The Washington times., 1917-03-20
NAZTMOVA PROVES
EXPERTS IN ERROR
Her "'ception Shoals" Shows
Tragedy Can Still Be Sue
ceSsfuIIy Produced.
PLAY SCORES AT BELASc0
Dramatic Interest Kept Up
Straight Through Four
Acts of Vehicle.

Expert opinion to the contrary, last
Shoals" at the Belasco Theater, with
Ala Nazimova in the leading role,
proves that It is still possible to pro-
duce tragedy successfully.
For the dramatic story of Eve. the
young girl isolated with her uncle. on
the lighthouse at "'Ception Shoals"
IL not only a modern play, but q
tragedy to boot.
This seeming paradox is the work
OF Austin Adams, an American writer,
who has provided Nazimova with a
vehicle SO adept in construction, SO
general in interest. that it has
achieved success in New York. and is
duplicating its popularity on the road.
Component Parts.
All the truest and best moments
which NaEimova realized in 'Hedda
GGbler." and in "A Dolls House." to-
gethSr with war Brides" are COM
ponent parts of her new characterize
ton
Far from depriving her of any of
her vitality or appreciation OF values,
Nazimova's short sojourn in vaudeville
in War Brides" seems to have deep
ened, poised and crystalized her art.
Undoubtedly, the success of "'Cep-
tion Shoals" is due largely to the del.
icate manner in which the author has
built up to the denouement Not
until the last act, which takes place
five years after the first three, does
the strain of suspense which has
brtdged the gap eliminate into the
madness which drives Eve out into
the sea-
First Scene.
The first scene shows q boat cast
on ~'Cpetion Shoals" waiting for the
turn Of the tide which shall set It
free. On board, Blake, the master,
is anxiously awaiting release in order
that he may make port for a woman
on board who is about to become a
mother.
Swimming q mile from the light
house, comes Eve and rises dripping
from the sea, to look at the first
man she has ever seen, exceQt her
uncle, whom she supposes to be her
father. There on the boat, she tells
Blake of her strange life, of her
fanAtical old father" and Of bow
she has never been allowed to see or
been seen by visitors to the light She |
reveals the depths of her ignorance
Of life and sex, while Blake marvels
The expectant mother is suddenly
taken i'll, and Eve is called upon to
help.
In spite of the opposition and rage
of the uncle, mother and baby are
taken into the lighthouse, where they
remain for five weeks. At the end of
that time, they leave, Blake prom
Using to come back for Eve later.
Plans For Child Of Own.
She plans and longs for a child Of
her own. ever hopeful for Blake's
return, but the uncle deprives her Of
her happiness by intercepting her
letters and telling Blake that she is
dead Five years pass by. and the
fourth act brings the elimination OF |
the tragedy her uncle has brought
upon her.
Unable to cope with the religious
fanatic. driven mad by the long strain |
OF waiting and watching, she goes |
out into the night and the storm, |
not knowing that happiness in the |
form of Blake has been almost with |
In her grasp.
The supporting cast is excelIently |
chosen and trained so as to cooper
ate most artisticaIly with Nazimova |
Only in one or two Insignificant in
stances was the shading of any i'm
PRESERVATION too light or too dark.
Charles Bryant plays Blake; Edith |
Luckett, Maude; John Ellis and Henry |
Harmon, Smoth, a sailor. and Job,
the uncle, respectively.
III