Evening star., 1922-02-21
GARRICK-"The Skin Game"

The Garrick, which indefatigable
Manager L. Stoddard Taylor allur-
ingly describes as "Washington's Po-
lite. Smart Little Theater Beautiful"
at this particular time happens to be
Washington's only home of the legiti-
mate drama. and right royalty does
1t uphold its dignity this week by
presenting as it's attraction John
Gallsworthy's impressive play. THE
Skin Game"
1t seems needless to repeat that this
rare treat in the world of drama is
regarded by competent critics as one
of the big plays of recent creation.
Certainly volumes have been written
about it, and readers of news theatri-
cal are or should be fairly well in
formed concerning it. Washington
will enjoy it this week only because
of Manager Taylor's personal and un-
usual efforts in perSuading Mr.. Will
liam A. Brady that it should be sent
here, and this at a time when Phila-
delphia seemed loath to part with it.
The theme of THE Skin Game" is
another variation of the trite bat
tie between the divinity that doth
hedge king and his handiwork and
the unpublished energy and aspirations
OF the rich commoner. While appar-
the combat that had as it's first fruits
in history the Magma Charta, it is
nevertheless sufficiently universal in
its interest and lesson to attract at
tention in the land where the divin-
ity shifts from the king to the an
cestor. Some. Indeed; have seen in it
purpose. disclaimed by the author.
to symbolic the big elements of the
world war; but that is speculation
rather unproductive i'm results.
The great charm of the play is its
element of suspense and its strongly
marked characterizations. one of them,
at least, powerful and evincing dra-
matte talent of the highest degree
that of Matthew Boulton as Hornl
blower. the wealthy coumoner who
had risen by Industrial enterprise to a
point where he coum buy out the aris-
tocracy in the effort to force social
recognition of his daughter in law
Chloe, -magnificently played by Jane
Grey. the only American actress Of the
company. Hornblower had dreams of
becoming a member of parliament and
otherwise Of showing the decadent
gentry that what he had, what he
knew and what he could do were ire
sfstible in the battle. He was willing
to compromise. if Mrs. Hillcrist would
cal upon Chloe and thus pave the way
to- recognition of his family by the
county. Mrs. Hillcrist was proud.
3,
war to the knife between the families
was declared by Hornblower. who
characterized it as The Skin Came"
wherein either should secure the ad-
vantage by the best means available.
Mrs. Hillcrist, just as a bit of scenic
beauty known as the Gentry had been
bought in at auction at an eXorbltant
price by HornblOwer. with no other
object than that of erecting his smoky
chimneys there to spoil the beauty of
the view from the HilIcrist home and
ultimately~tc smoke them out, discov-
ers that Chloe had an unsavory past
She uses this knowledge to force
Hornblower to her terms. after she
and her agent had sworn on Holy
Writ not to disclose to a living soul
the secret of Chloe. Chloe's husband,
however. wrings the truth from the
agent; Chloe learns it and a near trag-
edy results when she casts herself
into the gravel pit. Hornblower. con-
fronted with disgrace to himself and
his family. capitulates and is thus
driven from the field.
The English company that presents
this remarkable drama is strong in
dramatic talent and polish. Space
fofbids fair credit to all. But next to
Hornblower the performance of Au-
drey Cameron, as Jill. the young and
devoted daughter of Hillcrist. seems
to stand out as the chief charm of the
cast. 1t is a beautiful and appealing
bit of real histrionic work. Aileen
Wyse also gives a fine portrayal of
Mrs. Hillcrist, a most unsympathetic
role. while as Chloe, the unfortunate
daughter-in-law, who is the unwilling
cause of all the trouble, and who is
driven to desperation in the effort to
avert 1t, because she loves her hus-
mother of his child. Jane Grey pre-
SentS an emotional imperSOnation that