Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-18
New National.


A steady accumulation of sincere in
,r.s, hos .++,obad 70 tho annearance
mas
Oh Elsie ferguson from se"So :"
| season. Her transformations have
| hea, n,rLed hv that ouality Of indj-
| ,,;+.1;.os na
| Viouai power which
| thrills. However slight her play may
have been her own role has invariably
| -, -, .., , ,,h,s;,
| stooo ior'h Win human
| Gradually attention has turned TO her
with an interest and confidence such
&c M American actress has won in
| " ;
| years. MISS ferguson Is Aihef ie''n
| Her viewpoint as it influences speech,
| manner and temnermental manifesto
| - - - ~, ai
tioh oi every SORT Is thal Vi 'iie "uu
| ence before whom she appears she
| is unusual in the fact that she is
development of her own time ana
country, and living assurance that
America must have a drama unto u
self. Talents such as are possessed by
| this actress must have a means of ex-
preston, and it is doubtful Whether
exotic product can ever supply IL
adequately.
Her latest play, Margaret Schiller.
is from the pen of Hall Caine. The
National Theater, where it was pre-
scented last night, was the scene of his
previous triumph in dramatic produc-
ton, The CHRISTIAN. play ny tue
author of so much that the public has
found appealing. both in book and the
alter. would of itself be matter of eN-
ira ordinary interest. 1t cannot pc
called an American play, yet 1t is
American in it's careful avoidance of
national prejudice in the discussion or
the all-absorbing subject of the great
European war.
One of the most difficult themes the
theater could select for discussion is,
of course the prolonged conflict now
raging; yet it is theme so dominant in
public thought that the theater could
scarcely dismiss it from consideration.
The Game play is a cautiously tenn
pered Vet close analysis of relation
ships among the people of London, rem
dered poignantly difficult by force OF
circumstance. Mr.. Game speaks not in
terms of nationalistic sentiment, but of
the hroadest humanitarianism. 1t is
customary to refer to this author as
melodra matist, but he goes rather be-
You'd matters of thrills and suspense.
and seeks to explain, in the spirit of a
generous philosophy, the motives and
impulses of those who find themselves
in moral antagonism-
He selects as the scenes of his play
two homes: one. that of a German family.
ideal in its culture, its atmosphere of
domestic affection and neighborly kind
ness. The other home is that of a
British minister austere in the eyes of
| the world strict in his standards, and
the spirit of benevolence and generous
self sacrifice The two standards of
moral obligation and personal ideals are
the same. though expressed in different
terms. The sufferings and humilia tons
experienced in Margaret SchilIer's Lon
don home repress and embitter its intall-
ence into one of hatred Ry trick the
girl places herself as a spy in the home of
the prime minister. is easily discovered
and finds to her establishment that the
ma enanirnity of the man she 50 hated is
so great as to claim his nity and his
protection against the consequences of
her own ra shness
The Schiller family. reduced TO poyertv.
discouraged and smartipp under the sansa
of ini,stice as they find Themselves nar
mitted neither 10 earn LIVING where
they are nor renove tbemsejvas 70 tbe
country which Mould . ford +ba,,, shaI,ar
becomes involved in consniracv which do,
yninister Nars.ret.s ss;s,anca III th;s
enternrive is den,andad .,nd har 5;ia,,,,,.
is made comnIeta nv m fact 49, ,ha
mon Se1actad ~ Iii, IL 80 ha ~
,aarnad ~ idnti,S n -, h,.o,sa, Ghs
e,,h.,;,rto- hara,f ~, . ~ g 80 ~,
.ss.ssin,s hnIiat 10 S;as . $40 ~. ~
The n.ssion of io,a b., 70 ~ sn,;o,
of LOYALTY and ersti,nds ~ NJ
In tbe rnIa nf uoro,,. Mic,
o,,., a., -. 20 : = 80
MOOD nIinh -. d;s,in ~ pao -
her otber nnr1r.i,rrns - u; .n "
nrassion of cu,n,istire ;ntensity T,bara
Is no contrast Of Sunshine and SMILE
nor ~ n.tbos and tears I, is , nro,
Ionged hasrt cry :. ,arne,n,I storm Of
emotion. The impulses of woman big