Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-01-21
WILL PRESENT THE ABSENTEE"
FiVe-ReeI Mutual Masterpiece or
Vital Theme and Symbolic
Treatment

The Mutual masterpiece, THE Alb
sentee," in five reels, will be SHOWN
at the Unique theater Monday, jan
uary "a. The following is a review
OF the story:
Under the skilled guidance OF
Frank e. Woods and Chrlsty
Cabanne, The Absentee" presents
new and difficult form Of treatment
1t is actually an allegorical and
symbolical drama, though the open
ing scenes the more strictly so. II
has the philosophic questioning and
high reasoning of a story purely sym
bolical in it's general effect, though
events following the opening allegory
deal with modern life in very real
istic way at times. The entire
scheme is first presented in poetlcal
fashion. the characters representing
traits. influences and results that
dominate in the modern story Pow
er, Might, Ambition, Contentmen''
Happiness. Innocence, Vanity ana
Justice, are set forth in concrete I'M
ages, as in the stage plays of lbseh,
Rostand and Maeterlinck.
Realists may object, but symbol
ism simply adds to the variety OF
program-it is nothing to be con-
demned because it is different from
accepted forms. There is danger III
it, and chief peril is that OF fore
casting allegOrically what is to for
low in the main body. When care
fully handled, however, there Is d
new suspense set up, q sort OF IN
tellectual pleasure i'll watching now
the theme works out. One error, TO
my way of thinking, was to present
Evil as a parsonage visible to the
other characters, but it might have
involved a vast amount Of double eX-
posure to have presented ''EV1P' sim
DIV as an invisible influence, con-
stantly at the elbow of those inclined
to listen when evil counsel is offered.
Under present conditions Of pro
duction, when there is ever present
an Impotence to get results, when
authors, directors and actors are
hampered by imposed time limits.
when one difficult piece Of work Is
barely finished before another stares
the company out of countenance, a
generous view Of theoretical imper
fections must be taken. The advent
of symbolism is welcome. 1t is in
the essence of dramatic representa-
| ton, in the essence of life itself,
and it lends itself in many cases tC
an exhibition Of the poetic aspects
| Of human character and to the noblel
issues Of existence.
The theme doubly worked out Is
that of the absentee who has built III
successful industry and retired tc
enjoy the results Of his work, giving
small consideration to those who
labored with him and for him, who
contributed from their just portions
to his material advantage. That Is
live theme as results will undoubt
eddy demonstrate. Robert Edeson as
the absentee turning from success tC
pleasure is satisfying to the eye anC
refined in performance. The whole
cast is good, some of the minor roles
thrusting themselves into prominence
through strong personality. Olga
Grey leads the lovely women in per
Torrance, her opportunities fitting
her as if she had been made fol
them or they for her, and to leac
in a gathering Of so many loVable
creatures is in itself an honor. Mr.
Woods and Mr.. Cabanne are working
in a way that is bound to produce
large results, they are working IL
harmony.
A BIT OF ADVICE