Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-12-09
LOU TELLECEN AS
FOREST RECLUSE
His Play, Lust Of Gold" is a
Powerful Production and
Admirably Presented.

The play in which Lou TeIegen appear
ed last night at The Playhouse and of
which he is co-author with Andor Garvey
Is a very worthwhile achievement of itself,
and furnished an excellent medium for
display of real histrionic abilities on the
part of the star and his supporting CON-
pany witnessed by the tense and quiet
attitude of the auditors during the action
and repeated recalls at the fall of the
curtains.
The reason for the title is found in the
hero's incidental admission TINT the pros
pect of wealth for q moment had operated
to sever him from his allegiance TO the
life of "Godly Peace and Freedom which
he had sought and found in the woods OF
the Canadian Northwest; but the name
signifies little, in view of the fact that
the subject is study of elemental emotion
the sway of woman, weak and cruel
and niconstant over strong, patient ana
purposeful man-not simply because he IS
man and she is woman, but that he Is the
man and she the woman.
The woman is the center OF the action,
which begins several years before the
opening scene, when she had tired In
Paris of her conquest of Armand fremont
and he, deeply torn by her treachery,
had sailed away from the siren, after the
manner of old Ulysses, but not so promptly,
end had settled in the forest. Hero he
is revealed as living in primitive fashion
with two faithful retainers, Elorea and
Peter; the former kindled by dumb love
for her master which expresses itself by
watch dog look out 10 defend him from
sll threatened danger.
Into this Eden enters the siren, now the
wife of mining engineer who is prospect
ing on Armand's property, has found cop
per. which is worth more than gold would
have been, and seeks to induce and then
force the unwilling owner TO exploit his
Golconda.
Unyielding to his advances, he melts,
however, before his old flame in an excel
lenily managed scene, and matters pro-
oeed with the two men associated in the
venture and in their interest in the woman.
The second act, several months later,
cultimates in his being engulted again IN
the maelstrom of her imperlous passion,
bargaining with his associate to leave them
together and beginning a new era with
the original Eve as sharer OF his earthly
paradise.
The third act, which Is somewhat Of an
snticlimax. shows her disillusionment
and renewed betrayal by the return to
her engineer. and the reward Of the faithful
Florea BY Armand S discovery that her
love is safer sailing though less excitement.
Hedenig Reicher, as Florea, shows
her sterling qualities as an actress thor
oughly immersed in her assumed char
acter, which is essential to the develop
ment Arthur Fitzgerald as Peter, the man
servant, carries the small part sufficiently
well. Charles Hampden, as Felix Warner,
the mining engineer has the ungrateful
role of the woman's 5 toy, which presupposes
weakness OF character III crises, essential
TO bring out the contrast with the rugged
strength Of the hero. This part could
be perhaps played with 8 manlier touch,
but like the others noted, helps TO work
out the purpose of the authors.
The slren-or TO use the lingo Of the
oav and age, the revamping vampire,
was very artistically portrayed
by Margaret Linden, who Is pleasant to
look upon and effectively embodied by
her charm and coquetry the conception Of
the eternal feminine OF a certain type;
which is perhaps more profound study !
than even her creators realize. 1t WAS a
fine representation Of q character not
meant to be sympathetic.
The personality and physique Of Lou
Tellegen, as the hero, Armand fremont,
are admirably suited to the part, and his
rendition is Illuminated BY a thorough
understanding OF the significance OF the
character, stamping him as q sterling
actor, who viii go farther on the road
toward fame.
The settings were effective and carried
the essential spirit Of the woods of romance
Altogether, the offering is a most ex-
cellent one and worthy of a hearty wei /
come from the Wilmington public during
It's remaining performances today and to- /
morrow.