Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-10-21
ADJUSTMENTS
BELASCO-"Tiger. Tiger"

Tiger, Tiger" as presented at the
Eeiasco Theater last night By dis
tinguis'ed cast. headed by Miss Fran
cci Starr, is drama for dramas sake.
holding the mirror up to human nature
with no cther motive than to present
an accurate reflection of an Interesting
episode in two otherwise drab lives.
1T cannot be said mat this product OF
the pen of Edward knoblock and of the
Stag ecraft of David BeiGsco aims to
point a moral, nor can 1t be classed as
d pleasant story. 1et for the kind OF
i play that IT Is Tiger. Tiger" is
intensely interesting. intensely human
and Intensely gripping. AS drama, 1t
Is masterpiece in lines. In stagecraft
ana In character portrayal. Its lines
afford a literary treat and the cast,
| headed by the wonderfully magnetic
and charming Frances Starr. is of the
| highest merit.
| The play takes it's title from the de-
scription of the love passion by one
OF the plays characters. The play
| opens on scene of platon!c friendship
between Give COupeT. member of par
lament, and Evelyn Greer. who IS fit
| ted By intellect and breeding to be his
wife. They talk frankly of the failure
! of one to arouse the love spark IN the
other; and Give walks with her from
| his apartment TO a taxi On a nearby
!
by a girl of the slavey type, and she
| accompanies him home. Despite the
| fact she Is not Il lady" she arouses
the Tiger. Tiger.' in the hitherto
heart-free Give. This sensual attrac-
/ ton continues, she coming to the
apartment of Give every Tuesday
evening, and her identity remains con-
| cealed
/ About two years after their chance
acquaintance. Sally pays surprise
! visit to Give. and when Miss Greer
and her father come for an after
| kitchen. That arouseS her and, after
| the Greers have gone. she reveals her
| self as making her livelihood as q
cook. This revelation shocks the
innate sensibilities of the rich and
well-bred Give, but not so as to shake
| him from his romance. Then follows
two scenes. presenting tense dramatic
pictures-frst, an effort on the part
| of Gives closet friend. Freddie
staunten, to persuade Sally to leave
Give, to prevent scandal that might
| wreck his career In parliament; sec
end. a proposal of marriage to Sally
by Sam Tullidge. carpenter by trade
| a widower with two children that
have attra cted the mother instinct OF
Sally. The psychological effect OF
| those incidents, however. has its fru-
| Itien at the next meeting of Give and
.'''iiH' 1--we INSTINCT Oh TeDulSlOn tC
| SaIiys occupation reaches IL china y
| and he offers her a little farm In the
! country where she can count on FIRE,
| quent visits from Give. Sally Is
aroused to Il realization Of the mean
| Ing of her relations to Give and de-
ciares her Intention to accept the
! carpenter for better or for worse
And Give. IN his misery. sees n duty
| TO cross the English channel to the
! lighting front in France In soldiers
! uniform. The closing act tugs at the
| heart strings. Gives effects are be-
| ing packed up, for he has made the
! supreme sacrifice for his country, and
| Sally pays a last visit to the apart
nIent where she had enjoyed so much
happiness.
| Miss STAIRS portrayal makes Sally
seem real parsonage. not play
character. Her Sally is a pathetic
product of circumstances which she
has not the ability or ambition to
overcome. She has wonderful sup
port from Lionel Atwell, as Give. at
hrst biase and contented, and then. be-
| cause Of Sally emotional and ambi
tous. Neither overplays the part
outlined for them and by that very
| thing make il stirring appeal to the
emotions. The others of the cast Dor
- Al