The Washington herald., 1919-02-24
shubert-G.rrtek--The Aftermath

The ugliness of an uncompromising
realism has been handled in such a
manner as not to lose the message the
author has to deliver, but at least to
cut away as much ugliness as possi-
BILE in 1.-The Aftermath" which had
its premier last night at the Shubert-
Garrick.
The story deals with the problem of
the physical condition of the return
ing soldier who, notwithstanding the
splendid service he has rendered his
country on the line of battle, returns
with wounds other than those re-
ceived in battle.
The age-old rule of the medical pro-
fession that a doctor must keep the
secrets of his patients as his own Is
the main theme of the play. On the
return of his ward from service over
seas, the doctor realizes that the girl
that he has loved from childhood
days has fallen in love with soldier
that she helped nurse back to health.
The soldier complains of headache
and in the examination that follows
the doctor finds that while splendid
soldier. his morals have been rather
lax, and now he must reap the har-
vest OF the wild oats that he has
sown. The soldier refuses to believe
the truth about his condition and will
not accept the doctors word. The
doctor if he is TO uphold the ethics of
his profession must keep silent and
see the girl that ne loves walk blind
Iy into marriage which will wreck
her life and health.
The aid of the sister of the doctor
and her friends is secured A minister
is also called on to prevent the mar
riage. but the mother of the girl Is
dazzIed by the wealth of the soldier.
and even with the knowledge of the
condition of the soldier, though not
fully aware of all its horrors. will not
accept the word of the doctor, but
adds her influence to that of the sol
dier for an early wedding. The girl,
thinking that the doctors motive is
one of jealousy rather than of love
for her, accepts the soldier, and the
date is set for the wedding in three
days time.
The preacher is called upon to per-
form the marriage. The doctor. des-
perate at last. tells the preacher the
whole truth, and he refuses to perform
the ceremony.
The doctor then asks the soldier to
he as big n man as he was a soldier
and to tell the truth to the girl he
loves. He does but still doubts his
condition is such as the doctor
would have him believe but tells of
his visit to another doctor who has
taken a sample of his blood to prove
his condition beyond a doubt. The
doctors calls the other physician who
explains to the soldier that the doctor
was right in hIs diagnosis and that
his condition is such as to forbid the
thought of marriage. The soldier
tells the girl the doctor is right and
though he loves her they must part
forever. and asks that the fortune
which now will be of no use to him
he spent in saving other men and
won1.u the pain they now have to
bear.
The Development is consistent and
reasonably direct Malcolm Duncan,
as the doctor gives a splendid Tor
5rayai Richard Gordon. as a preach
~ o. tho new school. lives his Charac-
ter from the rise OF the fist curtain
to the fall Of the last Malcolm Fas-
set As the soldier. gave a good per-
formanCe Of a rather bad role.
Grace Carlyle and Mona Kingsley.
as the sister and the girl, need quite
a bit Of coaching Mrs. Priestley Nor
rison. as the mother. gave a very
poor performance. Mrs Morrison took
the place Of Rose Coghlan. who was
taken i'll Sunday.