Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-02-23

to victory. OF what vital import Is now
Nora Helmer's "feminism" In "a Dolls
House?" Indisputab,y the worth OF
realistic social drama fluctuates with
the march of the calendar. BY 1880 all
OF tbsen save THE Pretenders." Lady
Inger." Emperor and Gallilean," Peer
Gynt" and Brand" all Of the ''revo'u-
tionary" plays OF Shaw and Bjoernson
too aside, possibly, from Beyond ou
Power" may be relegated to the cate
cory of back numbers"
Praise for the craftsmanship OF these
works. the loose fashioned Shawn
dramas excepted. will perhaps endure
and their vivid powers Of characterize.
tion may be found pr iiseworthy. But
as popular footlight fare these plays. ad-
mirable In their day. are likely to become
as dead as Tom Robertson's, whose
Caste alone Is now seen occasionally
in well-nursed revivals.
L visible on "a Gauntlet" lays par
ticular ex,ctions upon its interpreters
! That these exactions are in the main
brilliantly filled strikingy testifes to the
Workshops present organization. The
company, which includes such artists as
Hilda Spong and George Henry Trader,
is assuredly OF sufficient competence TO
present notable variety of Worthwhile
plays. 1t Is rumored that with the
valuable addition of Mary Shaw,
Pinero's THE Notorious Mrs Ebbsmith"
may be revived by the organization. This
| nlav thptuh 70 anfhpr'a haef ia
still interesting and powerful, and the
comparative infrequency of its presentl-
tions In Philadelphia saves 1t from be-
ing hackneyed. Its most memorable per-
formances here were those given by
Mrs Patrick Campbell. with the very
authentic assistance OF George Arliss
at the Garrick Theatre early in the
| present century.
Other excellent works for an enter
prise ls idealistic and as noncommercial
as the Theatre Workshop exist In
| abundance. Possibly the management is
already overburdened with advice.
Nevertheless, the present writer is em-
boldened TO offer his suggestlons--John
Masefleld's THE Tragedy of Man. Paul
| Hervieus THE Course OF the Flame"
and THE Enigma" and Schnitzler's
! "Llebelei."
! The last named was cloquently acted
some years ago in New York by
Katherine Grey and the same Mr.. Ira
der now associated with the Workshop
under the title of The Reckoning"
Light o Love" Is at once more
graphic and accurate caption for this
touching drama. In its English form Il
would be new TO Philadelphians The
original version Of this piece. which so
impressively flays the Austrian aristo-
cratic caste, was given for 1 few per-
formances when the German Theatre
was located at Sixth street and Girard
avenue
THE Course of the Flame" available
In a translation published under the
auspices of the Drama League, has
never been given here. The other Her.
vieu play was produced by Olga Neither
sole at the Broad Street Theatre some
twelve years ago. Those were the days
of that once admirable actresses lament
able artistic decline and the full effect
OF the French dramatist's intense situa-
tions was unrealized. THE Tragedy OF
Nan" is Masefeld's one successful essay
In stage tragedy: Mary Servoss.
talented young artist, who Is to replace
the also gifted Olive Wyndham at tho
Workshop" should be able to give a
moving portrayal Of the titular heroine.
Two unqualified hits in melodrama
and musical comedy respectively are
now eliciting patronage here. Neither
of them calls for detailed scrutiny. 1.-The
Man Who Came Back" is "a character
istic pattern play. II Is Experience"
without the ubiquitous symbols THE
Wanderer." minus the antique setting.
Henry Potter. 80 forcefully acted by
Conrad Nagel. is none other than the
prodigal son. purified by adversely.
Playwright Goodman manipulates his
puppets through five exciting episodes,
one OF which involves an opium den
scene, calculated to induce thrills. 1t Is
idle TO point out the brlstling incon-
sistencies of the piece. 1t makes no pre-
tensions to be intellectual. Clearly the
authors aim has been to devise an
effective melodrama. In this he has EN-
phatically succeeded. The work Is quick
moving and undeniably entertaining and
| lis intrinsic appeal Is vastly enhanced
| by the capital acting Of Mary Nash, Mr..
Sagel. Mr. Dempsey and well-selected
| cast.
"Oyer the Top" the other novelty. is
IN excellent specimen of the inchoate
musical revue. OF its particular and
popular genre, 1t is by far the best
sxemplar that has held the stage Of the
| Chestnut Street Opera House this sea-
| son. Staging and costuming are dainty
| md tasteful. Comely femininity is
bundantly represented. Justice John
| tone. the much-featured star. Is un-
| ,ouiyocally pretty. Her other assets are
,egligible, but happily competent fun
| ,akers are present to bear the burden
" the entertainment Chief among these
Ed Wynn, thoroughly droll per-
,,nality, seen at his best in the present
| ,.ehicle, II. T. c..