New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-06-11
Lenox'' Cast
Rival i'm Numbers
Of Hippodrome's
Dramatization of Novel by
Phillips, Presented After
Delay With Alma Tell,
Far From the Original

The deferred presentation by the
Shuberts of The Fall and Rise of
Susan Lenox," a dramatization of the
two-voiume novel by David Graham
Phillips. took place at the Forty-fourth
Street Theater last evening with Alma
Tel! IN the title role. heading an I'M
usally large cast of players.
In point of numbers the Susan
Lenox stage is better populated than
that Of many a musical comedy. Off
cial census returns might even shake
the Hlppodrome's title 10 be called the
one and only mammoth. Thirty-two
actors have speaking parts, to say
nothing OF Guests. Show People, Pc
destrIans. Denizens of the Park, Mod
els" as the program denominates them.
Each and every one of these persons
had adhererts in the premiere audi
ence, and if the applause periods were
laid end to end they might easily be
turned into a convention demonstrs-
ton.
Far from Original Romance
George v. Hobart made the drama
tization, in which he has followed along
the lines of his play, Experience"
As presented last evening the play was
in form considerably changed from
that seen in the probation period in
Boston, while it varied ever more
materially from the original romance.
AS II stands the piece is in four acts,
totaling nine scenes, a somewhat pro-
longed entertainment. Yet, even if
there is more of Hobart than of Phil
lips. it is an interesting story and one
in which Miss Tell, ,ast seen here in
Eyes of Youth" has opportunity to
show her power as a romantic actress.
She had q sympathetic audience last
night and was enthusiastically re-
ceived.
The first act rather faithfully fol-
lows Phillips, but with that curtain
the story bids adieu to the novelist,
except in the Ohio River show boat
scene, where Robert Birmingham, the
actor-manager, delivers his philosophy
of success to Susan, sticking to the
Phillips text.
Story of the Play
The play opens at the home Of
Susan's uncle, George Warham. She
mas been brought up by tie Warhams,
with her mothers sin having been kept
a secret from her. Having attracted
the attention of Sam Wright, son of
che of the villages most prosperous
citizens, she unwittingly arouses jeal-
OuSy III utI COUSiH, NUM-, WIZ IcIlS iicP
the bitter truth about her mother.
Susan's affair with Sam Wright prompts
her to leave the home before the dis
grace Of her mother is visited upon
her.
Then begins her eventful journey.
Followed by her uncle, she is forced TO
marry Jeb Ferguson, AN uncouth
farmer, whom she loathes, and from
whom she cleverly schemes to escape
shortly after the ceremony.
But Susan's troubles only begin with
her escape, for it is then that she
faces the world alone and unprotected
and in Cincinnati. All her attempts
to succeed are thwarted by shadows of
the past. She is about to admit defeat
and give up her struggle by choosing
the easier path, when rue love raises
her permanently TO the plane to which
she aspires.
Miss Tells beauty, her pleasing
voice and manner. left no doubs of the
propriety of casting her for the part
of Phillips's heroine.
Out Of a general assembly of excel
lent players Robert I. Haynes must
be cited for his excellent portrayal of
Jeb Ferguson, whose luminous bun
represents the height of extravaganza
these days. Others in the cast are
Beatrice Noyes, Walter Walker, Anne
Sutherland, Harry Southland, Albert
Sackett, Grace Hampton. Philip Lord,
Louis Mountjoy. Perez Benton, Marie
Jepp, Mlllicent Sharpe and Isabel Grey.