The Washington herald., 1917-09-25
BeIasco-ssTiger Ro.e.,

Tiger Rose" by a representative au-
dience at the Belasco Theater last
evening could not but have been a
qualification to all concerned, and 1t
showed that an absorbing tale of love
and adventure has lost none of its
fascination for the public. So adroit-
~ has the play been staged by David
Belasco, and so expertly was 1t acted
last night by Lenore Ulrich and her
admirable supporting cast, that what
in other hands might have proven
but an ordinary melodrama has been
vitalized into a compelling drama of
the primitive passions.
A desert cabin in the Canadian
wOods-a hunted man-the Royal
Northwest Mounted Police-a strug-
gle in the dark-a girl with a gun,
! these are ingredients Of the drama
that have beth used effectively many
times before, but the amazing genius
OF Mr.. Belasco has transformed and
! TRANSPORTED them and given them the
Illusion of (eality to life. Willard
Mack. of course, has already shown
in his absorbing play. Kick In" that
he knows how to score his points, de-
| velop his situations, and get the best
| there Is in a story. But IL was that
refining process known as Belasco-
ism, together with the brilliant play
ing OF Lenore Ulrich in the title role,
that brought about the admirable re-
suit last evening
1t is all nightly exciting, the in
| teres)t Is well sustained, the char
acters skillfully drawn, and it is
| doubtful II better balanced cast
has even been seen here. Every play
er was perfectly adjusted to his role
and had an excellent opportunity to
[ do forceful acting.
The summer sun bathed Rose
Bocion's home at the Hudson Bay
trading post on the Loon River,
Alberta, one morning when she awoke
to realization of her love for Bruce
Norton, a young American engineer.
who was surveying in the settlement
across the clearing. Tiger Rose"
she was called on account OF her wild
nature. and she had many admirers,
among whom were Constable Michael
Devlin. R. n. w. NJ. p, and Pierre
J La Bey, whom she regarded as a
! brother.
News arrives at the house that Nor
ton has killed a man who wronged his
! sister and Constable Devlin is as
= II.
Norton, of course. comes to the house
TO see his sweetheart in the midst of
| a realistic Delasco thunderstorm with
heavy rain. and is apparently trapped
/ in the house, but takes refuge in
grandfather's clock until Devlin is
| thrown of the scent. Norton then
makes his way to a deserted cabin in
| the woods, there to await arrange
| ments made for his safe passage
down the river, but the best laid
plots of mice and men aft gang
CLAY" and just as the lovers are
bidding a fond farewell, they are sur
| prised in the cabin by Devlin-then
there was the aforementioned struggle
in the dark. The girl with the gun,
and the final drop of the curtain upon
4 satisfying and logical conclusion
we are not going to detail all of the
plot in order that your pleasureabie
anticipat:ons may not be lessened.
Space does not permit of the trib-
/ ute which each member of the COM
pany Mr.. Belasco has selected, well
merits. Too much cannot be said
in praise OF the performance OF
Lenore Ulrich, who played the title
. role of the FrenCh-Canadian Tiger
Rose AS Mr.. Belasco said before
, AAAC vi NaAi looN iNSNNs fAiA wy
proud of this little girl" Miss W.
, rich has great charm, and remark
able technique. She played last
night with taste and fine under
standing. giving a vivid and sym
pathetic performance which should
make her star over night.
The author OF tine play. Willard
Mack, is entitled to next mention
for his forceful characterization of
Constable Devlin. r. n. w. NJ. Z. He
had big opportunities and he made
| the most of them. William Court
| leigh was the embodiment of manli-
ness as Doctor Cusick, but the part
is hardly worthy of his well known
great abilities. 1t is practically
| impossible to pick flaws in the work
of Pedro De Cordoba. as Pierre La
Bey, the romantic French Canadian.
who loved the Tiger Rose" in vain.
Thomas Findlay made an excel
lent picture Of the Scotch factor for
the Hudson Bay Trading Company
and adopted father of the Tiger
Rose" and Fuller Mellish played
Father Thibault. the French-Can-
adam priest OF the settlement,
splendidly. Messrs. Edwin Holt. Ed
ward Mack, Calvin Thomas, ct. al,
were all quite as effective as those
previously mentioned in parts which
did not give them quite as great
opportunities to score.
The two settings by Ernest eros
are quite satisfying. There have
been few handsomer scenes shown
here than that of the deserted
cabin in the Western withstand the
thunderstorm was so convincing as
to cause alarm in many minds last
evening. Messrs. Belasco and Mack
were compelled to make brief
speeches of thanks last evening in
response to insistent applause and
calls for the author and producer.
1t appears that another long. long
New York run is in prospect
NatiOnal-"The Garden of Allah"
The stage version OF Robert HIGH
ems novel, THE Garden of Allah"
the one with not only people but also
camels and horses and donkeys in the
flesh, and a sandstone real enough
to make the nearer spectators cough
and sneeze. pays us a second visit
at the National Theater this week.
The splendid screen version of this
story was seen in Washington only
few weeks ago. and the comparison
offers a good chance to consider the
relative advantages of the film and
flesh dramas. But that is a pastime
for the individual spectator and not
for this occasion.
The only suggestion that presses