The Washington herald., 1916-02-01
Sensational Divorce Is the
Theme of "The Correspondent
New Play View Playwrights,
Representing the First The
atrical Production of E. A.
We'll, Held a Capacity Au-
dience Tense Through Its
Premiere at the Belasco
Theater Last Evening.
By JULIA CHANDLER

While Alice Lesl Pollock and Rita
weiman have unearthed no new theme
for their first venture into the realm
story with aught Of novelty, they have
nevertheless succeeded in telling a grip
ping tale in The Correspondent" which
held last evenings capacity audience at
the Belssco Theater tense throughout
the premiere performance OF the piece.
The American public can invariably be
depended upon to respond to an appeal
for sympathy for wronged innocence
particularly when a young and pretty
woman Is its embodiment. which ac-
counts for the almost instant interest Of
the auditor in this new drama which
comes to Us as the joint work Of two
newspaper women.
With the rise of the first curtain we
ind a wealthy young New Yorker in
a small town Of the Middle West await
ing the coming of young girl whose
love he has won
Deserving a not too congenial home
TO become the wife of Langdon Van
Kreel, who is masquerading under the
name OF Robert Gordon, Anne Gray
knows nothing concerning him until
the mock marriage is interrupted by a
Van Kreel at the instigation of his
beautiful young wife. for the purpose
Of obtaining evidence that will gain
for her a divorce.
Stripped of her illusions. Anne util-
iIes her small savings to flee to New
York, where the second act finds her.
after a year, winning her way quite
comfortably as a reporter on The
News" Here. through successful work
hood, she forgets how near she stood
upon the brink of destruction until
John Manning. her managing editor.
sends her into Van KreeTs home to
discover the name of the correspond
ent in the suit his wife is about to
file against him. Still knowing the
man only as Robert Gordon. Anne,
walks unsuspeCtingly into a situation
in which she is the chief suTerer-One
in which the outraged wife accuses her
and in which she comes face TO face
with her one-time millionaire suitor
who has the saving decency to de-
clare the girls innocence.
This. the third act OF the play. which
effects A compelling climax. has its scene
in the luxurious town house Of the Van
EreeIs. which Nnne fees with the prom
ise Of ''hghting them both."-the man
responsible for TIE hidcous position in
to walk to freedom with compunCtion
over the ruined life of another woman.
The final act Of the play takes US back
to the once OF the managing editor Of
The News" where the sensational story
of the Van Kreel rupture. ready for the
press. is finally suppressed through
.Anne's revelation to Manning Of her part
in the AFFAIR. followed by threats and
counter threats by the two women most
vitality concerned. which persuade Macia
Van Kreel to withdraw her suit and take
her eTTing husband off for a personally
chaperOnNd jaUnt. while Ammo Is left to
edit the Hfs story Of her managing editor
The triteness of the theme OF The Co
respondent" is forgotten through the
first three acts in the genuine humanity
of the characters portrayed and the ad-
mirable swiftness with which the action
runs. but the final act will need a deal
Of reconstruction to pull it UP to the
sta ndard Of the first three.
The end of the first act of the piece
finds US well launched into a situation
that promises sustained interest through
out the development of the story. The
second act builds spIendidIy to the tense
climax Of the third. then. kerplunk, come
several talky interviews, tale-end ex-
plantations; resort to the himsiest pos
sible expedients for the purpose OF clear
ing the atmosphere, and bring the play
to a happy. If Illogical. conclusion.
Mrs. Pollock and Miss Weiman have
however. so proven their ability at play
construction, fidelity to type, creation OF
atmosphere. and injection Of smart epi-
grams that undoubtedly the final act
Of The Correspondent will measure
up to its predecessors before the piece is
offered to a metropolitan audience.
In all probability the pruning will also
dispense with several superfuous char
scters, such as a show girl who is en-
tirely irrelevant to the story and quite
out Of the picture, despite the fact that
Suzanne Villa gives a rare example Of
faithfulness to type In the portrayal
The city editor Of The News" an in
e1ectual creation in the hands Of Nor
gan Conan, has also no value in the
play.
The major roles Of the drama are, in
the main. cspably handled. Emily Ann
Wellman imbulng her INSTALLATION Of the
title role with a deal Of eager impetuosIty
and spirituelle grace. The role intrusted
to the hands Of this young artIste is one
Of tremendous enotionalism as we'll as
Of intellectual charm. With the latter
quality Miss wellman impressed her last
evenings audience pleasantly, substitut-
ing. however, nervous energy for emo