The Washington times., 1919-10-21

49, Q - . - . - 'Se-h ~Ne-N
The lights are low and dreamy
soulful music is being played. A
circle OF friends is gathered about
pensive, enchanted. A magic atmos-
phere hangs over the room. Some one
has just doubted the existence of the
soul, and some one else has just
threatened to make the soul so real
as to be self-eyident. In this weird
setting a married woman leaves the
side of her husband and with out
stretched arms crosses the room to
meet the embrace OF a fiance who has
left the side of his betrothed. And
while all look on this man and this
woman embrace and kiss-one OF
those fervent soul kisses that lasts,
IL seems, for minutes.
Such is the dramatic ending OF the
hrst act of Eve and the Man." and
thus begins a weird story of love and
hate and passion and human weak.
ness that is gripping because of its
unusual mode of presentation.
Mrs Grover. a clever and brilliant
vampire, believes there is no such
thing as soul, because II is not
tangible. The Maharajah Bharala,
half Indian hypnotist and philoso-
pher. warns her that it is possible To
make her soul so real to her that she
viii see it. Then the lights are
turned low, the music starts. and sud-
denly all are shocked at the sight OF
Mrs Grover in the embrace of Harry
Swayne, fiance OF Janet Markham.
Was IL a vision, or did the couple
actually embrace and kiss? Those in
the circle are not positive But
strange that all should see or fancy
they see the same thing. The Maha-
rajah explains that his valet put
hashheeh in the coffee and that per
haps the embrace was a vision pro-
duced by the drug.
Bharala is in love with Janet, and
the shocking conduct of Mrs. Grover
and Swayne causes Janet to wayer
In her love. Bharala then pushes his
suit but he finds that Janet still is
true TO her finance and is willing to
hght TO free him from the power of
the woman who kissed him in the
vision.
Then comes the second dramatic
scene OF the play. Swayne Is in his
room late at night when Mrs. Grover
creeps in and thrusts her attentions
uopn him. The young man wants to
put her out of his life and has about
won his victory when suddenly she
casts aside her robe, and appearing
in her lingerie. begs for a farewell
kiss. The temptation is too great.
They kiss. Then the lights go out.
They think they hear the woman's
husband outside the door. They
think that he shoots them. Their
souls are laid hideously bare.
The lights fash on. No one has
been shot Mr.. Grover is nowhere
to be seen. But in the room stands
Bharala- He has seen the struggle OF
the souls. Graciously he steps out
Of the love game. paving the way for
the reuniting Of the estranged cou-
Piles.
Helen Holmes Is bewitching in her
vampire role. Her captivating smiles
and ways it her well for the part
s. Miller Kent, as the Maharajah, is a
typical East Indian, with eyes that
look right through you. His hypnotic
manner casts a spell on the audience
as well as on the players Ramsey
Wallace, good looking, plays admir-
ably the role of lover battling
against the seductive charms of d
wicked woman.
William Sampson. as de Reuyter
injects a delightful comedy element
He gets so drunk that he is a
scream: and the liquor makes him sc
frisky that he's very devil with the
ladies. despite his age. Pisan Jour.
dan. as jacob. the 'cellist. also add:
a light touch to the play. He is a
temperamental musician who gets ex.
cited over nothing and raves in a
language that no one can understand
u. r. hEITH's.
b. +. Keith this week presents q
bill of the true salt and pepper va
riety, a congiomerate mass OF com
edy. sparkling all through like q
harlequin. but interspersed with JUS
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