The Washington times., 1921-10-25

Joris Chase at the shubsrt- -osrrsch
last night.
THE CAST; 80
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Hal harvin. ...Lowsh ehsrmAs
In the progress Of the world from
the so-cAiled mid Victorian tdsa Of
womsnly conduct that Il will permit
calm contemplation Of the story OF .
woman who deliberately sails herself
to obtain q stake with which to pro-
vide life ana health for the husband
she devotodly and wholo-hoArtodly
lovos-in just that progress lies the
answer AZ TO whether or not The
Mans Name" this newest drama Of
the tense Eugene Walter School. viii
live or die.
1t win be a most interesting thing
to watch--the progress Of this play
which MT. Walter and Marjorie
Chase have achieved In . most work.
manlike manner and which u pre-
sentod with sincerity by q company
which consists Of but four people In
one set with a continuity OF . fow
hours. the realty of which 10 the most
eloquent testimony to the excellent
work Of the people playing It.
Audiences have extended their sym:
pathy to the shining working girl who
wanted to bodeck herself with finery
to satisfy other ambitious desires The
general Gmugn<ss OF the seventies and
eighties has given way to q more lib.
era attitude In sex matters-at least
20 far a. the public discussion Of them
has been concerned. But In this lib.
erality OF thought, this attitude Of
frankness. to permit the discussion In
the theater Of the deliberate shining Of
. devoted wife. no matter what the
nature7
There have been many sharper de-
partures from tho accepted code Of
conduct condoned by the theater going
public. This 10 one OF the very few
occasions when this particular plane
Of tho eternal triangle has b-en pre-
sented. Stories In magazines and
plots Of books have been built around
II. But stories are read In privacy
no matter how public the printed page
may be in its wide circulation. One
can listen to ones own thoughts In
ones own apartment. but one doesa I
care to shout them on tie street cor
nor. The theater In more or less the
street corner before which q hsftef-
sleelter public 10 continually passing.
The fact that "A Mans Name" II
given serious consideration Ia evi.
dence enough Of the skill OF the
playwrights in constructing II and
Of the excellent cast that has been
assembled to present Il. There are
but three people really In the action.
The part Of q servant could be
played by almost anyone. The fact
that in this case the servant 10 a
Chinese provides perhaps one OF
the real flaws In the play. Chinese
are not particularly fond Of
spirituous liquors, and the fondness
of the servant for alcoholic drink
furnishes one Of the hinges for the
plot.
Every line Of the play IL q clear
cut part Of II. The first two Of the
three acts move with the greatest
care to . climax. The third set.
tho finale. might be doctored bit
And yet this third act. with its odd de-
nouement, is in keeping with the
spirit Of the play. II there has been
that progress from tho mid.Vic-
to acceptance. II In but logical that
acceptance Of a new idea Of pun.
ishment should likewise prevail.
Dorothy Shoemaker in the part OF
the wife, Lowell Sherman ~ the hus-
band and Felix Krebs ~ the other
man. gave the sort Of performance
that must have realized the idea the
playwrights had in mind to the full.
Miss Shoemaker has been seen here
but ainfrequently. and In vaudeville,
mostly. She has . successful career
~ q stock actress in the Middle West
behind her and her very skillful and
convincing handing Of her part IN the
Walter-C Chase piay-and the conviction
Of the wife's real love for her husband
and her absolute devotion to him u
the keystone OF the entire dramatic
structure-should give her the bigger
opportunity to which she Ia undoubted-
ly entitled.
Mr.. Sherman sustained his reputa-
ton for keen understanding and skill
full presentation of a difficult part,
and Mr.. Krebs was sufficient unto the
opportunity given him.