The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-24
BROADWAY STARS
IN GOLDEN FLEECE
Thomas Broadhurst's Latest
Play Is Given Especially
for Actors Fund.
BLANCHE BATES SCORES
Modern Version of Domestic
Troubles of "Medca" May
Be Seen in Movies.
BLANCHE BATES SCORES

The presence OF James MONTGOMERY
Flagg in the audience at the Broadhurst
Theatre last night which witnessed the
special performance OF "The Golden
Fleece" by Thomas Broadhurst, led to
the report. which could not be confirmed,
that none other than the artist had
bought the motion picture rights to the
play prior to its presentation. with the
aim of turning 1t into one of his satirical
movie comedies.
II Mr.. Flagg. as rumored. actually
has contracted for this modern version
OF the domestic troubles OF Medea and
intends to make It into a jolly adapta-
ton OF East Lynne" along Grecian
lines. he might as we'll be warned now
THAI East Lynne" has already been
done as skit in the movies. One
can. however. understand the tempta-
tlon to make this a screen story OF
ore OF the original wronged women Of
the world. For when Meded. deserted
by her husband. entered with one of
her children In her arms In the second
act. one instinctively looked to see the
snow falling.
Arraycd In Grecian Garb.
However. that would have been alto
gether out OF place, in view of the scanty
nature of the garb worn by the Grecian
characters The costumes were very
good. AS to the play itself. which is in
two acts and prologue and passes in
ancient Colchis and Corinth, Mr.. Broad
hurst has made some attempt to give II
a modern subjective treatment. adding
mental cerebrations to the other troubles
which were allotted to the ancient
Greeks by the busy gods
At the end Of the second act, for in
stanse. when Medeo, dashed to a fury by
faithless husband. and particularly on
Glduce, the arrogant Princess who has
stolen him from her, the Colchian Prin-
cess avows that 1t will be remorse that
will undo the guilty pair rather than
the customary high voltage thunder
bolts from Jove's avenging dynamos.
BY making Jason thoroughly n cad and
quite unworthy to be studied in the orig
inal at any young ladies' seminary Mr..
Broadhurst has turned his transpianted
drama of the theft of the fleece into an
Homeric illustration of the principle
'the woman pays"
Whether Mr.. Broadhurst has sue
ceeded IN thus endeavoring to mix psy-
chology with the cruise of the Argonauts
Ia matter with the class in Greek 2B
can best decide. Mr.. Broadhurst himself
declared In a curtain speech that the
honors for the performance. which was
to the cast, which virtually was a
Legion OF Honor OF Broadway stars.
Blanche Bates Wins Laurels.
Certain Blanche Bates carried the play
along with her, as we'll as her stage chill
dren. She read her lines with feeling
and power and rose to the climax in the
second act. when her sons were taken
from her, like Niobe Of heroic but sobless
proportions. Next to her Tom Wise drew
the most interest, as a blind wandering
poet who was made up either as Homer
or Socrates. one couldn't decide which.
Mr.. Wise obtained the most value pos
sible from his occasionally amusing
speeches, and hardly needed the stan
for support.
Next to Mr.. Wise came his dog. which
looked like a very up to date Skye
terrier, though assurance was given that
he resembled true Cornthlan flea
specialist The audience seemed to eX-
poet from the way he kept shifting