The Washington times., 1915-11-09
NATIONAL.

n Nfile, pungent drama is seen this
week mt the National Theater In Ed
ward 'Sheldon's play in five acts, "The
Song OF Songs" based on the novel by
herinann Sudermann, A cast. the gem
eral excellence Of which makes It dif-
ncult 10 single out any one except Miss
Irene Fenvick, was accorded the an
ccrc admiration of ali auditors, even IL
the unsophistfcated among them might
at periods been mildly shocked at the
uarinS ifankness employed In the dia-
Len The Song OF Songs" az the part
my g'It OF a father who deserted her
ano her mother. Lily kardos treasures
t', tme composition as a shield against rHii,
put evil thrice visits her and not until
.he nhal period OF the five absorbing
acts does the author make tho talisman
ring true Young. beautiful and of such
ton. Lily brings lovers to her feel. one
nihfried her. one sought her ruin. one
aGain sought to give her the happiness
sna tnousht forecast In her Song OF
Ultimately. after a career OF clrcum-
stances that carried her from innocent
sirihood to the very heart OF gay living.
Win the attendant heartaches. the but
tefnv life seems certain to portend. shu
iinds the true melody OF her song. Even
though II comes from the man who
caused the domestic cataclysm into
which she Dlunges and from whom she
departs when she thinks she realizes her
idealistic dream In the person Of n
young poet. II brings moderate serenity
out OF chaos and caves tho audience
to depart with real sympathies for the
heroine OF the tragic evening. .u
The opening act shows hfteen-year-
old LAZY. shop-girl in an Atlantic
influence Of an old roue. to whose
forccful wooing and promises of riches
the young girl succumbs. Act No.
iinds her mastering French and &C.
Senator Caikins. When she learns
that Richard Baird. a friend in her
younger life. is going the wrong direc-
tion. Lily tried to reform him, and SUD-
mits TO an indiscretion when she per
mits him to enter her room at mid
night. The senator fnds them together
and casts the young wife out to talte
her first dip down the ladder OF loose
morals.
Then comes another man. the poet.
who loves her and with knowledge ge
of tho life she has been leading, asks
her TO marry him. The fourth act. the
only one In which unalloted melodraina
IL PERMITTED to enter. IL a private din
ming room OF cafe. where Lily and
her lover are the guests OF the latter's =
Western uncle. He ascertsins the l.o
Lily has been leading and conspires to
open the eyes OF his callow nephew.
lie enters into a debauch with the
girl and makes her revert urconscio,siy
TO the woman of bitter experience.
Left In a drunken swoon on the floor
OF the. cafe Lily IL TAXED back to the
home provided by Laird. TO which the
uncle goes and offers her money: She
, refuses this and for a time the audience
| thinks the crusty Westerner would be
won over. but he leaves and another
love bubble bursts. Downcast and
about to take strychnine tablets. real
izing she Is afraid to die. Baird re.
turns and the strains Of The Song OF
Songs" is heard BY the girl
| Miss Fenwick brings to tho role OF
1 Lily a lo"aileness that instantly al
peaIs. Laboring under a severe cold
Miss Fenwick seemed to surmount this
| hn ndicap by sheer ability. Cyril
| Keightley impaired a tone OF brilliancy
TO his Characterization OF Baird. being
particularly impressive in his scene
with Miss Fenwick In the third act
! Thomas A. Wise as the worldly wise
| uncle furnishes the one rich vein Of
humor the play affords. and tincturcs
this with cynicism that's biting In
the cafe scene. As the senator, Hardes
Kirkland was harshly realistic, and ex.
! cellent character work was furnished by
| Mary Bennett. the modern exponent OF
| Atlantic City speech and locomotion
and Francis Verdi as the French waiter
| The production WAS mounted In the
usually adequate manner OF A II
| Woods offerings