ethi
NJ suggestion. That it was to be Il
lay of heart and emotion was indi-
itsd by its first title Dora. the wife,
h" falls under the suspicion of having
traSed her husband by selling to his
buntry's foes diplomatic secrets of
hieh he was custodian. The part of
ora in the current production is play
by Miss Marie Doro. who is already
ell known and appreciated in this city.
be arose with vigor and firmness to
he heavy emotional scenes, particu-
lrly that in which her husband, over
helmed with accumulative evidence of
cr treachery. denounces her. That
scinating stage figure, the detective,
sinuates himself into the story in a
ay which makes him always a figure
popular appeal. With William Gil
tie on the scene, deftly cross-exam-
ing, drawing momentous conclusions
ON almost mipalpable circumstance.
en- smiling his way to the solution of
mystery by means of the perfume on
lady's glove, in this play brought for
ard from an epoch that considerably
ltsdates Conan Doyle, Sherlock
olmes is himself again.
That there should be good acting in
bundance is expected from a cast that
cludes Blanche Bates, Norman Tharp
ID Jeffreys Lewis. In some instances
ere was a slight inclination to over
nbellish the diction with French ac-
Fnt. Just how far a foreign accent
ould be used in conveying to an Eng
h-speaking audience the atmosphere
foreign surroundings is always
Ioblem.
An actor new to attention in this
ty is Georgia Majeroni, who played
e part of Orloff. He gave splendid
|ndition of the role. A highly inter-
ting figure also was the Baron Stein,
aged by Gustave Won Seyfferitz.
The audience that assembled to greet
e production was typical of the taste
standard merit which persists, in
tie of the deluge of experiment that
ms no more than momentarily to ar
st popular fancy. It was an enthusi-
tic greeting of an excellent drama
IN performed. J.