Evening star., 1919-10-07
ADJUSTMENTS
P0LI'S-"Luok Of the Navy."

There are at least three prologues
TO The Luck Of the Navy" which
was shown for the first time in
america at Polls Theater last night.
II ran Tor nearly two years in London
ana the numerous managers who
were present last night testified to
one one Iact that 1t had made over $780,
wv IN the British metropolis. The
% prologue shows a submarine
atug tnmg violently, and announcing an
iit4iiospnere iit4io OF mist and danger. A
i! i!ttle slowness in managing the
iisnes' pardonable in a presentation
unuer new surroundings, caused the
SSuo1harlne picture to merge rather
o,y with the information conveyed
% on mahaeer Polls ornate yet practi-
E.sahlc mystery was blended with the
BUSINESS details of our own thorough
| ing.
bstteu tne next next prologue had it's effects
| Of T Y Iepna1in nand; 1t was in the nature
scene, scene OF genuine beauty. with ships
moving majesticalIy, and concluding
| WIN the explosion of a. dirigible in
niaairi bv i,t.1e uhe third prologue is preceded
itself, nevertheless, as the theme Of
rne play. 1t is delivered by news
paper boy. and leaves no doubt as to
drsr dr piays 9eing an English melo-
Tba Iana asua,; IN an the term can imply:
stanton, ees a Zero, ee ees!" And a
| nero, the lieutenant undoubtedly is
to tor considerable period the lieu
cena tenant reveals himself largely as a
pays the role with poise that gives
| the effect of quiet pluck and makes
MN an ideal subject for hairbreadth
adventure The thrills are a little
liberal order when they arrive. Lieut.
stanton falls into a nest of German
spies. one of them as fierce as Lady
Macbeth, and much more modishly
gowned.
This role is we'll taken by Kate
Carew. The preliminary conversation
| IS valuable in acquainting the Amer
ican ear with the accent which at
first renders the diction a trife OBJ
scure. though agreeable. The lieu
tenant makes his way through ad-
Inconsistencies. tied hand and foot;
facing his captors next in the excit-
| ing game known to melodrama as
who's got the pistol" and finally re-
vealing his face to his discounted
foes in the sharp illumination of a
craftsmanship, by a passing aviator.
After the searchlight has shown his
| expression of serene and classic
| scorn. the full stage lights up and the
| British bluejackets, American sailors,
| police. etc. take the miscreants into
! custody. The lieutenant makes a
| highly necessary explanation to his
| offended sweetheart that his seeming
| carelessness of her photograph was
| due to the fact that he had written
on the back of 1t the code word
| sought by the spies. BY seeming to
! quarrel with her he was enabled to
! pass it out of his possession just as
| the plotters were prepared to search
! him.
Any description of a melodrama is
| necessarily incomplete and lacking In
| that sympathy which the illusion OF
| the moment creates. The heroisms
were appIauded with warmth which
| acting, but grateful remembrance OF
| those whose bravery and devotion In
real life had inspired the mimic scene.
| Once into the story, attention fol-
! lowed every turn of events with re-
! sponsive interest. The only wonder
| is that a patriotic melodrama. one
! sounding the note Of glorification for
! the courage of the fighting man.
should have found the field over here
still unoccupied at SO late period In
| affairs The play makes a direct ap-
] neal to sentiment, and its success
| should pave the way for more drama
! of the same kind; some of 1t reflect
! ing the spirit of American heroism
and resourcefulness on terms OF the
| same pardonable pride of nationality
! which the London theater has In this
instance so brilliantly displayed.