Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-15
ny Gilbert scidc.

good reasons for devotinE the larger
part OF the space ut my disposal to
"iie Who Gets Slapped" the new
Thcater Guild production, are. first,
that IL is the only major production
of the wcck-"Rosa MaChrce" and
"'rhc blue Kitten" hardy come into
its class. and one OF these is SO late
in the week as 10 be beyond my time
limlt-and second. that the play de-
rivcs "A special lot OF attention. as
well as promising TO justify Itself 10y
such decently long run as TO make
ii visible 10 those who may travel
into these parts as late as next
spring
must however, confess tina, am
highly prcjud!ced. The play was first
published In America IN The Dial. a
magazine which personal interest per
suadcs mo is highly important and
read the thing III proof no less than
six times l am AT least familiar
with the text
Serious Actors Ideal.
Also have met no less than four
actors who have sobhed al the
thought tina; they were otherwise en-
gagged ana could not get the ;itlo part.
II j. 4 serious actors ideal. / am
willing to say that three OF the lead
inr actors IN America would undoub;-
rhlN study tho part through and uu-
dcrGo amy amount ~ rehearsal II
they could have tho chance to play
il once ia n, present Guild rroduc-
zion. Ana ! fancy that tn. same
thing goes FOR two wcmcn's parts III
tho play also. You see. II has spe-
cial qualities
The plc; OF tho play seems clear
enough. Only tho emotions are
chaotic Into The rehcarsa!-dres >ine
room OF q circus in - large city in
France. comes :, strange character:
ono who j. evidently = Ecutl, man
from tho great world which the circus
peopl" cali. with apprehension. "out
there lie says he wants 10 ha e.
clown. he can do nothing. but pro-
poses to he The One Who Gets
slapped That j., he viii strut about
IN rumpuus pastures and. hang
suddenly one of the other clowns
viii SLAP him. Evidently, he is 10 be
the summing VI Of all the worlds
hypocriucal greatness and 60,
slapped. Also cit Is suggested OF.
some Of The worlds real greatness
ana equally get slapped
Tangled Love Annir>.
Tho stranger hides his name. iic
wants 20 toe called simply He" OBJ
servant. gentle. and ironic ne notices
that Cunsuclo. tn. bareback tango
queen lovely little creature. j.
loved by Alfredo. the best rider an
the troupe; and that Zinida. wife OF.
the proprietor and herself IN" lion
tnmcr, loves Alfredo AS h. wiu,
success He is confronted by tho man
Who stole his reputation as "a wriiv..
ana, after his disappearance, married
Ills wife. He also is confronted by
the fact that CunsuSlos pretended
father. a Count MaRcini. is s.llin.
the darling OF the circus TO the high
est bidder a spider OF ii baron. NAMED
itcguard In his effort to save CON
SuclO from this fate, with his motive
confused 10y his own love FOR her. lie,
divides poisoned glass Of cham
rasnc with Consuelo. and as they
die the horribleE old baron shoots
himself
You see even in that mearcr out
line that the Theater Guild. taking
tn" last work %; l.conid Andrew.
had IT'S hands full. y difficult and
crowded stage. varying emotions. am
number OF complexities l may say
mat Andrew wrote this play after
IN" Russian revolution. when he him
self had departed from Russia. and
j. may b" taken as sort of com
1n'ntarN ON the course OF hum.r
events after 1917. They began with
Gregory IIihourE's excellent trans
lation OF - difficult work. They gay.
the piece TO hc staged by Robert NH
ton, ais" Russian The setting,
were made 10y Lee Simonson. and Ia
irst thinS as the curtain rises is &.
sense oI animation sand beauty lbs
trying TO the work OF both tho pro
Queer and the artist. The seen. rises
IN three levels The foreground t
stairway TO a higher level. lcndin.
10 The arena Hn4 up,a gentle siopr
I" on" side. TO- .,hN'a level. WHEN