The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-10-18
ADJUSTMENTS
New Lyric,

Pollyanna. The Glad Girl" came
10 ,ne, New Lyric theater Friday night,
ana the little miracle worker proved
herseit to be all the book would lead
one to expect, all that the advance no
uces promised, and gave to Memphis
theater- goers the best. the most helm.
Iul little comedy Of this or any other
previous season.
According to P~ollyanna, there are
more than 500 places in the Bible
wherein the faithful are enioined to
re1nice ana be exceedingly glad" After
friday nights performance there were
more than 500 times 500 reasons for be-
ing Hiad IN the hearts OF the big audi
play. ~ "'
Pollyanna is an inspiration as we'll as
n clhic on happiness. Viola Harper IL
an lueAl P~ollyanna. She emenates youth,
sweetness, gladness In form, voice and
demeanor, From the time she Is
shtpped' In as an orphan, to be de-
pendent on her maiden aunt where she
meets with the steruness Of New Eng
.ahd discipline, until at the final cur
le'n ase makes her appeal as the apostle
OF %gladness to the whole audience. iris
little woman dominated the show. can't
waited the audience. Persons who saw
the New York production who were
again Voluntarily subjected to a bath in
E~,ladness were of the opinion that Viola
harper and her support ooualled in
every sense the metropolitan produc-
The difficult part Of Polly Harrington.
maiden aunt Of Pollyanna, esSayed hy
Alce Baxter, was n revelation in dis
eliminating, artistic acting. Like tho
Nluain In n ~melodrama, the part is, until
me tast act, a ~thankleSs one. While
none Friday night had the temerItv TO
hiss the straight laced maiden aunt. il
IS safe TO say that her ~sternness prar-
hced on the little orphan Pollyanna,
brought out some muffled disapproyai
so Tar as the part was concerned.
however, when the maiden aunt let's
.ove again enter her heart and marrles
me man she had locked in her heart for
~ years the estrangement due to a mis-.
Understanding, she is transformed into
u beautiful, happy, radiant womanlv
woman, and this woman. Alice Rax-
ter. really Is. In face, form. manne
ana enunciation she Is a finished
actress.
Other PARTS arc In capable hands, Tho
nr, Chiffon Of Garland Gaden, radi-
ates optimism; the John Pendleton OF
George Allison, though n little stir
especially in the latter scenes, is satia-
tFlng katherine ROBBERS Interpretation
Of the Irish servant was a bright niece
OF character acting which wen filled in
hterStices of the plot which otherwise
might have been less bright
Inc trio of gossipS who unload the
scandal Of 20 years are ably portraved
by Fanny Han, Gertrude Rivers and
Helen Quincy.
jimmy Bean, rollyanna's pal. is such
an important part II takes two actors
to play ii. Master William Rlaisdell is
an ideal dtrtN-faCed orphan. Jimmy
Rean the growu-up' l7-year-ol older,
budding, ingenious, optimistic youth. il
depicted by Harold Macarthur. and he
Is almost as much Of a tonic to the
faded nerves as Is P~ollyanua.
~ W. +. MacCollin, as Blocker. Pen.
dlcton's man and as stage
puts the touch " a veterans hand to
the whole performance.
Sodom and GCrorrah. pollvanna's
pets, canine and feline, arc such i'm
portRut parts that they also must be
depicted by two actors each Even II
Sodom, in early youth. an Airdale. grew
up to he a Gordon setter, he can he
forgiven, for like Gomorrah, tAe foil for
his comedy, Pollyanna loved him, and
why shouldn't We?
P~olNannn beats Daddy Long Legs.
Peg q My Heart and The Brat.
II will be repeated at a matinee this
afternoon and closes with a night per
| formancC.
II IL more than a cure for the hlues
It Is an inspiration, the apothcosis of
gladness, the ritual of the philosophy
Of happiness.
Go, take tho children and let Viola
Harper make a glad boy or girl OF you,
! whatever be your age,
NED COURTNEY.