Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-11
In The Land Of Make Believe
Bv WALTER D. HICKMAN

little journey was made by the
writer last week to Cincinnati, Ohio, TO
witness Lionel Barrymore and Irene
Fenwick in The Claw"
The same journey also afforded me the
opportunity to see Charles S Gilpin, a
negro actor, in 'The Emperor Jones"
First, l desire to discuss The Claw"
This play was written by Henri Bern
stein and adapted for Mr. Barrymore's
needs by Edward Delaney Dunn and
Louis Wolheim.
The Claw" is great because Mr..
Barrymore makes it so. This Bernstein
affair is not a pleasant thing as there
isn't a really wholesome character pres
ent 1t viii rank as an important con
tribution to the stage because Of the
work Of Lionel Barrymore as Achllls
/ Cortelon, a French journalist and
| leader of the socialists element over
/ there
| The theme Of the play concerns the
complete mental moral and physical de
cline Of Achille which was caused by the
wanton heart and cold ambitions Of An
/ toinette, the wife of Achille
/ 1t is not until the third act that Bar
| rymore gives one the shock Of witnessing
/ the finest bit Of work to be seen on the
stage. My enthusiasm Is backed by the
opinions Of critics and the public
/ In this act. AchiIle has decended from
strong. vigorous leader Of men to a
whining, babbling old man who has sur
rendered to the lust of his own pas
sions. He is a total wreck and Barry
more reflects the very soul Of this relic
Of what was once a man.
Achule seeks an iterview with the
lover Of his wife who also is his po-
| litical foe Achille had not only sold
his soul for sexual Qualifications but he
had sold his honor-had betrayed his
principals Of journalism and had turned
to the powerful financial interests.
Instead Of acting like n man before
the lover Of his wife, this begging, whin-
ing old degenerate gets down on his
knees at the feet Of his wifes lover
and begs the pbilander not to take his
wife away from him. The lover re
fuses and rushes from the room as
Acbille still on his knees utters the words
Of a baby not q man.
In the thirt act, Achille is a member OF
the French ministry. Again he had SOLD
his honor. He had accepted bride and
on the very eve Of the hour he was 10
apDear IN the chambers TO defend MN
self he toys like a mad man with the
lustful beauty Of his wife.
The wife Kisses words OF hate at MIN
and in a big scene leaves him to go to
pared a speech but the over powerful
hand of Fate renders him unable to de-
liver It. Again he becomes the sensual
HELPLESS old baby-man without his VIE.
He whines for his wife.
A crowd assemblies on the outside Of the
ministers house, demanding that the
grafters be put out Of office
The remaining spark of manhood fails
TO fame into action and as the rocks OF
] Wha vrin AHhlIlR
| drops dead while whining for his WE
Terrific scenes these are in the hands
| Of MI Barrymore and Miss Fenwick.
am In hopes that Indianapolis will
he able to see Barrymore IN The claw.
The attraction is now IN Chicago and 1t
is not known when that city will permit
II to leave.
The acting Of Mr.. Barrymore is the
most mafnihcent I ever have seen on the
stage
Now concerning 1.-The Emperor Jones
In seeing Gilpin in the role Of Brutus
Jones, I realized more than ever the sue
cess accomplished by Mr.. George Somnes
of this city when the Little Theater first
produced The Emperor Jones"
The production that 1 witnessed in
Cincinnati last week was one of symbolic
beauty. Mr.. Gnpin is an artist. That
there is no denying. His work is one Of
the exotic treats of the day.
And yet after witnessing Mr.. Gilpin. l
realized more than ever what a gold mine
Of real worth We have IN the Little The
alter Of Indianapolis.
80
Variety for Feb. B. carries story OF
interest to indianapolis under the head
ing Of "Legit Booking Combine"
1 am taking the liberty of using part
of the Variety article as follows:
"a. L. Granger and Lee Shubert, the
heads Of two major legitimate pro-
ducing and booking combinations on this
side Of the water, appear convinced that
there will not be enough attractions to
fill the requirements Of road bookings
next season. The theatrical chieftains
have virtually agreed that not only will
the interests of the two offices be pooled
andA bookings accomplished in accord
| 5ut8hat the coming season will ind but