Evening star., 1925-02-22

for an engagement dedicated with
much solemnity to the Amalgamated
Association of the Lofty Foreheads.
AT the bidding of St. Joan, intellec-
tuality was expected to shake the
dust of the Libraries from its carpet
slippers and. under the auspices of
Bostonian literary benehcence, as
semble to do homage to g. Bernard
Shaw as a sage, philosopher and
an interpreter of the underlying in
fuences of historic events.
x x X x
The interesting point of the pro-
duction, in spite of the beauty and
precision with which it is made, is
the extent to which it may reveal
any progress by the English author
in his quest of versatility. Year
after year he has been the same
supercilious, witty, bold champion
OF the unconventional, capable of
viewing the world only from his own
high-poised vantage of cynical pre-
cision. He detects the slightest
taint of hypocrisy and exposes it
with intuitive swiftness.
x x
Broad, generous currents of emo
tonality are not found in this flow of
narrative The story of the strange
4 heroine should have available the
deepest poetical sympathy in order
to reveal clearly and convincingly
Z her own mental attitudes as well as
of those who moved with and about
4 her in historic episode; an cpl
I sode that brought forward every
mood of which humanity is capable,
from sublime religious exaltation to
4 bestial frenzy.
1 1t is the fate of the habitual sa-
tirist to appear most droll when he
forsakes his accustomed manner and
n seeks to be most serious. In Shaw s
4 dialogue the highly polished facility
I OF phrase, the smart epigram. the
paradox, cannot be subordinated to
the deep, earnest directness with
which the heart of a bygone gener-
q alton now seeks to tell its story to
4 the amazed attention of the present
Il world engaged in earnest endeavor
II to efface the maxim, History re-
peats itself" If scenes of fanatical
Il turbulence should ever again arise
II it may be at least stated that his
Il tory will not repeat itself on lines
n of Shavian Interpretation.
Conversations relating not merely
ID 10 life, but to eternity, are carried
N on in this Saint Joan" through
IA many scenes of comparative mac
IL ton, with penetrating glibness. 1t
q is almost elhn in its quippishness.
q It was less the contemplation of a
q St. Joan than Of St. George
81 Bernard, with earls and prelates, as
n they discussed matters of statecraft
and witchcraft, humby endeavoring
q to emulate the wittiest writer of the
English theater.
n x X
A note of personal dignity was
lent to the presentation by Miss
4 Julia Arthur, who gives the work
fermance of Hamlet" She distin-
guishes it by secure repose both
II in speech and gesture, noting its
spiritual sublimity, but giving infre-
ouent revelation OF sensitive fexi-
1 Dility.
In the processes of musical comedy
evolution many endeavors must
lapse IN the struggle tor survival.
Whether when Summer Comes"
will succeed in adjusting its various
functions to the circumstances un-
der which it just now seeks safety
and sustenance is yet to be decided
At present it goes on its way as
something in the nature of a per-
sonal exhibit entitled "Mr. Barton
with trimmings of songs and seem
cry. The question seemed to hover
"When Summer comes. can frost
be far behind?" It's inception was
evidently prompted by discerning
and praiseworthy idea. Rose
Marie" showed how pleasantly
1 themes relating to our own corltl-
nent can be utilized, and the sunny
4 South has here been revealed in ir-
resistible charm of every vehicle of
expression excepting that OF the