The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-10-20
POWERFUL PLAY
HERE FOR week
Guild Brings Tragedy Of
Brutal Realism

the Theater Guild opened Sunday for
n weeks run In 81. John Ervines
powerful drama OF Irish peasant life.
John Ferguson"
The play has little In common
with the ordinary broadway ''erook"
play or tho heartrending upllft
dramas Of the Don't send me away.
John. I'm still good woman
school. II Ia not that kind OF play:
and those who are looking for tear
ful ingenues. Fatty Arbucklo char
aeter comedies, or the 'snappy" dia-
logue OF the broadway boob
bumpers. viii be disappointed.
John Ferguson" Ia a tragedy OF
sombor and almost brutal realism OF
the school that synge and Lady
Gregory and the Irish thcater made
famous few years ago. This drama
was produced In New York last
spring by the Theatcr Guild with no
expectation OF run. but In pursu-
ance of tho ideals of tho little band
OF cooperative actors and actresses
to produce plays of real worth. To
the establishment OF the company. no
less than TO the commercial man
ayers OF Iongacre square. who had
predicted a short and abbreviated
career for the play. It's success was
sensational. and II In stili running on
broadway.
Faithful 10 Truth
John Ferguson" Is big play. II
has the remorselcssncss OF Fate. the
fundamental wonder Mt tho harsh
and cruel workings Of Providence. n
feeling for the gigantic Jest OF Life.
that u seen In Hamlet and ocdipus
Rex. the novels OF Joseph Conrad. or
tn. stories OF Do Maupasrant--th |
same unfiinehins adherence 10 truth |
that Is the css.nc. OF great tragedy.
The play. with perhaps one cxccp-
ton. was rplrndldly cast Tn. char.
aotcr OF Cutie" John McGrath. o.
half.wittcd North OF Ireland lad. |
was powerfully conceived and repre-
scented by Joseph Attention. Warner |
Richmond. as the son. brought a |
strong. restrained. mature art To a
roi. that could easily be ruined by |
overemphaais. and Angela Mccahiii. |
In the somber. bitter. tragic role Of
I
Hut Audience Laughed
In this play OF drab. unrcllcved
tragedy. the role of James Caesar. a |
snali.soulcd. validating nhopke~pcr |
who wants TO KIN tho vioiafor Of the |
woman he loves. but who lacks tho |
courage--a pathetic sort Of Hamlet. |
Infinitely appeaiing--is perhaps the |
most tragic. That he ought to XIII
withrow is clear. but he lay shivcr-
Ing In the shadows all nigh, appalled, |
ut his own cowardlce. a srlfcon-
fessed craven. nakedsouicd TO the
whole world. The role was one OF |
the most tragic figures on the Eng. |
fish stage: but the sunday evening |
audience laughed uprosriouniy At tho |
writings OF this petty. twisted soul |
In the hand of Fate.
John Ferguson Ia a play that no |
lover OF what is real and honest In |
tho theaicr should miss. Hut for
those who stiii think that every |
stage freshman In n comic fgurs and |
therefore conductive to loud laugh. !
ter. this burie~que theafera are stiIi |
open ut purely nominal price.
Another thing mArred the pure en- !
joymens Of the play for the majority |
Of the audiences: Lest the sombsr. |
bitter tragedy Of the little Irish fam
iiy should weigh too heavily on the |
souls Of the listeners. the Mctropoli-
tan orchestra played. between the
acts. the roliicking Irish waxhor-
woman" jig and the tunsful topical
song wait TN Cot You.
roo7-
Jsxz lovers win get an earfull this
week at the Moore theatre
A United States jazz band. COM