Evening star., 1924-01-17
ADJUSTMENTS
Shubert-Garrick-" The
Moon Flower"

Inc Moon Flower is still another
play with a superlative first act; one
of those intriguing hands in the game
of drama which fails to I'LL" on the
"draw"
Presented last night for the first
time with Elsie Ferguson and an ad-
rnirabie cast, this adaptation Of a.
Hungarian play was given a royal
welcome to Washington when the
curtain fell at the close of the first
&ct. Later IT wore its welcome cut.
The dictionary definition Of the
annual, with large white dowers,
opening at night" The NAV is well
named. 1t is the story 81 a courtesan
rtnternationaily knqWn in Europe.
soune ns'' man a. - WIZ ,as story Of u poor
eeurtesan for sas, Night. He staked
during . iffetime--sor one day and
H~ He had made up his mind to
Ne at the dawning of the new day
should have vanished. The moon
flower of his desires was the prop
arty of royal duke. who in the past
had not scrupled TO xiii men who
TO this lovely possession; an added
spice to a theme already full of dra-
1aatic possibilities.
The play opens on the terrace of a
hotel at Monte Carlo. The scene is
beautiful. II is a glorious morning
might beft g. young nobleman of this
latter day-takes his courage in his
hand and accoSts Diane-the Moon
Flower. And such a Moon Flower.
Miss Ferguson is alluring, capri
cious dominating. convincing. She
fills the part as sparkling wine fills
the cup--completely. Her voice, her
look, her gesture, all go to make the
perfect picture. The poor young
first time from a life of q. needy
out-at-elbows law clerk, is by turns
daring, sauche. uncertain of himself
in his strange surroundings, and is
admirably played by Sidney Black
Yellow" by his own description-cer
ratnly an amusing fellow. with a
philosophy of life which allows him
TO be generous TO his friends and
month, when his allowance comes
from his bourgeois wife, and to live
on what he can borrow during the
remainder CT the month. Edwin Nj
cander made of the baron an anus
ing man of q rather searpy world.
And finally there was the duke, a
towering figure Of man. as played
by Frederic Worlock, aggressive,
pessessive, temrestuous.
Thus were they in the first act. But
Defore the curtain had fallen on the
nnal scene the moon flower had be-
come somewhat sprinking lily, the
brave, poor young man had lost his
courage. the baron had become a buff
foon, and the duke had become a
tame tiger. Consistency has we'll
been named a jewel.
The second act had its moments.
The scene between Diane and Peter,
when each reveals to the other their
loWly origin, was spontaneous and
naturally amusing. Diane had been
a Clara Meyer, daughter of cob
bier. and the father of Peter had been
O. tinker. Peters description of pow
erty was both poetical and true. AS
the play proceeded the audience,
which it had fascinated with it's dar-
ing, its unusualness and its consum-
mate acting, found it a harsh revela-
tion of motive and morals, moving
forward to it's conclusion like
wounded snake or routed army,
twisting and turning to find it's way
out of maze.
The Moon Flower" has been won
derfully produced. 1t is marvelously
well acted It's stage settings are
perfect in every detail. But If it is
not to fade away after one nights
blooming as its namesake does
there must be heroic treatment Of the
Dlay itself