Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-30
Belasc0.

Clothed with a mammoth scenic set
ting. spectacular and beautiful, whose
atmosphere Is borrowed from Hawaii
as well as from Mexico, and made al
Turing with romance of poetic ideal
ism Incompatible in its originality and
beauty. The Flame" Richard Walton
the first time in Washington at the
Belasco Theater last night, delivers a
political message that burns its way to
the soul of those who permit them
selves to be led by it's drift and arouses
the bitterest Of resentment from those
who cannot agree with its details and
conclusions. 1t is production that
will always be presented to a divided
audience. and because its message
stings with the sharpness of fire, will
always provoke bitter discussion, for
it is one side Of the story of Mexico and
its bandit rivalry. presented with Incl
dents that are calculated to make the
red blood American boil with anger.
AS spectacle it is beautiful. AS
romance it is ideal and poetic in the
highest degree up to the point where it
becomes involved with conditions af-
fecting American rights, lives and
dramatic situations and sentiment. A
central point of interest is the per-
Torrance of Peggy O'Neill, whose role.
Maya. has a poetic interest which she
sustains admirably.
In the romance. "the fame" is the
idealization of motherhood; in the
melodrama it is the fire that scorches
the soul with the indignities heaped
upon civilization, and especially upon
the American portion of it which has
Mexican history 1t is the sharpest
kind of satirical treatment of American
policy in Mexico, which is the dominant
theme of the play. although but one
Ialix he
sage.
The settings and lighting effects are
ideally beautiful. One scene, described
as 1.-The hurricane In the green jungle"
is a masterful bit of stage mechanics
and impressive deception.
Among the characters the most un-
usual is Maya, priestess of the sun and
the moon, whose one dream of treas
ure" is motherhood. The role has an
eerie spirit of the exotic. Miss O'Neill
makes her graceful and appealing, one
of natures own children with whom
our civilization is only just becoming
acquainted. The Mexican governor is
impersonated by Robert Gibbs with a
realism startling. IL true. Dave Car
son, a Texan. played by James Seeley,
typifies the American who has staked
his all and lost through the failure of
his government to protect the lives of
against the greed of transient dictator
ship. Justinian Lawlor, American con-
sui, played by w. J. Brady, illustrates
the difficulties of a position of RESPONSE
bility Influenced by practical politics.
Violet Heming, well remembered from
her connection with the former CO.
lumbia Players and from her later work
with Arliss in 'Disraeli," beautifully
personifies the heroine. shielded and
finally saved by the little priestess of
the sun and moon.
Throughout the unfolding of the dual
story there Is an almost incessant ac-
compartment Of music of the Hawaiian
| type blended with the roll of drums
/ and rafting of gourds filled with seed
that are employed to give the neces-
sary Voudou atmosphere which is in
| troduced t. add to the terrors OF
| brigandage and the extremes of official
cupidity The scenic effects in the
main are tropical in their beauty, while
| the picture of 1.-The old courtyard over
looking the Spanish Main is triumph
| Of the scenic artist.