The Washington herald., 1916-03-26
By JULIA CHANDLER.

its presentation of the irresponsible
friyolers in "The Passing Show" and
the incompatible artistry of the
Serge de Diaghileff Ballet Russo we
turn once again into the familiar the
atrical paths OF musical comedy and
simple drama with THE Only GirT'
corning for the second time of the
season to the Belasco, and Polly
anna" doing her level best to per-
suade US to play THE Glad Game"
with her at the National
About three years ago Eleanor H.
Porter sent out to a sad, whining,
and impatient world beautiful mes
sage of idealism and optimism be-
tween the covers of a book whose
heroine was a little girl in a red
checked frock environed by condi-
tions which would have made a pes
simist out of most folk.
But the heart of "Pollyanna" was
woven OF sunshine stuff; the vision
of her went far beneath the surface
of things, and her philosophy was
one which chased the shadows from
dark paths, and lightened leaden
burdens.
If you are among the hosts who
read Mrs. Porter's book you do not
need to be told that this little make
believe girl in Bingham frock taught
the wonderful game of gladness to
world all too eager to learn how
to play it. One Of the characters in
the book quantity sums its purpose
thus:
Its a game Miss Pollyanna's
father learned her ter play. She got
a pair of erutches ONCE in mission
airy barrel when she vas wanting a
doll; an she cried, of course, like
any child would. 1t seems twas her
father told her that there wasn't ever
anything but what there was some
thin about it that you could be glad
about. an that she could be glad
about them crutches."
Glad for crutches"
''Yes'm, that's what l said, an
Miss Pollyanna said that's what SHE
said, too. But he told her she
COULD be glad-cause she didn't
need EN-
Pollyanna thought the matter over
and the idea kept sinking deeper and
deeper into her understanding, until
she found herself playing the glad
game. and everybody whose life she
touched couldn't help imbibing her
spirit OF happiness.
Plenty there are who want DOH
and receive a crutch. Their first im-
pulse is like Pollyanna's-to cry
about it. And they need just some
body to teach them to find some
thing in the situation to be glad
about. I'm talking about you and
me. And Mrs. Porter must have been
thinking about the thousands of yous
and mes all over the world in urgent
need OF a flood gate to stop our
perpetual gush of whining.
So she wrote the story of Polly
anna, the child whose riches were
without measure and beyond COM
pare because they were riches OF
heart and mind, and now Catherine
Chisholm Gushing has transferred
her to the stage where, night after
night, she radiates a happiness so
contagious that nobody can see the
play without beginning their game OF
gladness by being thankful for its in
spirational message.
Visualizing the Glad CirY is Pa
tricia Collinge than whom no more
suitable player could have been
chosen for the role, for Miss Col
hinge is the possessor of rare COM
bination of beauty, graciousness, and
youthful charm that should blend in
the making Of an ideal Pollyanna
Her exquisite personality was first
impressed upon us in her joyous en-
bodiment of Youth in "Eyerywom-
an" after which we saw her in the
all-star cast of THE New Henrietta, u
and more recently with Douglas
Fairbanks in "A Regular Business
Man." which served him as a vaude-
vile flier.
Surrounding Miss CoIIinge in the
"Pollyanna" cast are a group OF
player-folk who give promise of a
sympathetic and artistic interpreta-
ton of the story including Fife
Shannon and Herbert Kelley, pro-
fcssional long inseparable.
The Only Girl" will be remem-
bered as the musical comedy which
inaugurated the Belasco Theater sea-
son OF IoIS-I6. In its original form
it was a seintillating comedy of char
scter-a travesty on the estate of
mairimony-produeed here during the