New-York tribune., 1919-10-12

4 as he lis not absolutely throttled by
within moderately wide boundaries.
and surely Miss Barrymore's are as
wide as that, remains great even if he
or she cannot play nine -year-old
child one day and grandmother the
next Some very indifferent stock
actresses are just as good in one sort
of part as another. There is not
necessarily any merit in that
We are therefore back where we
started with these three Ethel, John
and Lionel, nor are we going to be so
foolish as to risk any dogmatic as
sertion as to which is the leader Of the
family. If we say that John is the
most versatile we suddenly remember
that Ethel has q much finer voice Or
again if we say that John has greater
talent for realistic portrayal >than
either of the others we are also re-
minded that he is not as shrewd and
| imaginative as Lionel in discarding
those things which may be true but
are not effective.
1t is interesting to compare the death
scenes in "Declassee" and "Redemp-
ton. From the point Of view Of
! fidelity Of detail. of course, everything
is in favor OF John. You may remem-
Der Johns agonized animal like leap
after he shot himself while Ethel,
with broken back dies beautifully
putting cigarettes and slipping cham
pagne. To be sure, the moods of the
plays were quite different and any at
tempt at faithful realism on Miss Bar
rymore's part in "Declassee" would be
quite destructive of the mood of some
what scented sentiment which this
particular scene of the play requires
We might wish that she had made some
more definite effort to convey the
fact that while Varick might die as
game as any one else she could also
feel pain as we'll as a commoner. On
'the other hand. we rather think that
Johns terrific fall in Redemption"
was wrong, since 1t diverted the at
tention from the main fact that the
man was dying to the detail Of how he
/ died. And yet our criticism is little
I forced, for while we thought that the
death in "Declassee" was somewhat un-
real, we were profoundly moved by 1t,
moved even more than by John Barry
more's death in "Redemption"
After all much the simplest way and
much the most truthful review of our
own feelings in the matter is to say
that the three Barrymores are the
scratch players of the American the
atre and let it go at that.
Tho present theatrical season seems
to us an unusually good one as far as
, II has gone. We feel absolutely safe
in recommending "Clarencep to all
theatregocrs. 1t is excellent enter
tanment without being special. You
ought to see it, you must see it and
the fact that attendance is a duty will
not prevent you from having the time
OF your life "Declassee" should also
be on the theatregoer's list Here is
one Of the most striking and appeal
ing performances which New York has
secn in seasons and seasons. Miss
Ethel Barrymore is absolutely at her
best. The play in some respects harks
Of US thought was gone. 1t is at least
first cousin to "The Second Mrs.
Tanqucray." Any Of US who thought
that theatrical but full favored drama
of this sort was dead were quite mis-
taken. The play holds the interest
throughout with the single exception
of few ill-directed moments at the
beginning of the second act. Tho
dialogue Is unusually deft and effec-
tive. There are two shows which you
should not miss, and it seems to US
that you ought to find time for "Moon-
| light and Honcysucklc" nm exceedingly
adroit light comedy played pleasantly.
adam and Eve" is more conventional,
| but hrst-class entertainment. And
from the SUCCESSES Of last season there
remains "The Jest" That makes five
well worth while plays for theatre
gocrs, and if you are among those in
vctcrate amusement seekers who want
no open afternoons or evenings you
can add the serious "John Ferguson"
/ which is fl good play in spite of
certain amount Of pore, and the frivo-
Ious but amusing "Nightie Night" not
forgetting our reliable friend Light.
nin'," with Frank Bacon's beautiful
| performance. That makcs' eight shows
which should be enough for anybody's
| week.