Evening star., 1924-11-16

1t was highly creditable to the
reviewing corps of this city that
so much was found to admire in
the play by Homer Miles, "Of a
Sunday" inasmuch as it was a work
strong in dramatic quality, yet car
rying in every scene the earmarks
of unsuccess. Mr.. Homer Miles has
undertaken a large literary order in
developing a character whose psy-
chology constitutes the backbone of
the narrative. There is fine basis
for plot in new turn for the eccen-
trio will idea, in the provision that
a young man shall be disinheritcd
should he have wronged a girl be-
fore the legacy falls due when he
reaches Is years. This is the me-
chanical point OF plot leverage.
j: x x i;
The man whose mother was so
haunted by the horrors of poverty
that prenatal influence rendered him
morbidly unscrupulous in the pur-
suit OF every pecuniary advantage,
even to a Willingness to disgrace
his brother and the lads sweetheart
ior the sake of claiming the legacy,
provides the vein of psychological
interest. The dialogue seeks only
a naturalistic portrayal of charac-
ters in unassuming walks of life
and would be sufficient in style were
the production a comedy. For the
analysis of complex SO mysterious
and one whose effect would be to
set up endless and poignant con-
tlict in the mind of the man capable
at last of so sympathetic an ac-
acknowledgement of his fault, the man
ner of writing the play is entirely
too casual. 1t concerns itself only
with moving the plot and gives no
enlightening glimpses into the work
ings of mentality which has,
through no fault of its own, lacked
the government of conscience.
X X
Not many people saw the play,
for it is not of the popularity inter
csting type. 1t might not be over
whelming in its appeal, even if writ
ten with the finesse that would en-
title it to mention as belonging to
the school of drama brought from
France to this country by William
II. Crane when he played "Lechat,"
the INSCRIPTIONS and uncompromis-
ing Partisan business man. There
is much religious reference in the
story, but it does not assert itself
in SO close relationship to plot as
to warrant the emphasis given it.
1t is not SO coldly stern as was
John Ferguson" yet it has some
thing of the same mood. 1t seems
h,t
with the intention of writing little
more than story of love and its
vicissitudes, viewing the character
of Ed, the remorseless brother, as
incidental and contributory.
x i x x
In the hands of so good an actor
- William Harrigap the role could
not fail to step into dominant at
tention, even were it less command
ing through its intrinsic interest
The producer, William Harris, jr.,
has some ideas of reconstruction
which, it is hoped, will work out in
such a manner as to bring a meas
lIre of popular interest correspond.
ing in some degree to the critical
respect which certain aspects OF, the
pay dliu iilC pSllOi lidhNS SO eAoA
oughly compels.
!: x \
The spirit of the playhouses was
largely clinical. While Doc Harris
was studying symptoms at the Be-
lasco Theater, Doc Hazard Short
was feeling the pulse of popular
opinion at Polls, where Ruth Chat
terton, not content with coming out
of the kitchen, came entirely out OF
legitimate comedy and even out OF
some of the wardrobe customarily
pertaining thereto. Why Miss Chat
terton wanted to do this is a mys-
terry. The theory suggests itself
that she is paying an election bet
AS 4 play, the kitchen was a whole
some and comfort-suggesting insti-
luton. AS it now stands it is not