Evening star., 1919-11-11
ADJUSTMENTS
BELASCO-The Son-Daughter.'

With the evidence of a delighted
audience and the assurance of no less
an authority than David Belasco.
himself, that washington brings
luck" advanced at the inevitable
curtain call and speech following the
second act, The Son-Daughter," a
play of new China, in three acts, by
George Scarborough and David Be
lasco, in which the latter presents
his latest and one of his most charm
ing stars, is a certain success.
Orientally poetic in its construction
and dialogue, interesting in the mys-
terious development of its purpose
and withal tinged with the tragic, the
new play entertained a capacity au-
dience for nearly two hours and a
half last evening, holding its interest
to the very last, when an elaborately
adorned orator Appeared, after the
last curtain. to suggest that the IN
teresting heroine and her pr1nceiy
lover did not die, but ultimately found
abundant reason for living forever
hannily after in the new republic of
the far east.
Although the acted play has for it's
locale the Chinatown of the Feat
American metropolis. there is nothing
in the acted narrative to suggest 9TH
ar than far-off China, with the cos
tunes and environment that have
been so often described in story and
nrinted in pictures. One of the quaint
est courtships since Miles Stand1sh de-
lights through almost an entire act,
with it's assumption of dignity. eti-
n,,ette. and fiowery dialogue poetiz-
ing ordinary things in our world of
Knowledge with effective and at
times. indeed almost throughout, with
amusing comedy of delicate texture.
The tragic element is injected when
Lien-Wha, the young and beautiful
daughter of DR.. Dong Tong, a Chinese
revolutionary. who has been almost
betrothed to Tom Lee, a young student.
but really the son of the leader OF the
revolutionary forces in China. is given
to understand that she. with the daugh-
ter of three other patriots must sac
rjfice her love for her love for coun-
try. "the greatest love in the world"
and be married to the merchant prince,
who will give $4,000 for the honor,
which is to be used to lfberate mill
lion dollars worth of arms and ammu-
milton to the forces of the republic in
China. No more cleverly devised auc
tfon was ever staged than that by the
Young woman herself in forcing the
bids for her hand up to 100000. The
young prince also is forced to make the
sacrifice in order to lead the forces
in China who have been bereft of their
commander by the assassination of his
father. The young girl is bid in by
Fen-Sha, one of the most accomplished
gamblers that ever contributed to
stage picture. splendidly played by
riage, according to the Chinese rite.
Lien-wha, who has now been christen-
ed "the son-daughter" by her father.
because of her sacrifice. learns that
her husband is the dreaded "crab." who
seems to balk with kidnapping and
lutionists, and has brought about her
fathers death to recover the 100000
dowry. Stimulating the loyal and obedi-
ent bride. she strangles the villain
with his own cue and, as the last cur
tain falls. hastens from the scene to
her lover prince, who also has peen
desperately wounded.
There is much in THE Son-Daughter"
to suggest "The Darling of the Gods
and to place it in that type of plays,
and yet it is very unlike in many re-
spects. 1t is drama OF Wonder1ui
charm.
Miss Lenore Uric exquisitely portrays
a role that ranges from childish pleas
antry to the deadliest tragedy that can
darken a woman's heart. Her emo
tional work is humanity realistic and not
marred in any degree by staginess, but
it is in her lighter and delicate comedy
portrayal of a young girl who is still
in love with her doll. romantically at
tached to a Prince Charming that has
come down on the moonbeam into her
life, heroic in her woma nliness in the
matter of sacrifice and so skilled in the
art of diplomatic fencing that she bssts
"a distinguished representative of the
empire from the legation at Washing
ton, that she exerts her most potent
charm and appeal. She seems to have
earned stardom beyond question.
The supporting cast is exceptionally
talented ana strong. but the great op-
portunities are afforded to Thomas
Findlay as DR.. Dong Tong. Edmond
Lowe as the princAiy lover. Albert
Bruning as Sin XII, revolutionary
leader. Harry Mestayer as Fen-Sh
and Jane Ferreu as Lien. WhaS old