Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-22
GARRICK-sThe Fair Circassian. >

Last nights audience at the pre-
mfer performance OF 1.-THE Fair Cir
cassian at the Shubert Garrick
Theater found the play furnishing an
riety of stage offerings which adds
to the spice Of the life Of the theater-
goer.
While the performance indicated
clearly that curtailments and elm
nations will be necessary. If not de-
ability to hold keen interest in the
development of the plot to its final
happy denouement.
It is a portrayal of life Of a CEN
fury ago. mingling some atmosphere
of the mystic east with that of royal
trasts are well worked out. both by
Gladys Unger, the author, and by the
members of the generally efficient
cast. These glimpses of two civ
ilizations" Of a century ago-of Per-
STA. with its institutions Of plural
represented by those in the royal
circle, where fashion and custom die
tate many thingsVaford an inter-
esting study. In the foreground of
the picture is a romance that de-
velops naturally and holds the audi
ence in suspense.
AS the title implies. the plot centers
around the fair Circassian." who, as
a slave girl, bought in the open mar
ket in Constantinople, has been
brought to England as the supreme
present, with many others, from the
Shah of Persia, to the reigning mon
arch of Great Britain.
At the very outset there is made ap-
parent the love interest between
Prince Mira Fatoullah Khan, the
Persian ambassador, and bearer OF
the presents. and this beautiful
<R 81 he ha1 n a q
i'm the mountains Of the near east,
named Zerda. There is also early hint
Of intrigue among members OF the
mission from Persia, which seeks
valuable concessions from Englands
king.
rarily residing in a part Of the house
of Lord Ottery, the lords son Is at
tracted by the beauty Of the slave
girl. and tells her that under English
law she Is free. Her passion for free
dom makes her decide to accept the
deny her allegiance to her former
master, and later she even goes SO far
as to promise to marry the young
Englishman, in her gratitude. Then
comes news Of the result of the Per-
sian intrigue. threatening even the
life Of the Persian ambassador. Zera's
love for the Persian arouses her to
action to save him. The climax comes
in her matching of wits with the
prince regent Of England, through
which she secures safety for her Per-
sian lover. It might be regretted that
the meeting of Zera and the prince
regent was not confined to the match
ing of wits. without the use of a
revolver.
Rarely is q character portrayal
ever presented as thoroughly de-
Iightfu1 as that given By Claude
King in the rola Of tho Persian
prince. He showed himself a. master
Of his role. Without seeming effort
he showed emotions by tho flashing
Of his eyes or q. slight gesture Of
his hands. as we'll an by tho varia-
ton OF the tones Of his resonant
voioa Marguerite Maxwell, in the
exacting and long role Of the slave
girA was refreshingly Wyadous and
pleasingiy convincing. While her
costume was decidedly extreme
many thought more than necessary
even for tho part-there was nothing
Of tho indelicate in her actions or
words. The other members Of tho
cast were competent. Gertrude
Newell. the producer, has staged the
play sumptuously.