The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1920-01-19
The NationaI-@John Ferru.on.n

realism, drama that strips life to the
nakedness of elemental passions, both
good and bad-such is the st. John
Irvine play John Ferguson" pre-
scented by the Theater Guild players
at the National last evening.
The play compels with its sincerity.
Puritans may vince at 1t as indecent
exposure of the human soul, apollo
gists for this frail race of humans
may cavil at it. John Ferguson
furnishes an uncomfortable evening
for them. 1t is drab. bleak. and I'M
sparing. There are few moments in
the whole category of Pinero- and
Hauptmann and Ibsen which excel
in sheer ironic and dramatic force
that phrase wTung from the heart of
the play in the fourth act, constituting
Its climax: .-.. ri
Gods late. dad" y. -.
There was an exalted touch Oh irony
In that fierce human protest against
the meaninglessness of the tragedy
which, in the eyes of John Ferguson,
God has imposed on his family for
purpose which they could lot
divine. Some clerics will find in the
drama the acid pen of a skepuc. Il
is a play in which human will has
little or no part. Every character is
in the grip of Fate, in the clutch o;
circumstance; 1t seemed quite as re-
lentless and inevitable as a Greek
tragedy. The central character is al
ways preaching the word, Gods will
be done" Perhaps he was human
enough to waver in that dogma as the
drama approached it's close, with his
son about to give himself up to the
gallows; weak enough and human
enough to hope and pray. somewhere
in the inner recesses of his heart, that
Mosaic law for once could be thwarted
and overcome.
There Is no time to elaborate on the
intellectual questions wrapped up In
| John Ferguson; and barely time
enough in catching an edition to do
more than assert that II is of the very
stuff and pith and marrow of true
drama-drab, bleak drama. 1t Is true.
but without a single throb of theatric-
atty in II. or touch of meretricious
effect. And it is fun of remarkable
acting. The role of James Caesar. as
played by Dudley Digges. is a picture
of establishment and abject coward
ice that no theater-Goer will ever be
able to pluck out from his memory.
This poor Ulster tradesman had no
scruples about projecting the very
Ivacuity of his nature before his neigh
bors and licking it like a dog ticks
sore wound.
Nor is the picture of John Ferguson
himself. as enacted by Joseph Dren-
nan-strangely suggestive in many
ways OF the late W. II. Stoddart's
Characterization in THE Bonnie Brier
Bush"-less of an achievement. Helen
Freeman's Hannah and Brandon Pet
ers' Andrew Ferguson were splendid.
and Lucy Beaumont played the mother
] with such consistent force and skill
that at times she became the dominant
element In the play. Barry MacoIIum's
Characterization of the village idiot.
i"Clutie" John Magrath. was vivid and
clearly wrought out.
| The reviewer has indicated that
John Ferguson" is something ouite
different from the pap and confection-
lery which constitutes the stock in
trade OF the commercial theater.
Squeamish folks will give il a wide
perth. But there Is no stronger evil
oence OF the Intellectual force OF the
modern Irish theater movement than
THIS drama, and no stronger evidence
mat there is an audience in the United
States for real drama than the in
dubitablc success of this venture of
the Theater Guild.
Folly Theater.
Tommy "Bevo" Snyder. one Of the
pest known silent comedians on the
burlesque stage. is the star of the
Some Show" company. the attrac-
ton at the Folly Theater this week.
Snyder Is supported by an aII-star
cast. including Billy Mcintyre. Ray
Shannon. Al DwinneIl. Babe HeaIy.
John %. Grant. Gertie DeMiIt and
Evelyn stevens. Miss HeaIy Is
dainty little soubrette, who has been
seen in Washington just recently
in summer stock and her work met
with great approval from two AL
diences yesterday.
The performance. is divided into
two parts. 1t begins with a laugh
able burlesque entitled The Auto
Wrecking Crew" The production
is most elaborate in scenery and
costumes. A chorus Of sprightIy
damsels sang and danced to the de-
light of the audience.