Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-28
REMODELED WALNUT
RESTORED TO DRAMA
Mr.. ArIiss, in Mr.. Archer's
Green Goddess Dedicates
Ancient House

walnut - Philadelphia's oldest and
newest theatre was ceremonially dedi-
rated Inst night In what was as much
function as a theatrical performance.
tne walnut, with memories dating to
,he LAYING Of the cornerstone In 1903,
,s the Oldest theatre IN America and
,vIth workmen still plastering the lobby
~ 4 o'clock last evening and placing
aeats-they are very comfortable seats
IN tho auditorium, It Is certainly the
newest 4ss nSn0Iiis in his III 'Gs docaiey flavor
some curtain speech. paid tribute TO the
reconstruction as marvelou5 teat, add
ing that when he arrived sunday for
rehearsal he thought tho work was
lust beginning, from the uppiled mate
rails and the stridor OF rapid mechan-
ic.! work. AS a matter Of fact the re-
modelling, which has had such happy
rich, vet not ornate decorative effect
SsSIeHed SifhT; OtkEs" ,Es scheduled he dSte FOR the
opening with such completed results that
there was not merely no discomfort for
the audience In the few lacking details,
but not even any inconvenience. As
Mr. Ariss said happily In his curtain
character and traditional contour of the
ancient playhouse have not been mod
ernSsd out Of d H. ,S,naS ,nSssead o1,,t ,hs fine ne
Which, Ss is characteristic Of PhiledelPhians,
In et!ll pervasive the new walnut Is
in spirit still the old Walnut,
The reconstruction OF the Interior. on
two floors. give spacious sweeps and
affords gracious vistas. thanks to the
dtgnifled simplicity and good taste Of
the decoration, just as the exterior
Ina the hoss serenity n and ans dsnsa
valls and environed by the spacious.
ness and graciousness of the interior,
playgoers may venture to hope with
Mr.. Arllos' expressed wish, in his speech
and spirit Of the traditions of the house.
The Mayor, in statement OF con-
graduation and feltcitation, echoed this
wish. and ran through, some of the his.
career of the house--Mr. Forrest, MI.
Booth, M!ss Cushman, John Sleeper
Clark. Mrs. Drew and others.
".All OF us legitimstely care for mani manly
said, adding emphatlcally: There is
q proper place for them in our com,
mS s waen they e osnn Sed
what ia wholesome and worthy in amuse-
ment. and defended It's place IN civic
life as legitimate. In conclusion the
as we'll az encouragement OF the con-
"fhe author is here" admitted Mr..
Arlss in the course Of q, his fell. fsI!;itons sSs
snSohths 20 thsrs spSa %as snp pa But "the plays
the thing" not the slogan Of the eve.
n:ng. The play had to divide SL,ae, the hon on
titled 1.-THE Green Goddess" II is the
distinenisked English Ibsen scholar,
dramatG sr.t!S traysirr and pu6i.S,st, nSrHc
Arliss-or. perhaps, from his long as
ISOLATION with our stage one ehoId the
more truly say American actor--was
the star of Il.
Mr.. Arllss need not have been chary
Of saying something about the play,
"'rhe Green Goddess 10 both an intel
csting and entertaining play; It ha,
substance and the substance Is usually
well wrought. 1t has human spirit and
Elusive atmosphere. Described by. the
author as a "play OF adventure" It Is
fertile In situations and rich in excite
ments, without being either theatrica.
melodramatic In essential dramatic
qualities. Its story OF "east is cast
and west Is west, and never the twain
concord is both plausible and believe
able. thanks to the deftness Of tha
author tn, finesse OF the producer
Winthrop Ames. and the finish of the
acting by the splendid star and COM
psny.
Mr.. Arliss plays with subtle restraints
and interesting ironies the rajah OF a
barbarous Hlmalayan princ!pality. Edu-
Gated In England. yet under his sktn
still the inscrutable Oriental. despite his
udices. An airplane accident brings to
his realm a party of an English major.
his wife and a celebrated physician at
time when the British king-emperor' 3
government Is about TO execute three
staying a high official OF II. MS india
office. They happen to be the rajah's
brothers. This furnishes the major In
Nolvement-the main clash of action.
too: the major Is not a faithful husband.
and the wife is in love with the fine
young physician, but faithful to her
dissolute spouse for the sake of their
Archer has woven a play that. after a
somewhat slow development, speeds up
TO arresting climaxes, through suspense
and uneNpectedness. The cumulative situ-
atoms, include the rajah's lnfatuation
for the wife. his proposal to save
her and her companions IL she will be-
come his queen. and his final overween-
Ing lust for revenge, personal on nc-
count of his brothers execution and
racial on account Of Asias hatred for the
Briton. This vengeance. taking the form
OF turning over the captives to the
priests for an expiatory sacrifice, 10
prevented by the arrival OF an air fleet
from Simia, summoned by the husband,
"'S bohiS HioiNeHldTy COntTOl OF tno
rajah's wireless and. caught In the act,
dies at the rajahs hands with the gal
lant lie on his lips that he had not es-
tablished contact with the receiving sta
lions he was striving to reach. The res
cue and the looming punitive expedition
OF the conquering race the rajah ac-
oepts with smiling. almost cynical. ORR
.ntai fotalisrn, EVIL, judged according
70 Occidental ideals. his actions and
attitudes. as personihed hy Mr.. Arliss.
are vigorously correct by his native
standards He Is appealing in his charm
and touches even the alien mind to SYM
pathy.
The company includes such notable
players as Herbert WartnG, Cyril
Keishtley Ivan Simpson and Olive
Wyndham Gutherie McClintic assisted
Mr. hmes in the production" the
smoothnees OF stage management was
que 70 Philip Loeb and credit for the
pictorial costumlng and Elusive setting
ID que to Rosnahara. the Hindu dancer.
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