The Washington herald., 1922-03-13
By EARLE DORSEY.

By EARLE DORSEY.
When one considers the some-
what formless, almost journalistic
treatment that Sinclair Lewis gave
his much-discussed novel, Main
Street" one feels inclined to COM
mend most highly the skill dis
played by Harriet Ford and Harvey
o'HiSgins in making Main Street
into a play without losing most of
the novels stylistic and idealistic
values.
1t is. indeed, good job, this
O'HigEins-Ford dramatization and
while Nhe manuscript has been
staged in a manner that is not
thoroughly splendid in some re-
spects. it preserves, far beyond the
bounds of expectation, the innate,
thoughtful soul of the volume
that lifted Sinclair Lewis init the
front rank Of native noyelists. I
The play is highly prescribed for
those who have perused the Lewis
novel. Its appeal to those who have
not is problematical. As novel, II
lacked the counter-point, the con-
trast. the conflict that makes for
suspense, interest and climax and
the same is true of the stage ver-
sion. but as a play which effectively
contrasts the SNUG, self-satisfied
materialism of a small town-the
generic Main street-with and
against the opposing idea of cul-
tural uplift, Main Street.. can be
said to carry the idea that Lewis
developed in the novel.
The play has been staged in six
episodes which apparently afford the
playwrights sufficient latitude to treat
the main points of the story. The
first act reveals the excitement in
Gopher Prairie. Mimi. over the ar
rival Of DIR. Will Kennicott and his
Minneapolis bride. 1t also introduces
Eric VaIborg. the young Swede ideal
ist, as an electrician who immediate
ly enlists the interest of Carol. hec-
tic in her desire to lift Gopher
Prairie to an appreciation of civic
and social esthetics.
The second act brings Carols IA
nous party 20 light. in which Carol
and young Valborg stage a miniature
Greek drama and wherein the as
sembled wit, beauty and chivalry OF
Gopher Prairie laugh young Valborg
into the street for a momentary slip
in the classic lines he recites to Carol
Kennicott. Ehe second scene of this
act is the bedroom scene in which
Kennicott. declaring himself a veri-
table child of the people. unappre-
ciative and ignorant of culture. rises
to unheroic heroism by plunging Is
miles into a blizzard to patch up an
injured Swedish farmer.
Then follows the episode between
Carol and Kennicott and young Val
borg. following the memorable
parade through Main street. and the
audience later with the patient but
outraged husband. This is the scene
in which Carol confesses the impos-
sibility of Main street and leaves
for Washington. while in the final
scene, we see her returned with lit
tie wider knowledge of the world and
prepared to begin life anew in the
village.
For purposes of contrast, the collab-
orators have brought Mrs Dave Dyer
into this final scene as q widow.
confessing her love for DR.. kenni-
cott and prepared to fight for him.
In this manner, there is introduced
final scene of some tensity in
which the wife momentarily sus-
poets the two of possible indis-
cretions but Mrs. Dawes bluff is
called and she holds nothing at all.
II the truth must be told, Main
street" Is not the kind of story
that lends itself readily to adapta-
ton for the stage. 1t Is. at most,
character study of small-town
types and of small-town thought
and to project such elements across
the footlights is not the easiest Of
tasks. IT seems highly likely that
Main Street." the play, was pro-
duced chiefly because of the enor-
nous POPULARITY of the book and not
because of its innate adaptability.
But even so, one must accord due
measure of credit for the manner
In which Mr.. O'HigEins and his col
laborator have handled a most diff
hcult task.
Alma Tell makes a most charm
ing and effective Carol Kennicott,
while Mckay Morris. as the doctor.
handles with repression and charm
a characterization somewhat more
youthful than that delineated by
the novelist Norval Keedwell.
though not at all well, brought a
strong and poignant note to the
Characterization of Eric Valborg.
though in the play we find that
Valborg is an electrician in the
movies and not an actor at all.
1t. seems as though Mr.. Lewis idea
of Eric's abilities Is not shared by
his dramatic collaborators. The
rest of the Main street types were
for the most part stereotypes.
though Julia Mcmahon handled with
force the role of Maud Dyer.
The direction. at points. is not all
that one could desire. There is a
frequent painful pause between ut
terances in the latter stages of the
play and a pronounced dragging of
the tempo that becomes tiresome.
1t is a minor fault that has escaped
correction. however, up to now.
Main Street" on the whole, can
be commended to those who seek
something more than the obvious
in the .theater.
Current used in ringing tele-
phones in the depths of mines is