New-York tribune., 1920-10-12
TIE CAST
By Haywood Broun

Samuel Sh,pman. who wrote "The
rnvrit1en Chapter" in collaboration
with Victor Victor, deserves to be COM
nlimented or his new play, which was
nsoduced at the Astor Theater last
NIGHT. Il does not seem to US to be a
very good play. but at least one scene
is stirring. and there are a good many
tbings IN the play which sound as ii
Mr.. Sh pman meant them. This has
uot been quality particularly notice
sble in other plays by Mr.. Shipman.
or course. we have TO intention OF CON
finding that sincerity alone is all that
,s necessary for salvation, hut is an
excellent quality when combined with
technical facility. and there is some
shrewd reconciliation in The Unwrit-
ten Chapter
The general theme of the play is
Interesting Mr.. Shipman and Mr. Vic
tor have built their play around the
figure % Haym Solomon. Jewish
banker who was a considerable factor
in financing the American Revolution.
From The life of Solomon the authors
seek to drive home the text that the
Jev has always had part in the max
inc of America and does not deserve
to be classified as late conner who
mas reaped where pioneers have sown.
indeed the authors go further back
than Saiomon and point out that il was
jew yeho financed Columbus on his
first voyage and that it was Jewish
sailor who sighted America.
This is an interesting theme which
may be heard with profit. Unfortu-
nately. the authors have seen fit now
and again to hammer With sledges.
Thus. the play has prologue in which
IL loo !.
mission 20 entertain a Jew at dinner.
The invited guest comes and, upon be-
ing questioned about his forebears.
tells the story Of Haym Salomon. his
ancestor. The bounder recant and in
an epilogue asks the young man to
stay and the young man abjectly
enough accepts this second-thought in
itation instead Of telling the bounder
to 90 chase himself In fact the play
almost implies that the dinner invita-
ton Is the reward whcih Saiomon's
descendant gains through the nobility
and heroism Of his ancestor.
There also is an amazing piece of
captrap in which one OF the Jewish
characters remarks that if gunman
chances 20 be Jew the fact viii be
recorded at length in all the news
papers. while the same papers Will
maintain absolute silence about the
deeds of any great and fine Jew. For
the life Of Us. We can't understand why
Mr. Ochs or anybody else should do
thing lke that. We have q dim rec
election that several newspapers were
not uumindful Of the career Of Mr..
Schif when the story of his death WIS
recently reported. Nor can it be said
thai the American theater has alto
gether neglected the opportunity Of
singing the praises OF the Jew. Haym
Salomou saw many visions Of what
would happen in America. out seem
ingly he was not sufficiently fars GIFTED
to predict the production OF "W Welcome
Stranger
ASIDE from such fragrant and irsin-
! cere bids tor easy applause. the play
I is generally honest. 1t g also a little
I slow, although il lvens nightly in a
/ well constructed and essentially ORA
matte scene q which -Havm Solomon
-induces number OF other Jewish
bankers TO give their all for the sup
&. port Of Washington's army. This well
F., written scene is greatly aided By the
fine performance of Howard Lang. last
4 seen here Is the yillainous spiritualisl
! in The Ouiia Board" The acting hon
I ors Of the evening should go. without
j question, TO MI Lang. 1t does not
seem to as that Mr.. Louis Mann. tn,
star, is consistently effective. He over
/ plays in vocal infection and in gesture
and robs the character Of Haym Salo
mon OF much of the sincere appeal
which has been written into II. AieA
E., lenennOltz plays effectively IN the par
Of broadly drawn but often amusing
dull-witted servant Others who hell
the play are Lucille Watson, Alma Bel
win and Hubert Druce. who makes 4;
most amusing sketch Of General Howe