Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-05
AMUSEMEN
P0LIS-"Undesirable Friends.

| A gOod-sized audience at Polls
Theater last night found Undesirable
Friends a desirable and In many
comedy drama by Samuel Shipman
and Victor Victor has a message to
convey. a dramatic appeal developed
by several of the incidents, many bril-
| liant lines, sprinkling of comedy
and at least two decidedly interest
Ing character portrayals by Howard
| Lang and Louis Mann. Recalling the
days Of the founding Of the republic
OF the United States, 1t stirs the pa
| triotism of every American in the au-
dience. Yet it avoids In large measure
| the pitfalls of SO many so-called MIS-
torical plays by keeping the dramatic
appeal uppermost.
| The play begins with prologue,
when rather snobbish New York
business man objects to his son acting
as host for Frank Solomon because
! the guest is Jew. The boy pIeaos
the young Jews heroism in France In
the recent world war and the father
consents to talk with Salonlon.
From that talk it develops that young
Solomon is the descendant of Aaym
Solomon, the Jewish banker, VINO
gave material financial aid to the
cause of the revolution. Then comes
the play itself to show Salomon's sac
| TlI1ceS TO Tree inc 4AulSli ivan SoioAAAoS
| from the British yoke.
The play centers completely around
Haym Solomon. who is made De
! lightful and entertaining character
by Louis Mann. The first act con.
Germs itself with the display OF
Gen. Howe and his aids entertained
while Gen. Putnam's forces are escap-
ling capture. The second act, despite
a seemingly unnecessary, although
entertaining, opening. contains more
dramatic appeal. Word comes to the
home of the Jewish banker that Gen
Washington and the revolutionary
cause is in dire straits for lack OF
money, and Solomon quickly assem-
bles his Jewish friends to ask their
when Salomons Tory cousin opposes
Jewish gifts to the revolution by cit
ling the fact that Jewish gifts to SINH
liar causes in other countries have
been followed by Jewish prosecutions.
Mr.. Mann finds big opportunity for
the display of his rich. dramatic tai
ents in making the reply that the
limited States is different because
here for the first time have the Jews
taken part in the actual founding OF
the nation. The curtain falls on the
pledges of the Jews to give their gold
for the freedom of the colonies. The
third act, most dramatic of the three.
lpresents the trial of Haym Solomon
flor treason by the British. The Sc
Verify usually attributed to the Brit
ish officers who fought Gen. Wash
tington seems to be softened for the
purposes of this play. But the action
lis dramatic and there were not few
fearful eyes in the audience when the
sentence of death has been passed
land Mrs. Salomon's loyalty to the rev.
iolutionary cause forces her to say
last farewell to her husband.
4 Mr. Mann's portrayal of Haym Salo-
] mon is thorough delight He ma kes
4 the character distinct from any other
he has so entertainingly presented
! before. There is no apparent striving
Il for the dramatic, for his Solomon is
quiet. unassuming. dignified. But the
appeal for not only the sympathy
but the admiration of the audience
lis unmistakable Mr.. Mann receives
Il excellent support from many in the
cast, especially Howard Lang, as the
tory cousin. He plays an unpopular
role with skill and effectiveness Ar
h leen Hackett showed abundant talent
in her one big scene at the time
when she says farewell to her hus-
II band following his conviction OF
I treason.
Many others in the cast contribute
to the plays appeal. Perhaps. In the
necessary elimination OF some non
| essentials, some of these characters
will be lost altogether. In one or
two cases probably the nervousness
of the first night will be overcome
| to enhance the smoothness OF the
| entire performance. Then VIII the
| full merits of Undesirable Friends
he brought out.