El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1920-12-11

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moments. but Iight-brafned at best
and never sufficieptly sincere 70
carry belief Alma Tell succeeded In
being pretty nothing more
Net counting the stars. When We
Are Young Is eOrravagantly roman
tic.
In Adam Bede." as you may re-
member George Eliot has a village
landlord describe his neighborE as "a
poor lot, big and little" This Is also,
apparently, Bernard Shaw's opinion OF
people in England today, only IN
''Heartbreak House" he scolds the big
bugs and IS content TO blow up mere
" two OF the smaller ones with dyna-
mite
There seems to be an earnest effort
on the part OF England's thoughtful
dramattsts these days 70 give the
leisured class good shaking and
make Il do something more than
waste its time.
Shaw frankly admits the Influence
Of TchekoV. and more than once his
play produced by the Theater Guild
al the Garrlck, seems 20 fly back 10
'-Ehe Sea Gull" not TO mention other
plays. But when he says these in
tensely Russian plays fitted all the
country houses in Europe" we may
thing, no one but q Russian can
understand Russians. whereas the
English are obviously matter-of-fact-
-Heartbreak House" is full OF talk.
much OF It entertaining. TO be SURE,
but more OF Il tedious. The second
act is 60 l0ng-winded that Il leaves
the listener Weil-nigh exhausted. The
oilers who chatter in this strange
country house are for the most part
50 fantastic as 70 be almost fmpos-
sible as human beings. The father Of
the household doesn't know his own
daughter when she returns after a
long absence, nor Is the visitor rec
oEnzed by her sister. Other guests
contribute TO the eLtravaganZa,
changing from one mood 70 another
50 suddenly THAI at times ''Heartbreak
House IS ike a mad house.
Erie shannon Is delightful as the
oFer-dresseds responsive daughter,
who does most Of the talking for the
household; Lucille Watson, though a
bit lndistinct in her rapid-ffre utter
ances at moments. plays the visiting
sister sktlltully, and Elizabeth Risdou
acts the romantic Ellie Dunn of
scanty means with telling dlrectuess.
Helen Wesley also does a good BIT OF
work as an imperturbable old servant.
The part OF Boss Maugan fairly calls
for Charles Dalton, yet in a. Dudley
Dlgges IS something more than sat
lstactory and a most amusing lump as
he sinks into an hypnotic trance. Al
bert Perry gives force and authority
Henry AraTers Is so good as the
burglar that no reward could be TOO
great for him when he takes I'D a
collection after being caught
Alice came into a new Wonderland
at the Thirty-Ninth Street theater
with The Young Visitors" Daisy
Ash1Ord's book Of misspelIed words
and impossible adventure, probably
written BY James " Barrie. Anyway,
its safe to say .Jimmie's a Daisy at
A more impossible play could not be
imagined. and only artificially excited
persons eager TO catch at anything
unusual IN the theater. are likely TOT
be enthusiastic about 20. Here Is an
amusing novelty, nothing more, a bit
OF burlesque with Prince Edward lap
ping an ice al a leVee. and a country
girl having the royal time OF her
young life In England this sort OF
thing is as popular Is the portrait OF
queen victoria but its appeal in this
country Is not likely 10 be so strong.
At best Il is "sumpshOus' nonsense. a
childish fantasy. with even its scenery
suggesting the nursery school OF art.
To have toy trains running TO Lon
don Is all very wen. but there re-
mains the American Imagination 20
set forth the stop, Look, Listen"
warning.
The play IS very much like Daisy
AaMorQa famous book. for the
dramatiZation by Mrs. George Norman
and Margaret Mackenzie means little
more than taking the story as IL runs
and turning descriptive passages into
dialogue. Ethel Frances from dull
country life into the radiant presence
OF Bernard Clark. and then is carried
into the gay life" Of London. where
she innocently puts up with Bernard
at the hotel he has chosen for their
holiday. Her commonplace adorer.
Mr.. Salteena, goes TO the Crystal Pal
ace, Of course, in the wild hope OF
coming out a gentleman" Bernard
takes Ethel Tor a row on the river
near Windsor, wins her after strug-
gle with the oars. and pulls off an
elaborate wedding.
Marie GOff was sweetly se1f-con-
scious as Ethel. displaying an the
Well-Worn tricks Of the feminine
trade such as blinking eEtravaEantly, I
faintinE at the critical moment. and Z
making the most Of every opportunity /
altogether a clever performance I
Harold Anstruther made Bernard 9 I
most nOnchalaur aristocrat arrayed in /
an the COlOrs Of the vvardrobe and D