New-York tribune., 1919-10-12
Bearing ON the Barrymores,
The Three Scratch Players
OF the American Stare
By Haywood Broun

This is a Barrymore year. Not only
are three members of this famous the
atrlcal family now playing in New
York, but all are in parts which afford
opportunities for the fullest display of
their powers. Ethel, John and Lionel
hold tradition in common, but their
art is highly individualized There is
no family manner or method. The
mere fact of relationship does not make
comparison any easier than usual. For
our part, Lionel Barrymore's last act
in "The Copperhead" seems to US the
finest of modern Barrymore achieve
mcnts. We were moved by this par
ticular performance more than by any
thing in which we-have seen John Bar
rymore or Ethel Barrymore, not even
excepting her gorgeous performance in
"Declassee." But we have no right to
generalize because our data is incom-
plete: we did not see John Barrymore
IN Justice"
We rather think that John Barry
more Is the most versatile member Of
the family. Certainly between Anatol
and Gianetto there is Just about the
widest range which can be crowded
within the walls OF theatre. We are
also Of the opinion that John can prob
ably bring greater pace and force to
any single scene than his brother or
sister.
There was, for instance, that fine
moment Of towering rage In "Redemp-
tion," In which he cursed courts and
judges. In such scene, wa think,
John barrymore Is prc9minent
On the other hand, Miss Ethel Barry
more Is much more richly endowed
With what, for default of better word
We must call sympathetic appeal. If
the three Barrymores were ever cast
together In play as characters of
conflicting interest Ethel would have
no trouble at all in working up the
audience to such pitch that 1t would
lynch John and Lionel 80 that she
might have her way. Nobody in the
theatre walks so surely on the thin
line which divides the things which
make you cry and the things which
make you laugh. Often she can make
ner audience do both at the same time.
Even With the most commonplace lines
IN the world she can gain such an
effect, for in her voice are suggestions
Of things which are gay and those
which are not go gay. Given lines of
real beauty and true emotional sug-
Zestion, az in "Declassee," and she can
tear the very heart out Of you. Reader,
II you ever write play in which q
woman is called upon TO sit and talk
WITH somebody or other about the dear
DEAD past, by all means move Heaven
and earth 10 get Miss Barrymore as
Jour star. She Is not to be equalled in
tnese scenes Of half humorous eenti-
ment.
however, IT would be unfair to give
Me Impression that her work must be
eompre.sed within guch limits. Ger
AMY she plays scene Of much differ
sat mood in the first act Of "DGclassac.n
and playa IT. supsrbly. Here she IL
i"feeful, direct and very swift. How.
svsr, We think ne are correct in 1aying
shat parts Of any gigantic heroic
Sssturs are somewhat beyond her
:cere. We would not cast her to play
soalth, for inytance, or Medea. But
yen TX We assume that there are
anshnite limits TO the scope Of Miss
bsrrymore's acting, IL gives us no
ne'p la determining her worth az com
pared ~ that Of her brothers, vino
ssem 10 liz rather wider in their
fanxe. At least ne think John Barry
more Is. All this IL incidental. No
y payers greatness or lack Of greatness
'spsnds On his Versatility just no long