Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-26

3oH O2hc
G&S7%zaIi;sz, Is

work on a given key has ever signin-
cantly betrayed Mr.. Gillettc's thoroughly
professional skill in playwrighting There
Is hardly a false note in Secret Serv-
tce,' hardly departure from the at
mosphere Of compact melodrama. II is
an frank arttficc and aims at nothing
else
ME- ARLlSS, too. is a dramatist.
A'A though save for few one-lct cf-
forts he never launched ambitiously in
the playwriting field until his latest pro-
duction twas fashioned. In this ease.
moreover history as minutcly examined
by his collaboration Mary T.. lIamlin. tri-
umphantly furnished him with situations
almost ready made. An embarrassment
OF material was at hand In the remark
able career of Alexander Hamilton.
piSregarding the more conventional
opportunities offered by the Burr duel.
the authors selected subject even
richer in human appeal--the crisis In the
statesman's life in which he was COM
PEELED to choose between clearing his
honor as a servant Of the United states
ana exposing stains on the Cscutchcun
OF his personal morality.
This single theme, with due cmhroid-
CIV, preparation and development, vital
lies the whole play We're the person
ages involved not real, were the back
ground Of the piece net history In which
so LIany valuable lessons Of the pres
Cnt may be read, the fabric might in
deed seem nimsy As It Is, n criticism
OF the work as drama becomes entirely
secondary to its appraisement as a mem
/ tai stimulus
Who cares il the plot" be slender and
Ia.
and convection are accorded to thought
/ quickening chapters in our national life.
/ Tho mighty force of history dominates
| the produce performing a mission simi-
| lar 10 its service in the chronicle plays
/ of Shakespeare. Richard H." "Richard
! Ill.," Henry "" Henry v" king
John are technically crude compared
with the wholly nCtional "Othcllo," but
despite certain liberties, naturally trace.
able in "Ilamilton" also. they vividly re-
inCarnatc the past aud pulsatc with life
in n fashion that must disarm the aca-
dcmic critic. Historical dramas are a
. special and fascinating genre. AS long
as they reasonably respect fact and give
the impression Of reality, their exist
cuce, Notwithstanding disregard Of for
NAL Canons, Is amply justified.
] AHlG AkblSS , portrait OF lhe lltu al
AN1 figure is less spectacular than that
Of his DisracIi and, on the whole, rather
more sincere. Ills polished diction his
commendablc restraint, his compelling
charm of manner create n Hamilton
which Is intensely human and credible.
| That it ranks among the finest con-
| tributions to our stage en- hardly b"
disputed That it marks the summit OF
his achievement Is, on the other hand'
open TO question.
Personality is an unconqucr3pIc iac-
tor-and rightly s0--in the art or all
gifted actors. Mr, Nriss can act MANY
parts well, but those OF pSNchoIogicdl
import cntrcnchnE on the domain ~
the sinister assurcdly afford tho lcas'
restricted play TO his talents. In Inc
present writer's opinion, there Is noth-
ing in hi "uuerb gallery surprising MS
Assessor Brack in "IIedda Gabler, re-
| vcalcd when Mrs, Fiskc presented tina
lhscn dramI some seasons ago. The
subjective power of that mastery por'
trayai abidcS in tn" memory as scaling
y pinnacle Of rare kind. OF histrionit
art.
Other figures, too. are unforG"ttable
They include tho Pincro characterize
tion-St .Olpherts and Caylcy Drum
Campbell; his cynical yet ingratiatinG
atcS. l'arpy III .no NV ,',N iue IT,
drogm, ,.orid oF "pcIlcae ami NIeljsaudc
,,r,o, ,r,,,,,o,,tiors may no also defended
oycn tie proressor GoodwiIlie. I'm "Tbs
profosso,,, tovo STORY. ,vbirb tboupI
IIoes Infused ,vith tho right sort OF tom.
neran,entaI inspirotiou thai, WilIard's