The Washington herald., 1917-05-06
THE WANDERER,'
WORKS OUT PARABLE
Play Praised BY Minister Who Was
Predisposed to criticise.

One Of the most brilliant. spectacular
and weli-staged dramas ever put on IN
New York is The Wanderer" II r.
founded on The Prodigal Son. and was
produced by Elliott, Comstock and 0ert,
The Rev. DR.. T. Alexander Hyde says
ip The New York American Of The
anderer:" ~
I consider it my duty to write youi
f; me thoughts that come to me as hs-.
ned 10 the great play. The Wandsret'
held my rapt attention from beanufnE
10 end. and I noticed that all about me-
were eye and ear and mind absorbed.
II came 20 crfticise adversely, but the
sward Of criticism was broken in the
first act and shattered in the beautiful
final scenes All was real. all war ME
like-the playful sheep. the butting ro1ts,
the stubborn mules, the barking deExL
At once we were transported 70 eur
ure, and deep sign and hopeful lczn-
ing was master OF mind and soul.
This play is a challenge TO relIE1ous
and moral teachers who condemn the
theater. saying II is all frivolity and vsck<
edness. Here is a play that shows VIZ
tue, religion and faith triumphant ever
the widest revelry and dissipatton{
While our interest never hags. and Ne
may have misgivings in regard TO that
OF the wild, uncoUth dancing and oe-
pravity. yet no one can forget the lessen
or wish to be the prodigsl: and his AVID
suffering on his return srouses sympathy
and forgiveness, and stirs US TO Tre4ter
exertiOns TO save our boys and girls frvEa
such ruin.
Briefly. such plays AZ The wsndsrsS
ought TO receive the support Of even the,
most fastidious, since Il supplies what y
most urgently needed. without q duil
scene, information, historical and Bfoh-
cal. and above all what is vital in the
issues Of our day, efficiency, chsracter
analysis, psychology and vocational ~
quisites.
Its portrayal Of the deterioratiou Of
character is a living lesson 70 thousaods,
as is fits moral, that success never comes
by frivolity and dissipation The prodi4
gal goes forth unframed, with lArrs
hopes Of success, which are broken On the
wheels Of temptation before he finds his
real calling He returns a wreck and -
saved only by INFINITE love The play
is magnificent in its staging. yet simple,
rustic and true to nature.
"A parable Is by nature a little drama.
and the perfect acting Of the meA and
women IL but the leading out In real
gesture and speech Of the prophets pow
erful dramatic thought The placing of
such stirring ana splendid and costly en~
vironmentS must mark an epoch In stars
and theater, and emphasizes the return
In spirit, like the prodical, Of the thsster
to its father, the Cchurch, for At one time
the Church and stage had q close ai~
uance.
The theater and the Church can worH
together 10 make possible the prodUe-
ton OF solid and noble plays. History
shows that when the theater had a ro's
Of great actors, the Church also had
great preachers. Why IL it, said an
English bishop, to the famous Garrick.
that the theater is crowded and tho
church is deserted IT is because 50 "A
Gsrrick, that We speak fctiohG as IL they
were truths, and YOU speak truths an
IL they were fiCtions'
Now let the Church 20 10 The WSn<
derer,' and learn how TO speak 10 the
heart the great truths OF religion