The sun., 1919-10-07
ETHEL BARRYMORE
WINS NEW TRIUMPH
Popular American Player at
Her Best in Zoe Akins's
Drama, "Declassee."
THEME FOUND IN SOCIETY
Star Plays Role Of English
Aristocrat Who Descends to
Be Social Derelict.
THEME FOUND IN SOCIETY

| Alice Vance Madeline Delmar
Ethel Barrymore, the best beloved
star OF the American stage, was not APP
plauded so rapturously at the Empire
Theatre last night Just because she is
beautiful, talented and an artist of the
Arst rank. but possibly because III GER
tain recent struggle in the world of her
art she distinguished herself by the no
bility and unselflshness of her course.
The world dearly loves a heroine who
fights for = cause with such single heart
ed loyalty as Miss Barrymore showed
when she had the opportunity on behalf
Of her, own people So there was the
warmth Of genuine devotion in the sound
of the applause last night, the proclama-
ton of the AUDIENCES love for the artist
who had not disappointed her admirers
when she came forth as the champion Of
her kind.
But there was ample ground for the
more usual kind Of applause last night
for Miss Barrymore has never looked
more lovely nor was her bearing more
stately. She is just now in the golden
bloom of her beauty. when every talent
Is in its fullest flower. For the first
time in some years she appeared, more
over, as the central figure Of play by
an American writer. Zoe Atkins, all but
newcomer in the world of the theatre,
although Papa" was acted last winter
wrote for her 'Declassee." 1t is drama
OF social life here and in London. There
has been some ,intimation that the char
acters in the story are portraits, that
piqued the interest of the audience last
night. None of them, however. was
recognizable. But the figures of social
life sketched by the dramatist or the
writer OF magazine fiction sometimes
bear a grotesque lack of resemblance
to the originals.
Tho actress, however. did not play
the part of an American. The woman
Of title, whose career the story followed.
was English and 1t was her love for an
incorrigible "rotter" that led her down
the path that she preferred to follow in
this country. She made her husband
apologize to him when accused of cheat
ing at cards although she had reason
to suspect this lover guilty. She invited
his love and then had the modification
OF having a second charge of cheating
upheld. She is bold enough to apologize
to her husband now. The blight of her
lover Is not, however. at its end. He
gives up her letters and her husband
divorces her. Now she is declassee,
Her Life I'm New York.
In New York after two years she
is found only in the society of the Boz
hemians who will receive her and the
recognition Of her old friends is cold.
A rich American who loves her, finds
her at first unwilling to become his
bride although she finally consents. Still
the shadow OF the unworthy man she
Col 10 boz no Ia
back rich to find her betrothed to an
other who Is willing to release her. But
happiness Is not to be hers. The end
makes her career wholly tragic. The
first act of "Declassee'' is laid in Lon
don with her ladyship at the height OF
her social Importance. Its story passes
to New York, where two of the three
acts play.
The spontaneous outbreak OF long
continued applause when she appeared,
80 unnerved Miss Barrymore that the
progress Of the play at that point seemed
1t was indeed well on
in the first act before she recovered her
Then her playing Of the
unloving wife of a brutal husband was
touching in It's despair and resignation.
Her love scene masked under a parting
with the unworthy lover was delight
fully spontaneous and natural. Her
horror that she had discovered the
man as unworthy as her husband had
called him was represented with sort
OF grim hopelessness. And her demand
that he apologize to this husband had
the fine air of the aristocratic house OF
Varick to which she belonged. It was
on this note that her day of grandeur
ended. For she was indeed out of her
world when the second act showed her
in New York.
Her companions at tea were a singer
in musical comedy. prettily played by
Madeline Delmar and a French fortune
teller of an easily defined class and they
had invited three acrobats to be their
guests. This trio afforded the audience one
of its infrequent opportunities to laugh.
Her English friends whom she met by
accident, were prepared to receive her
with some warmth and Miss Barry
more's delight at the meeting was
pathetically indicated. But IT was in
her reception Of the millionaire's offer
to make her his wife or stand in some
relation of guardianship toward her that
Miss Barrymore's acting struck the
deepest note Of feeling. She barred here
in her look and manner all the horror
that might reside in the soul of a woman
who saw the wasted years back of her
puI incapable OF reaching
out to save what the future might hold
This interview is the best written pas
sage In Miss Akins play. 1t has deep
sincerity as well as understanding of q
woman behind its words so Miss Barry
more was here at her best. II was q
superbly human piece of acting. deeper
in its eloquence than the pathetic part
ing with her ring TO pay for the cream
puffs and milk consumed by the aero
bats, which ended the act.
The Nature of the Play.
Miss Akin has written few scenes Of
comedy for the character OF this smirched
heroine, SO there was no opportunity, or
ct best but few speeches In which the
actress could reveal her skill In this field
Miss Akin, who has hitherto been IA
nous for her genius In inventing the
bright line, seemed to be restraining her
self on purpose There were occasional
smart observations and they We're all of
the author and not of the situation nor
the character.
Indeed this interesting fiction, al
though 1t Is divulged on the stage by
means of dialogue, Is not dramatized.
Occasionally certain passages, such as
the interview mentioned. interest by
means of their sincerity. But there is
no sense OF suspense nor of dramatic
grip of the spectator at any point. In
deed the soul Of the theatre is not in
the scenes The character OF the woma nj
l..