New-York tribune., 1922-04-02
Walker Whiteside
Finds The Hindu
A Real Rest Cure
W1NlER Ed 2ENlNAN
tn n TIRE DOVER ROAD "

Walker Whiteside is resting com
fortably Just out Of reach Of the swirl
Of multi-colorcd taxis and spring
model gasoline consumers. With the
whltc-gold radiance of the last few
days of March sunshine he has been
thinking of his comfortable retreat
overlooking the Hudson, at Hastings,
wondering how soon he could take up
I his abode there and forget about him
terland audiences and Pullman process
sions across the country. All of which
should not be taken TO mean that Mr.
Whitcside has lnid aside the makeup
box for the season and intends TO be
the country gentleman. Far from It,
Indeed. last Tuesday night he opened
in "Thc Hindu at the Comedy Thea
ter, and it is there he is taking the rest
cure.
To tho audiences which nightly sec
unfolded dccp-laid Oriental plots,
watch panels slide open on hidden
passagcways ending in quicklime, and
puzzle out the identity Of the master
mind who has made off with the sacred
jewel from the idols eye, it seems i'm
possible that any one intimately con
ccrned in these theatrical adventures
could associate it at all with relaxation
or rest. But TO Walker Whtesidc
The Hindu" II vertable vacation,
much as the cngrossed seat-holdcrs may
finch and Casp rs unexpected turns
nd .n,.iil. iol,l ro1
Walker Whltcsidc IS the actor who,
;bout dozen years ago, declared that
tho New York audience is tho only
audience, and that, taken collectively.
it is more sophisticated and has bet
ter judgment than any other audience
IN the country. And Walker Whiteside
has played back and forth across the
land for more years than some OF the
! thestcr's leading female stars care to
own, and he may be said TO havo some
knowledge OF tho country's theatrical
reactions. It has hecn his policy to
stay away from New York unless he
felt that he had something to offer
which would not make the theater-
SOtio Htic ipSt idi IN III MIN. ana fOl
The Hindu" which marks his first APP
pearance hero in two wears, he makes
70 false pretensions. He states frank
y that it is play Of the thcater, for
the thcatcr and for the public. 1t docs
rot attempt to solve any sex problems,
nor, in fact, any other problems. It's
sole intent, Mr.. Nhiteside SAYS is TO
provide entertainment to as wide
body of theatcrgocrs as possible
"I feel that after the years OF Sc
rious effort have given to tho theater.
together with the number OF serious
productions | have made, am entitled
to rest and A little recreaton." said
Mr. Whitesidc. "That is what The
. Hindu Is TO me. felt that should
Ike TO appear in a play in which did
not have TO die or disrupt my vitals to
bring it to an end. | wanted play
which would bring all classes of thea
tergoers to the theater and which every
one could like. think have it.
"I opened this theater with Israel
Zangwill's The Melting Pot about a
dozen years ago, playing David, the
young musician. Then produced THE
'.yphoon.' later Mr.. W. and my last
appearance here was in Little Brother
in which ! played a rabbi eighty wears
old. have also made production Of
Tho Master Of Ballantrae' which in
tend to present at special matinees
here. provided they let me stay long
enough" he said laughingly.
$50. YOU see lie continued. ~ am
justified in feeling that a rest is due
me. No, am not through with the
( production OF serious plays. must go
/ on with them. But shall not produce
. serious play unless ! feel that IL is a
fine play of the first water ! don't in
/ tend to fool with second-rate, half
! baked serious plays. I'd much prefer
TO stay away from the stage than to do
that"
To Gordon kean and Call Mason the
authorship Of The Hindu" is attrib-
uted, but the rumor, waited eastward
from Chicago, that the star himself is
responsible for the plsy persists In