Evening star., 1924-02-11
President Simon Called
Peter"

When Simon Called Peter" ap-
peared in book form it created not a
little Stir--in part, because no one
could quite make out what it was
all about. but principally because of
certain bathroom and bedroom scenes.
In the stage version, which was given
for the first time ut the President
Theater last night. there was little. If
anything, to clear up the public doubt
as to the meuning of the play. Every
alize the bedroom scenes as closely
as possible without necesSitating ac-
tion on the part of the local police.
Violations Of good taste--irrespec-
their own punishment. even though
when they are perpetrated on the
stage they may lead to untimely
laughter. Last nights experience
The dramatization of Simon Called
Peter is from the pen Of Jules
Eckert Goodman. and does not differ
in essential detail from the story as
that in the end Peter Graham, the
young English clergyman. is pictured
as retiring from the church, and
there is no reason to believe, from
the spoken lines. that Julie the
nurse who aided in his education IN
France. remains his forever.
The Play is presented by Leonard
Wood. jr., through the Washington
TEeater Guild. Inc, but it is under
stood that William y. Brady is pre-
uaring to make il one of the { aaSon's
offerings in New York next fall. AS
it now stands--in eight episodes-the
play. as play, is TOO long, and Will
have TO be cut. There is too much
renetition Despite the fact act that tina
feet in their lines. necessitating fire.
quent prompting. the company head
ed by Noel Tearlc. as Peter. the
young English minister. and Peggy
Coundray. as Julie, acquitted itself
adequately.
Miss Coudray portrays the Army
nurse with no little charm. with much
poise and sense Of values. AS for
Mr.. Tearle-there is little doubt that
he or any other minister of The gos-
pei as glum as he appeared to be
would fail to reach the hearts of
men on the firing line. June Webster
playing Madeleine. French lady
of easy virtue" who tried to do her
bit in the war, was really capital
in the part.
In simon Called Peter" apparently
an effort is made to picture the
hyprocisy of the church the
church is carried on by some So
called Christians. Swept up in the
naclstrom of the great war. Peter,
the minister, is at Il loss what to
believe, and he learns from the pub
licans and the sinners" According
to the French pretty lady" it is not
his convictions that keep him pure.
but cowardice. So Peter determines
to continue no longer a coward.
After seeing-or reading. for that
matter-'Simon Called Peter" one
one wonders if modeSty is really
virtue. Certainly here it has been
thrown to the winds.
Alexander Pope. in his Essay on
Man." makes mention of vice" and
its hideous mien, and adds:
But seen too often. familiar with
her face. we first endure, then pity,
then embrace"
Perhaps Mr.. Pope might have shed
some light on Simon Called Peter"
had it been presented in his day
The story does hold dramatic mo-
ments and frequently there was
merited applause from the huge audi
ence last night. But there is much
"mopping up" to be done before the
play is presented as serious attempt
to capture the American theatergoirig
public, if it is so presented.