The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-03
THE AWAKENING Is
COLORFUL PLAY
1t Portrays Persecution Of
Lost Russian Princess
and Her Lover.
SEVEN SCENES IN PIECE
War Story Told in Ruth Saw
yer's Drama-Series of
Tableaux Given.

tho Awakening" by Ruth Sawyer.
presented last night at the Criterion
Theatre, Is q colorful and romantic pan
taama portraying the persecution OF a
lost Russian. princess and her lover. The
play has seven scenes. laid in Paris
and Russia, the first being the studio
OF an American painter. where the prin-
cess rs Introduced az Flora Tomor, q
viennese dancer.
MthhaH Sabtwo6, who was her sweet
heart in childhood and was severed from
her by unkind fate. has become her
dancing partner, but her memory OF
him and early events In her life were
clouded by the shock Of her fathers
murder.
Sinister destiny. embodied in the per-
son of Prince AIerts Alsrandrovitoh
otherwise known as Dmttrte6, and his
sister. Pyiwcess Mosta Alsrondrovwo. still
pursues the iovera Tho great war has
Just broken out and Tdmor 10 accused
Of being p German Spy. SobtnoU In
forms her that he must 20 back to Rus
sia to forward the revolutionary move
ment and begs her to share his lot, but
DmttySen has warned her that she can
find safety only with him.
Attempt Made on Her Life.
In spite Of warnings she insists upon
appearing that night at the theatre. An
attempt 10 made upon her life. She Is
wounded and in delirium sees again the
preparation OF the crime which began
her misfortunes In childhood. Thus she
remembers the guilt of Dmitrts6.
The unfolding Of the tale in its frst
phase was somewhat intricate and
shrouded In considerable mystery.
TomdT's Identity was not revealed. the
motives OF her prosecutors were still In
camera, and the first act ended with
the reading of an allegorical poem about
the Dance Of Death that was pregnant
with unplumbed Significance. Later the
wells were gradually raised on the past
and expectation was aroused Of start
ling developments to come.
A series OF tableaux followed The
FIRST was "fhs Dance Of DEATH" q pic
turesque pantomime enacted by T0mar
and Sabt1o6, which was terminated by
lights. T0m0r,s vision followed. and
then came q scene in an inn on the Rus
sian border in which peasants. cossacxs
revolutionists and Government agents
participated. A scene at the military
headquarters in Paris and another on
the Dmitrieff estate in Russia were
necessary to set everything straight and
unite the lovers
Dancer Has ExactinR Role.
Khyva st. Adams as Tdmdr made q
willowy. serpentine dancer and was
gloriously effulgent in various iridescent
garbs. The role was an exacting one.
and she carried It OF adequately. It was
somewhat trying for one not born to
the Russian ballet to act as dancing
partner to Theodore Kosloff. the Sdbinor
Of the play.
1t was KosIofrs first appearance in a
role in English. The complaint could
not be made that his accent was not
truly Russian. He made good use Of his
highly developed pantomimic resources
at the most crucial moments.
Wilton Lackaye as Dmttrie6, a MEM
Der of the Imperial Government was q
thoroughly specious villain, and Gilda
Varesi as his sister succeeded in con-
veying sufficient atmosphere Of wicked
ness. Henry Walthall, who was recalled
from cinematic activities to impersonate
Russian nobleman who had suffered
at the hands Of Dmitrie6 and his sister.
showed the influence Of work before the
camera In an emphasis that was appro-
pirate to the spirit of the romance.
Motion picture producers will be
wrangling for the rights to The Awak-
ening." 1t 10 a picturesque novelty
which sacrifices dramatic tension and
growth partly because Of its episode
nature and partly because its method
follows the technique OF fiction.