The New York herald., 1922-05-22
Morn to Midnight
Introduces German
Playwright Here
Drama by George Kaiser Is
Cloudy With Spirit of
Hopelessness.
BY LAWRENCE REAMER.

George Kaiser, who has been an inn
portant playwright In Germany during
the last decade, had his first hearing
in this country last night at the Garrick
Theater when the Theater Guild gave
the first of two private performances
for its members. From Morn to Mid
night" which was selected to reveal the
quality of the new writer, will be re-
peated on next Sunday. Max Rein
hardt produced the play in Berlin some
six years ago. 1t is one of twelve writ
ten during the war and for obvious
reasons kept within the frontiers or
Germany during these years Kaiser is
the author of still other plays. This
specimen of his theater was translated
into crisp and idiomatic English by
Ashley Dukes for a stage society, which
presented it In London two years ago.
Kaiser has been called an impress
sionistic'' playwright. Maybe his
methods will best be understood by the
atergoers who have seen The Hairy
Ape" which has been called among
other things an experiment in impress
sionism in the drama. The same might
have been said of Eugene O'NeilFs
earlier work, Emperor Jones'" Those
unfamiliar with both may be interested
to know that in the play seen last night
as we'll as in the two native works the
short scenes rather than In the longer
and more conventional acts Seven
scenes were in the play seen last night.
Expediency usually prompts the prudent
director to make q longer pause some
where between them, which may in
measure destroy the novelty Of the
method.
Inspired by the Movies.
A,.t
dramatic processes Of the cinema are
said to be the inspiration 70 impress
sionism. Obviously only a limited field
of dramatic material can in this way
be published by the playwright. In
From Morn to Midnight" the soul of
a bank cashier in provincial town is
the occupation of the dramatist who Is
intent on revealing its adventures when
sudden crash of romantic feeling dis
locates the ideals which have always
guided in the past his uneventful life.
Romance Is borne to his barren count
ing house on the lips Of a beautiful Ital-
ian in search OF a draft on her letter Of
credit Her Identification is delayed
in the post. The gossip Of the office builds
q legend of her picturesque and allur-
ing dishonesty. So the cashier steals
the money deposited by the Realty Con-
struction Company. Then impressionism
in the drama reveals his career in the
role Of absconder until he shoots himself
as he is gatheredsin by the police.
The astonished lady travelling In Ger
many with her son in search OF paint
ings OF a certain period to complete his
knowledge as an expert on art sends
the man about his business. Then he
is shown in the heart of his dismayed
family. to which his crime is made
known. and later as an extravagant
gambler at bicycle race. He sQuan-
ders more OF the money in the private
supper room of a cafe before he wan
ders with the Salvation Army girl who
keeps at his elbow into the barracks
and sees the souls of other penitents
stripped as bare as his own.
Out of contemplation of these more or
less swiftly moving episodes It is easy to
see in what sort of fiction the form Of
1mprcsrionlsm might be most effectively
employed 1t is also quite obvious that
at least two OF the most hackneyed ex-
pedients of construction are employed
in his play. But there will be more
time to talk of them.
Has Pessimistic Mood.
So of From Morn to Midnight" there
was nothing so interesting in its first
divulgence as its form II one except the
incidental excellencies Of lighting which
of the drama Is SO intensely pessimistic
that 1t would seem appropriate in this
country at least only to such a special
audience as that which witnessed It last
night, witnessed 1t moreover with no
greater demonstration of approval than
rather general attention.
Sometimes even this expression of ap-
proval faltered. From Morn to Mid
night" Is cloudy with the same spirit Of
hopelessness and redemption that marks
go much Teutonic writing to-day, for
instance. Wassermann's "The Worlds
Illusion"
The Theater Guild houses performed
highly commendable artistic service in
introducing the work OF George Kaiser
here. whether 1t takes root or not The
piece was performed. moreover, with the
same care as IL II were intended for a
run of months instead of two perform
ances.
Frank Reicher played admirably the
long and unsympathetic role of the hero
Helen Westley, Ernest Cossart. Ernita
Laseelles. Edgar Stehli and a list Of ef-
fective associates added their powers to
the representation. None did better
than Philip Leigh, who read with such
feeling and clearness his speeches in the
Salvation Army barracks