The Washington herald., 1919-11-17
Bei..eo-MartAa Hednan In ~Fer-
bldden.s
a. EARLE DORSEY.

By EARLE DORSEY.
In an effort to be charitable and to
avoid the Accusation that we have at
ternpted TO thrust Dorothy Donneiiy's
new play, "Forbidden." into an arbi-
trary pigeon hole Of classification. one
accepts the theory that Miss Donneliy
(iid not attempt to write a drama but
soElzht. rather. to paint vivid and
colorfuI picture Of the psychological
reactions that ensued when the Amer
lean army Of occupation was thrown
intS hostile German territory and the
members Of that army forbidden to
'sfraternlze'' with the inhabitants.
The variability of the human equa-
ton, when thrust into such surround
ings, might easily furnish a play of
major proportions. It Is not difficult
to conceive Of a playwright evolving
from the conflict Of forces thus engen-
dered a play that might take rank as
a major effort Men are human,
whether soldiers or civilians. and the
rigors Of existence without the eternal
feminine might wen bring about a
crisis In the affairs OF an American
soldier and a German girl that would
set at naught. for a time. the most
iiron-clad military law. One might
preach a thunderous sermon on the
topic and the sermon might be as
thunderous In advocating the desir-
ability Of such a union as 1t might In
denouncing II,
All this, Of course, refers to what
someone might do with the theme
Miss Donnelly has chosen for For
hidden" Unfortunately. Miss Donnel-
ly merely serves to accentuate the
suggestion that q good play mlsnt
have been written Of the same ma
teriaL Forbidden" We grieve to say
is not our idea Of regular drama
In charity to the author. however,
II may have been her purpose 10 exc
a vehicle that made no pretense
uation, motivation. dialogue or
al technique. She may have
ed to merely picture the Amerl-
scupation of Germany. As a
Of post-bellum conditions
army men in Germany. their
their ambitions, their work.
olay and their innocuous lusts,
as unquestionably drawn Eith
d that knows its field. But " Is
ANA, as drama Is usually con-
Not even the engagement of
r Of the rank OF Martha He'd
can possibly excuse its anna
h craftsmanship. its sophomore
Faving IN one form or another.
aldIy planted and mechanically
led situations or its ten-tventy-
melodramatic hick-jostling.
ven were Forbidden" drama, its
.sngth would be impossible. The story
gets under way by the opening Of the
third act. OF which there are fve.
though the last is camouflaGed as
scene"
Miss Hedman has essayed a role
that might have been given pos
sibilities. At present. the part is
lethargic. stodgy and well-nigh
lifeIess. This actress characterizes
a German countess whose brother
has been killed in the German
ranks. Four years later. against
the order of the army of occupa-
tion. she and an American Officer
give their hearts to each other
and defy the world. The emotional
,risiS-if one can really call II
hat in its present form-is reached
Fhen she discovers that her lover
-ilIed her brother to avenge the
cath OF his generals son by a
liper. One gathers that the coun-
'ss thereafter finds her proposed
TicuIt international marriage i'm
ssible from the standpoint oi
ltiment. The play however
bids pointing the moral of its
brg
There is a rather poor bit Of dra-
tic trfcRery resorted to-. to- prove
countess goodness and loyalty
the principle and the American
=. She turns informer on a Dutch
,lomat and her own German
Isin, who are plotting on behalf
the imperial government. bu,
is Just feeding" the part
Though the dialogue of FORBID.
n is rank and lush with the tried
true tricks that bring the
Ighs and the sighs. it has a num-
of characterizations that are
;ellent nevertheless William H
rcourt gives the most convincing
artistic characterization OF a
igadier the stage will see In
.nonths- He actually acted like a
origadier. Richard Barbee, in the
ole opposite the star. made a
ther poor lover. He had such odd
lys OF posturing and comforting
arms and legs that one could
rcely think of his lines. William
ley made an excellent German
:1cer. Others whose work deserves
special mention are George Connor,
Benjamin Taggart. Jo~eph Dunn.
Claire Mersereau ali Hermine
Shone.