South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-11-24

NEW YORK. Nov 2S.-The Be-
Iasco theater at the present time is
10 place for a nervous man. Mr.
Belasco is presenting to awestruck
audiences a dramatic poem OF pas
sion entitled Tiger! TIgerl"
Miss Frances Starr celebrates her
return 10 the stage after an alb
senoe Of several months in this pur-
pie phantasm OF the emotions.
which was written by Edward Kno-
block. Up 70 the signing Of the arm
istice. Mr. Knoblock was lighting In
France. so iu was impossible for him
10 be present at the first night per-
Torrance. Perhaps Mr.. Knoblock
got by mental telephathy some inkl-
ing OF the thrill which he has I'm
parted to hardened old Broad
way by the amazing frankness with
which he handles this drama OF the
sexes.
The strange thing about "Tigerl
Tiger" Is that although IL deals
more frankly with one mans Illicit
French adaptations within the
memory Of the present generation
of theater-goers it Is impossible 10
condemn il as merely an exhibition
of bad taste. Perhaps the play can
never be presented on the road. II
IS easy 20 visualize Mortified bodies
throughout the country in frantic
and probably successful efforts TO
suppress It
But New York being more sophis-
ticated can stand the play without
any appreciate lessening of NOR
ale. The seed planted in the Green
witch village section OF this metro
polls years ago by the long haired
men and shOrt-haired women who
had sought out a haven where they
could live their own lives has ger
minated here and sent out trailing
tendrils up and down the avenues
and bOulevards so that even a typi-
cal Belasco audience IS able TO
weigh against the immoral quality
OF Tiger Tiger" the undoubted
artistry Of its composition p-oduc-
ton and acting. And when the
scales come 20 rest after a few spas
modic quivers the judgment OF New
York possibly viii be that because
10 IS different because &c is artistic
because it is well done in every way,
Tiger Tiger" deserves 10 live.
Not only is It not a play 10 which
a man would wisely take his mother
or his sister but Il Is also hardly
the finest play IN the world for the
shrinking CD debutantes who make
up a large portion or every New
York matinee audience. Perhaps
the only objection 20 the plav IS
that il must be presented az matinee
performances. IL 10 could be pro-
duced only os n drama fcr the mixed
audiences or the evenings 10 would
le much better.
The story IN a nutshell Is that a
mentally slothful but socially de-
delightful member OF Parliament
forms a Iaison with ar anonymous
woman OF undoubted charm This
continues for two years. and while
10 Is IN progress the LADY succeeds IN
arousing the latent ability OF the
NJ p. so that he not only stops
drinking brandy and soda but also
soes out on speaking tours and bids
fair % become the most prominent
young man OF his day.
In a burst OF jealousy directed
against a society woman who very
charmingIy proposes marriage 90
her lover. the anonymous one -
veals 60 him that in her everyday
l,fe she Is "just a vook"
The hero has lot or caddish
qualities which all come TO a head
with his discovery that his manor
alta IS a cook. Aggravated by her
refusal 20 give up this honorable
pursuit and allow him 90 install her
in a luxurious apartment he allows
himself 90 taper or and finally
break the relationship.
The play has four acts and hy the
end OF the third Mr. KnOhlock has
his audience and tappa rentiy) him .
so confused as 90 just how ne is GO
ing 90 extricote the hero from the
position he occupies. between the
society girl and the cook. that he
hnGs II ns0sEs.-ry Id Sand him u