The sun., 1918-08-02
ALLEGIANCE MAKES
Big HIT IN DEBUT
Spirited Play Carries Home
Subtle Warfare to It's
Audience.
ALL PARTS WELL ACTED
Conversion of Hyphenatcd
American Shown at Maxine
ElliOtt's Theatre.
ALL PARTS WELL ACTED

William Fsversham and Maxine FL
lott after a theatrical hiatus since their
appearance In Lord and Lady Algy" Of
fered their first production of the season
last night with a presentation OF ALLIE
glance play by Prince and Princess
Troubetzkoy, at Maxine Elliott's Theatre.
Princess Troubetzkoy. who is Amelie
Rives, the author, Is now entitled to be
called a full fledged dramat!st. this being
her second piece. the first having been
The Fear Market" This second and
most recent attempt. which Is destined
TO be more successful than was her first,
deals with the psychological changes In
the German American element in this
country
AZ might be expected from the title Of
the piece, the play has for its motif the
subject OF German American whose
father and whose son are both loyal to
America. Through reasons not ex-
planned. Karl Hartman 10 a fervent ad-
mlrer OF Germany and Kultur His
feeling is so deep indeed as to cause
violent arguments. In fact his whole
family is upset. as we'll Il might be, with
his open and avowed friendship for
Count ron Geier. a spy and reservist in
the German army.
That Is the situation at the outset of
the play. which is representative OF con-
ditions a scant half year after the
struggle began in 1914. The second act
carries along to the sinking OF the Lusi-
tan.a, an occurrence that angers the son
OF the household so much that he en-
lists In the British army. The father is
unmoved, but that the fatherland
should do such a thing kills the soul OF
the German grandfather. and when the
curtain rises on the third act there Is
revealed the tict that the blow has been
too much and his body has followed the
spirit.
The third act Is laid on the day war
was declared between the United States
and Germany. A friend Of Mrs, Karl
Hurtmann, in the Military Intelligence
Service. reads a letter, apparently limo
cent. that Count ron Geter has sent her
pro-German husband and discovers that
there 10 a secret message therein The
trail leads to papers brought home by
the husband, which are discovered
through a dramatic sequence Of events
and which result In the arrest OF the
spy and the sudden change Of the hus-
band from violent pro-German TO
equally violent pro-American. Injected
into this lie the real touch Of the play.
bit Of melodrama that strikes deep
the boy an exchanged prisoner of war,
come home blind In both eyes. a re-
suit OF German barharity. A this
causes the cementing of close feelings
in mother. father and son once again 1t
gives an opportunity for a happy ending.
The play was staged by Mr. Faver-
sham himself and IL therefore artist
cally presented The acting is we'll
done, taking the Performance through
out 1t is propaganda, frankly 50, but
il IL not always sugar coated and not
always subtle.
Charles Meredith. as Mar Hdrtm0Nn
the son, was especially good. His per
Torrance was even better than his short
American In The Best Sellers" Blanche
Yurka. as the mother. was appealingly
emotional In her more dramatic moments
and repeated the success she enjoyed IN
"Daybreak" Carl Sauerman as the old
German, grandfather and father both
portrayed his role with feeling and ad.
mirable technique. Carl Anthony had
a difficult role to play in the pro-Ger.
man. Karl Hdrtmann, but succeeded as
did Harrison Hunter as the spy
representative audience was on IA nd
last night and Kissed Count ron Geier
and applauded so vigorously as TO cause
Mr.. Faversham and the authors to come
out on the stage and say few words