The Washington herald., 1915-10-12
Belusc; -..A ndrOcles and the Lion"

Bernard Shaw's ''AndrocIcS and the
Lion one of the la seasons noteworthy
New York successes. received II away
from broadway premier at the Belasco
Theater last night. The Man Who Mar
ried Dumb Wife, one of two plays by
Anatole France. was given as a curtain
raiser Combine Shaw. France. Gran
vile Barker. the English producer-dra
1tist-actor. who. with Lilah Mccarthy
and Percy Burton, produced last nights
offerings. with most capable company.
and you have an ev, ning's entertainment
with few rivals.
II is needless TO go into superlatives.
The performance from the first to the last
curtain was a delightful novelty. stisfying
to the extreme and acceptable in every
sense-if that's too much ''super!atived"
[ will have to stand
Perhaps the things that stand out most
prominently in the Shaw's so-called ia
bic play are his rich situations. his
ines Astounding in witticsms and the ex-
cellent manner in which it is produced.
both as to cast and to setting-beE par
don, Mr.. Barker. and associates. no long
er recognize the word. setting" as ap-
piled to their offerings. "Decorations," is
the word.
Androcles. tailor. who has en-
bIaNtu bIIt utSplS"u Y III lSlLdIlNH. anu
who is looked upon by all beasts as
their friend and by men as a sor-
cerer, comes upon "a lion in the jun
gle. He removes a thorn from the
ions foot and wins the lifelong
friendship of the king of beasts.
Caesar is a daily witness to the
slaughtering of Christians in the COL
liseum. Androcles is captured. along
with Ferrovious. the giant. and 9TH
ers and is condemned to die. Ferro
vius forgets his newly embraced re-
.igon long enouSht to cut to pieces
single-handed the six gladiators pit
ted against him in the arena. thereby
winning Caesars admiration to the
extent that he orders the release Of
the other captives. When reminded.
however, that the appetite of the
newly captured lion must be appeased
by at Last one Christian, Androcles
is turned loose to he devoured. The
other Christians are told by Caesar
that they may 90 around to the
front of the house to enjoy the spec
tacIe." This scene. when Androcles
and the lion recognize each other.
embrace and depart arm-in arm. is
indescri5ably funny.
O p. Hcgsic. the English actor. plays
Androcirs with a fine realization of
the necessities Of the role. His work
is smooth and subtle. He does not
overlook an opportunity to get out Of
the shaw lines all that is there. Lionel
Rraham would make capital Ferrovius
if he didn't have a line-he fits the part
to IT, from Il physical standpoint.
And the same can be said from a his
tur!c point of view. The Spitho OF Claude
Rains AMI the Caesar of Fred F.ris are
likewise excellent. Charles Dodsworth
gave an excellent portrayal of the bump
tiouS Centurion. Miss Mary Forbes
is beautiful and accomplished and n de-
light as the captive Lavinia. The rest
of the large company is par excellence.
The piece is in five scenes, simple to
the extreme. in accordance with the
newer ideas Of the producers. but most
adequate and appropriate.
The curtain-raiscr tells uf a Pal isian
iurist who marrics a dumb wife. only TO
find he does not realize his full enjoy
ments because she cannot speak. He
has 4 surgical operation performed on
her vocal cords and her voice is re-
stored. Her irCcSsant chattcring nearly
drives linn mad. The doctors tell him
that while they can restore a woman's
Voice. there is nothing known to science
that can still it. and. in distraction. he