Evening star., 1923-02-06
SHUBERT GARRICK - "Anna
Christie"

with a rare understanding of the
forces that move humanity and a
ventional. Eugene O'Neill, in his play.
Anna Christie" offered this week
at the Shubert- -Garrick, has dipped
into the current of life. selected half
a dozen elemental characters. each
clear-cut and distinct, and through
them has worked out dramatic
story which is moving in it's devel-
opment and impressive in it's two
outstanding climaXes.
In the midst of a passing period
of Juvenile bravado and melodramatic
extravaganza on the popular stage
1t is of some significance that the
son of an exponent of pure melo-
drama who flourisheu in a previous
generation should come forward with
Offering which represents much
that is truthful and based upon keen
observation of the traits that are
common to all strata of society.
1t has been described as realism,
but there is also an idealism in the
character of the neglected girl who
is the central figure of the story.
Although her story of sin is as old
has placed in her mouth the modern
lingo of the streets, in its more
brozen aspects, not to indicate a
tarnished personality. but to impress
the fact that language is only the
expression of environment and that
genuine sentiment may exist beneath
it's more sordid forms.
1t is to the credit of the art of Mr.
ONeill that sophisticated language is
employed with forceful wit, fire.
auently epigrammatic in its nature,
which crops out at unexpected mo-
ments and gives color to the entire
performance.
The background of the sea, with
which the playwright is familiar and
which he has employed in other
dramas, is picturesque in the ex-
treme. and the second set a scene
aboard barge at anchor in the fog
~ IN froVIncetown harbor is realistic
The comment of the father of the
girl, Chris Christopherson, at the
close of the play is typical of the
theme-"Fog, fog everywhere and no
nody knows where he is going but
me devil sea: she knows" 1t was
man, a philosophy by which he ex-
cused his own shortcomings and neg
lect OF his daughter, which had led
ner TO a life of shame. His mind
Itself was like the waves of the sea
that he had followed throughout his
me- aEitated on the surface but un-
stirred in the depths
Miss Pauline Lord, who is starred
IN this production, combines in per-
fection of art the physical qualities
of one who has lived in unwholesome
surroundings with a distinct appre-
clatlon of moral values. She radiates
the thought that the sea. which is
dcSpised as an evil by her parent. has
revived in her some far-off traits of
good character which had been oblit-
Grated by her unfortunate experiences
inland before she returned east to
Seek her father
Her acting is simple and quiet. for
the most part, while much of the sig
niticanca or pathos or humor of the
passages depends on the skillful in
ncctfons of her voice. with their fire.
quent changes. At the close of the
third act she rises to an impassioned
period. tempered with some physical
restraint, which is a gem of the per-
formance.
Surrounding Miss Lord is a cast
which gives splendid support. Her.
father. the Swedish barge captain is
portrayed by George Marion in a
manner that makes the character a
living reality, with his varying moods
accurately shown. while Frank Shan
non, as Mat Burke, the Irish suitor,
who at first despises the girl when
she reveals her past. then responds
to the call of love, is vigorous and
true to life, revealing in all his acts
the personal pride which is tho basis
of his character. Miss Mildred Bev-
erly, as farthy Owen. also presented
clever bit of character acting.
Rarerly has SO well balanced a com
pany been seen in Washington. and
each of its several members is de-
serving Of praise.