The Washington times., 1917-05-25
DUNCAN BARESSOUL
OF MARTYR FRANCE
'TisuaIizes Suffering Of Our
Heroic and Bleeding Ally.
DANCES TO CHOPIN PROGRAM
Aakes Gripping Appeal for Aid for
the New Renaissance"

II was not art, but a revelation that
tsadora Duncan gave to q distinguish
I'd audience at the Belasco Theater
yesterday afternoon in perhaps the
most gripping appeal that has been
made to Washington to do It's bit
toward the succor OF our ally, France.
II was for the benefit of the French
restoration fund and the Washington
committee that has pledged itself to
help this veritable renaissance" of
France. has chosen the devastated
town of Noyon as its special heritage
of woe. Noyon, that had not wall
standing, not a bed for the $4,000 OF
its inhabitants who were returned to
It and then left for four days without
even food! And those who came back
were the men and women over fifty
or children under fifteen years OF age.
It was a visualization Of the soul Of
bleeding France that Isadora Duncan
laid bare. One could read into her
pantomime, whose message was ac-
( companied by an all-Chopin piano pro-
gram, the entire emotional psychology
OF an anguished people.
EmbodIment of Suffering.
A solitary classic figure against
dull shadowed hangings, Miss Duncan
did not seek to alleviate her message.
With intense dramatic power she
stood there the embodiment of suffer-
ing we have dimly felt, but now keen
ly experience through the appalling
force Of her genius. Hope there was,
an appealing hope that turned to
every heart there. It was as though
that hope was an inspiration, 1t so
illuminated the spiritual prophecy
she gave In face and form Through
an appeal OF such beauty, the desire
to restore the glory of la belle France
to her children became irresistible.
We saw her bound, in despair, in
frenzy akin to madness, or we felt
that there were her children to be
raised up triumphant
Chopin, the composer OF introspec-
ton. gave voice to the dramas. Rich
ard Buhlig, at the piano, in both solo
and as interpreter with Miss Duncan,
was eminent as an artist giving true
tone impressionism Of the many moods
with intense dramatic effect or with
solemnity and beauty.
sonata Most Vivid Portrayal.
The B minor sonata, in which oc-
ours the funeral march, was the most
vivid portrayal. A succession of re-
markably poised and sustained pic
lures it became. with colors and
meaning combining to present some
thing new in rhythmic art more
nearly akin to the plastic arts of
paintings and sculpture. An apothe-
osis followed the inexorable mandates
of Fate that now scourge the world.
for there was not a moment when
the events Of today did not join these
potent dramas-bringTng about an in
spring resurrection from all the
gloom that had passed.
That there was a redundancy in the
Borrowfui message robbed IL Of some Of
its force. Miss Duncan Is superb in her
dramatic heights. but she should not
now essay the light and airy waltzes
that served to tighten the end Of the
program.
As an impassioned scarlet figure
she mined the "Marseillaise." con-
cluding this wondrous appeal with
all. the audience standing and feeling
intensely the urgency Of the cause for
which Isadora Duncan is giving her art
The Washington committee who have
undertaken to restore the French
City of Noyon consists OF Mrs. Henry
F. Dimock, chairman; Mrs. James
Carroll Frazer, vice chairman; Airs.
Theodore Boynton. secretary, and
Miss Mary Patten, Mrs. o. H. P.
johnson, Mrs. Richardson Clover,
Mrs. Blaine Beale, Mrs. Paul Bar tlett,
and Mrs. William Littauer.
J. Mach.