Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-11-17
ADJUSTMENTS
BELAsCO-" forbidden"

"Forbidden," a new play by Doro-
thy Donnelly, which was given lts
first production at the Shubert-be-
lasco Theater last night, portrays
tragic aftermath of the great war.
The tragedy rests, not upon deeds
committed during the action OF the
play. but upon a curious juxtaposition
of circumstances in the lives OF TWO
young people who meet and love wnile
the American Army Is occupying Ger
4 man territory. One is German coun-
tess, and the other young American
officer That they should "fraternize'
4 is forbidden by orders issued to the
army of occupation. That they should
wed is forbidden by the world drama
itself, in which they have had part
Il The impossibility of American and
4 German coming together at this Pc
riod. with tho war sores still raw, is
the lesson of the play. 1t is forbid
den"
The first two acts might belong to
any romantic play-eXcept for the
| fact that they present brand-neW
settins-Gcrmany during the occupa-
ton by American forces. There is
comedy and love-making. plotting by
| German agents of the former crown
prince. But in the third act the blow
frVfn out of the past falls with the
100
! great final act The tragic situation
is as final and complete as the Greek
tragedies of old. Martha Hedman.
who plays the Countess Hildegarde,
is a remarkable actress, and in the
| last act of Forbidden her playing
] shows genius.
+, At the close of the first act the i'm
! preston left upon the mind is: What
i : remarkably subtle piece of German
}" ro2aganda, designed to soften the
feelings of Americans toward the
enemy.
!, The curtain rises upon the hail of
4 a German castle. the countess and her
young sisters awaiting the American
4 occupation in fear and trembling. be-
lieving that the soldier in the American
Army is the same as the brute that was
let loose upon Belgium and northern
France by Germany. Even the pity for
their terrors is dispelled. however. when
the Americans show how RIDICULOUS are
their fears. and the American Red Cross
feeds their children.
With the exception of Countess Hide
garde, the Germans portrayed upon the
stage are not calculated to win the SYM
pathy of americans Her cousin. Count
Robert, a lieutenant in the Deaths
Head Hussars." attempts to conduct a
conspiracy behind the countess skirts.
He is the typical ''junker." Antoine
Roonje. a German sympathizer from
Holland. takes advantage of the Amer
ICou SOlulcI . lliciiuohAP " ai0 ShSOO
plots. Kurt Schwarz. a German radical,
The main story Of forbidden"
lies in the hopelessness Of the love of an
American officer for a German coun-
tess whose twin brother he has killed
with his own hand during the war. Even
the twin brother is made hateful to the
! audience. He was ''sniper," who kill
| ed the only son Of the American general
commanding at the schloss Won der
| and waited
| throughout the day to get" this sniper.
There is a secondary plot, conspiracy
in which the Count Robert and Antoine
Roonje have part, to bring about an up
I rising to re-establish the empire in Ger
j many. The scheming Of the consplra-.
j tors is revealed to- the American general
| by the Countess Hildegarde because
she is unwilling that her home shall
be used for such purposes while the
family with justice. In the end Count.
| Robert is killed trying to escape.
The theme Of forbidden" runs
throughout the play. 1t is kept con-
stantly before the audience.
| that Lieut.. Lawrence killed the
| Countess Hildegarde's brother. the
| true significance OF "Forbfdden"s lies
| barred. Both realize their love is hope
| less. He Graves her forgiveness, but
to the general Lieut.. Lawrence says,
1
! be done over again, he still would
! have killed the German sniper.
| The company which surrounds Miss
| Hedman is well balanced. and it's
work is worthy of particular praise.
! Richard Barbee, who takes the part Of
| Lieut.. Lawrence. is admirable. Will
| liam H. Harcourt, as the American
! general, is soldie rly and dignified. AZ
| Carmen Flanagan. Y. NJ. c. A. work
err Hermine Shone is most amusing.
The fun poked at the Y. NJ. c.. A..
| through Miss Shone's characterize
ton, however, seems in bad taste.
The Countess Wanda. the tiirtatious
younger sister of the Countess Hide
garde. is played capitally- by Georgia
Lucille Mooser. Annette Westby, as
Hatcher. the German maid servant:
Herman Gerold, as Josef. the old Ger
man butler; George Connor, BENJAMIN
| Taggart, John Rutherford. John Nc
Kenna, Henry George, Nolan Leary.
| Walter Abel, Harry Shutan and Har-
Z! old Slater, all American soldiers, I'LL
their parts satisfactorily.
l The lines of the play are amusing,
| and if slangy at times are up to date.
The settings are wonderfully good.
1t should not pass without note that
many objections have been voiced con-
corning the play. because of an un-
American influence which 1t is regard
ed as likely to exert.