New-York tribune., 1918-08-29
Drama
Lightnin " Brings a Brand
New Character to Stage
at Gaiety
By Haywood Broun

season "Lightnin'" seems most certain
Of popular success. This need not be
held against it. Like all popular sue
cesses "Llghtnin'" is part formula. but
the best of it is fresh and vigorous.
lhe play has true contact with life. and
even the portions which are developed
according to time tried models are so
oe1Siy devised that they pass for new.
Nobody will believe they are old. be-
cause they shine. The polish does it..
Wlnchell Smith and Frank Bacon
have gone further in character drawing
than in plot The story of "Lightin' i"
commands interest and attention. It is
capable. But the character Of Lightin'
Bill Jones is a distinct contribution
to the theatre. He has not been on the
stage before. Another outsider has
been dragged in and the gallery of
good portraits has grown. Indeed, the
character is SO good that it deserves
the admirable performance of Frank
Bacon. His performance is more than
deft, for that adjective implies that the
skill shows through. AS matter of
fact, Bacon is so fine an artist in this
part that many people are going to for
get that it is a characterization which
REQUIRES conscious effort. There is a
flavor of second class champagne about
1T. Iacon is never too dry to be with
out sweetness or too sweet to be with
out dryness.
A certain amount of sophistication
is good for wine or plays We must
apologize for clinging ID alcoholic
metaphors, but it seems just as we'll
TO use them up this season. In another
year they will seem pedantic. But, as
we started to say, sophistication saves
plays from getting sticky. No charac-
portrait as Lightnin', nor was that
earlier success ass good as the present
play. This time Winchell Smith has
had the judgment to call Whoa" just
at the edge Of many wallowing pool.
The play is keenly human and sympa-
thetic, but nobody in it is allowed to
stand in the centre of the stage and
break the hearts of paying patrons.
Lightnin' Bill has a pleasant habit of
calling up all his reserves whenever
there is hint of anybody on either
side Of the footlights getting ELUSIVE
about him.
chausen. He deals in nonsense, which
is one of the most valuable commodi
ties in the world, because it is so rare.
His present may seem humdrum enough
but there is always adventure just
around the corner in front of him or
behind him. 1t surrounds him for, like
the jam of Alice, it is a thing OF yes
terday and tomorrow and never of to-
day If we may be permitted to switch
from Jam to cake we might say that
folk like Lightnin Bill Jones are the
happiest in the world. They always
have their cake because they never eat
it. No actor has brought surer touch
to the playing Of part than Frank
Bacon brings to Bill. But in spite Of
the fact that it is definite it is ever
SO gentle.
There is no need Of going into the
plot of the play at length. 1t concerns
land swindlers and woman and her
pretty daughter and hero who is just
as smart as the villains, even if he is
good. Naturally the villains are
baked Of their desire to defraud the
woman out of her property. Plots OF
this sort have been seen in the the
atre before but we can remember no
half the fun and excitement which
Winchell Smith and Bacon have put
into the third act Of "Ligntnin' With
the exception of the central figure of
the play no character is brand new in
conception or treatment. There have
been other comic sheriifs and other
man-hunting females and other sus
ceptible Judges. However, it is hardly
Il point against a playwright to say
that some Of his characters have been
seen before when it is admitted that
he does all Of them exceedingly we'll.
Nobody should complain about the use
of theatrical formula In the hands
of 8 man who gets a little more out
Of it than anybody else.
An unusually good cast has been gath
cred for "Lightnin'." Ralph Morgan is
a spirited juvenile with neat turn of
humor A brief bit in which the young
man whom he impersonates is allowed
to rant is one of the most amusing in
the play. Thomas Maclarnie gives q
capita performance as the judge. and
Jane Oaker is very funny as the woman
who captures him. Sam Colt, Jessie
Pringle and Beatrice Nichols are others
who do we'll.
In recording the merits of Light
MIN" it is worth while to mention the
fact that in the entire prologue and
three acts there is not single German
spy.