Evening star., 1918-05-06
ADJUSTMENTS
New National.

At this time OF year a number OF
plays are expected which dispense
with the preliminary announcement
that they are due for an extended run
in New York. They are, often care
fully tailored products, shaken out be-
fore audiences on a limited tour ana
then packed away for use in the fall
and winter season. They play wnat
might be termed "the moth ball cir
cult
Some Of the best entertainment that
Washington enjoys is provided by these
test performances Of ,In new ma.er'1l Ws.s Men = :"
whose preservation at the New National
last nikht won for Its author cur
tain call that attested n genuine an-
probation far beyond mere compii-
ment. A company notaole Tor ACME ni.,
smooth and well constructed piece OF
plot mechanism. The Three Wise
Men, are learned jurist dester
Lornegan) q captain Of industry
(Claude Gillingwater) ana q medical
scientist (Albert Brunihg). Lornegan,
Gillingwater and BruninE are all names
to conjure with among those who ad-
mire serious and competent acting.
Each CT these characters has ro-
nance which whispers with gentle SEN
Il II
been shown without harming the per-
formance,. But the prologue. once a
classic establishment, has been so in
discriminatory employed that its ab,
ordered and mechanical mode OF exist
ence into which these three wise men
Gan incidental wcrd of gratitude IS
again dut for the avoidance or "nlte-
three wise euys'0 something intrudes.
1t is the something that the scientihc
students of efficiency problems dread; :;
the something that upscts the most IN
:sgsns ba Sgsn This
ment romps into the mathematical calm
Of the bachelor household in the per,
son of Il young. pretty, vivac1ous ano
sensitive girl; tho chiid OF the woman II
three with the perfume of romance and
left them only the withered petals or
regret. In an instant the trio OF ner-
mits are plunged into nerVe.tinsIns
adventure. The exhi1aration OF the HE
that is being lived by the millions gets
into their veins and sets their emotions
racing. They cease to be scientihc
They become intensely human as tney
are whirled with dizzy sw,itness a ne.s,. il" hnn
to the sordid depths OF the underwcrio
This human element is contributed BY
the role Of the young girl, played py
Ael&n .M0nk6Hs- duo 10 hOS Lac
madcap who intrudes into domestic
calm with assertiye Domination, na,as t. nne nns
~ ne numerous clever artifices by
M means Of which the play steps away
from what suggests itself to the mag
ination as a conventional and therefore
inevitable conclusion. Instead Of being
relic of the slums. fike the ;s.,ls usua, a.
crime play heroine, she is a vlctlm OF
her intense and idea1istic sense OF de.
votion. Miss Menken is an as,,,t. actress .sW1 OF
peramentally convincing and with all
her girlishness secure in a womanly mani,
poise that lends dignity to her story.
Her performance gives her unquestion-
able rank among the actresses Of COM
manding ability. ,
The three acts have many thrills.
They are all reached by methods which
satisfy the logical sense to an unusual
degree. The me1odrama is there. but 1t
is melodrama which does not depend on
wholly befogging the reasoning facul- c.a
phattc in its appreciation of a compact,
Vigorous and well acted play. j.