Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-02

| tiOH WIN tnt ute JO1n u iklCe, uilu
deed considerably before them, Mr..
wise's breezy drollery has enlivened the
American theatre. Usually the sheer
force Of his personality won first hon
ors. Nevertheless there are three or
four vivid genre studies In his repertory
One of these was assuredly his depletion
of the worldiy-wise uncle In Edwa
| Sheldon's dramatization OF Suderman'
remarkable novel, THE Song of Song
His Falstaff which It was Ne
Yorks but not Phladelphia's good for
tune TO behold has also been acclaimed
The comedian should be more gem
erous In revealing that portrait. for
there is every reason for believing that
his corpulent knight should be the most
convincing OF any since the days OF
William +. owen. II Mr.. Wise ever
sees fit to revive the part II Is sincerely
to be hoped that he will enact Prince
Halls dellciously reprehensble mentor
| in Henry w." that superb historical
comedy. rather than the caricaturc Of
immortality hastily drawn by shake
speare In THE Merry Wives" to please
the imperative fancy Of Queen Bess.
|
TN General Post" Mr.. wise's part Is
l. as fat" as his figure, and the excel
lent authoritative performance of Will
liam Courtenay as the military tailor
| is thus somewhat overshadowed. Mr..
Courtenay's position before the Amerl-
can footlights IL. however, well assured.
and though his present role Is not spec
tacular, discerning playgoers cannot fail
to recognize the high quality of his ar
tistry. Kathleen Nesbt as the rather
cantankerous and very English heroine
is disappointment. The promise of
histrionic potency disclosed IN her eX.
quisite contribution to Synge's well Of
the Saints" during the Irish players un-
happily riotous season here some years
ago is not borne out in her present
vehicle.
Probably she is best suited to serious
subjects. Synge's play. IL will be re-
membered is the most poignant of all the
modern Celtic dramas. Her performance
in Galsworthy's Justice" two seasons
ago Is said powerfully to have attcsted
the sympathy of her art with "A tragic
atmosphere.
THE self-satisfaction which the pres
l. eLt writer might feel on learning that
the Theatre Workshop is considering the
production Of one of the four plays
recommended In this department week
ago is appreciably modified by the news
that the theatres old friend. long-armed
coincidence. is once more at work. The
choice of Paul Hcrvieu's powerful and
human drama, La Course du Flam-
beau" as possible vehicle for the
WOrleghnn'G .,,tt t,at,,
independently of the advice volunteered
In this column last Saturday. Unfor-
tunately for this city, however. New
York Is likely to see the first production
OF the PIECE as the Workshop will very
soon move toward Broadway for a series
Of special matinees devoted to various
noteworthy dramas.
HcrNieu has been described as the
master psychologist of the French stage.
Equally as sincere as Brieux, his art is
unstained by embarrassing special plead-
ing. Human emotions and crises he
views from the dramatists standpoint,
His pays effectively teach" very little
but they reflect life with startling in
tensity
La Course du Flambeau" is an in
pectioh or the mingled Vices and yir-
tues Of sacrifice. Three generations of
motivation. The end Is tragic, and.
given the authors postulates. inevitable
The title. THE Passing OF the Torch"
IS. an allusion to the transfer of the
sacred flame of life at the "Iampado-
phores' festival in Athens. Its appll-
cation to those phases OF human charac-
Ter whlch seek to preserve the younger
generation at the expense of the old is
entirely patent as the action, wrought
with fine dramatic technique, proceeds
d EJANE achieved a striking suc,oSs
~ with the piece in Paris some vears
ago. With Les Tenailles" it remains
the only one of IIeryieus important
plays unproduced in America. Olga
Nethersole more than "A decade back in
corporated three of Hervleus. "The
Labyrinth" THE Enigma" and ",The
Awakening" in her repertory, but the
productions were unworthy of the sub
iect-matter
Interest in Hervieu in this country has
since regrettabiy tagged. His death
In 1916 evoked little more than SUPER
fic!al notices on his potent art. If the
Workshops plan Is executed. justice TO
the memory of a suprrby gifted dra-
matist will not only be done, but still
another refutat'on of the old American
geography books unqualified contention
that the French are a gay and frivo Gus
people, fond OF dancing and light wine"
will be available.
And the writer of these lines will re-
Joice In the achievement. even Gas IT so
happens) IL he did mt nro,,nt a.,