The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-19

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night rdon't think that any rea-
sonably sane human being would
willingly spend an evening in q
maternity hospital for sheer
pleasure. !. Yet people are asked.
70 pay for the privilege Of look
ing at . maternity hospital
dramatized. Brave men and
trusting ladies journey down to
Grand street-Awhere births are
always popular, by the way
because Il Is Eugene o'Neili who
Il the author Of the little obstet-
rical drama there introduced.
The Acplt" lovers glory In that
sort Of thing. It is infinitely
precious to them. It is a "slice
Of lifsy and they are SO happy
about fl Us
Poor things, What they need 10
somsthing for the liver. They
have . sluggish liver. II feeds
iivsning up q bit and they should
b lursd from their unwholcsoiae
sn5oyments. The play ut the
Neighborhood Playhouse was called
Tho First Man." Only recently,
No had from the Same pen-pror
duosd 81 the Greenwich Vilisgs
,rheatsr Straw" by the
same anthor. This was dram-r
tization Of gtuberculosis. With
scenes laid In . tuberculosis sAni-
tarium., where yon were permit-
ted artistically TO view the pa
tients weighing themselves. TAX.
ing their temperatures and revei-
ing In their ailments.
ajt 80
TIP to the present. Mr. O'Nsiii
has not turned his versatile
attention In the direction Of can
Ssr. He must have overlooked 1t.
and probably win get there in
time, II only his perfervid admir-
srs can afford to waitl ! can
imagine . lively and realistic lit
tie drama being written around
oancer--a drama filled with ''sus-
psnss" and theatrical "technique."
Later on, Mr.. OMEN might write
. merry little sketch. full Of NOR
bid deiicatessen, around the NAL
sAy known a. cirrhosis Of the
lfver. II would be very artfull
And for still later consideration q
most intrepidly pleading little COM
cay could perchancs be woven
shout the ailment known ~ an
Una bsctoris. That would call
DOR IN the o'Nsili tenderness and
his marvellous knowledge Of hu-
nan frailty. Anyway. II would
- aocsptsd by the ''cults" and by
tNs shoals Of O'Nsili admirers.
Aon't think that the play has ever
yst concerned itself with angina
Sectoris. I strongly recommend II.
Nor has Mr.. o'Neili a. yet
lramatissd . post mortem That
would BE- swfuiiy jolly. Only once.
IN my salad days, did I view
post-mortsm. It made me feel
rather squsamish. but, OF course.
whsa done srtistioally BY . mas
g.. the sffsct would be different
IN . thsatsr. post-mortera would
- prsclssly the sort Of thing that
vsuld draw the ''ouits" In hugo
Guwas. and confidently look for
ward 10 such b presentation.
DrsaAway paaywrishts could newer
tarlkls either the post-mortsm. an
Gina psstoris or cirrhosis OF the
lfvsr. But O'Neill could tackle all
thrsa. Perhaps he could have .
thres-act play, with ono OF the
thsmes In each act. wouldn't that
b . cult riot7 Oh, boyi Think Of
ne uttsr ecstasy Of sitting In q
tAaatsr and simply waiiowing In
these graceful human miserfes;
We rcaot towards them. don't you
kn~wf -
The First Man" was perhaps
uscrs thsafricai than "The Straw"
Mr.. OrNeill's genius finding more
fwysut inspiration on Labor pains
than In mere pulmonary distress.
That wHs the thing the ''cults"
hs,d up against him In The First
Man" The play was too much
IKE theatrical fodder. don't you
seer II took ycu away from
Broadway. but II had several Broad
way suggestions. Oh, base minion
q an Eugene O'Neilli Some Of the
dialogue 81 The First Man" was
quite relevant to the theme. That
was q crime In successful ''cutt"
effairs the dialogue must ROAM
Shr, Tar away from any cos.sidera-
lions Of the play.
VsHB Theatsr' ouiiA r. rally too
= nics n ~ chnns1f7sd under tho
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