Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-02-03
National-"T The Dove.


Now comes David Belasco with a
melodrama that rivals, if it does not
surpass, his triumph of a score of
years ago, The Girl of the Golden
West" The Dove" it is called
gentle title that breathes purity and
peace, and by its very contrast lends
spice.
For the third time within brief
period Mr.. Balasco last night
at the National Theater had the sat
isfaction of seeing and hearing new
production acclaimed. The two that
have gone before-"The Harem" and
ladies of the Evening"-are play
ing to capacity audiences in New
York. The Dove" is soon to take
its place in the metropolis and the
probabilities are that it will be as
popular as it's predecessors.
II is the kind of production with
which the name of Belasco has be-
come associated in the public mind.
1t is colorful. il is huge, it is fin
ished, it Is perfect in detail and-it
is thrilling. 1t is astonishingly full OF
little things that add to the picture.
The play was written by willard
Mack, based on story by Gerald
Beaumont. Never did dove find her
self In 4 more dangerous nest. a cafe,
dance hall, and worse, in MeXicana, a
Few miles south OF the American Dor
der. MeXiCana is run wide open" A
man may drink, gamble and chew"
and follow his fancy as he desires in
this sample of Mexican border town.
Into this setting fits the Dove,
Dolores Romero. She Is not unso-
phisticated, but she is entitled to
wear a blue ribbon in her hair, while
the other girls sport red-for cause.
Into the picture tramps Don Jose
Marie Lopez Tostado, owner of
fabulous wealth, with oil wells pro-
ductng 5000 barrels a day. Mexicana
literally is owned by him-he is a
friend of Eel presidente"-what he
wants he takes. He decides that he
wants the Dove; 1t Is immaterial to
him how he gets her.
Johnny Powell, the dice man at
Brayfeld's gambling house, a Yankee
is the stumbling block against which
Don Jose stubs his toe, Johnny and
the strange prudery of the Dove.
Johnny is nobody's saint, but he falls
in love with Dolores and Dolores with
him. Johnny is quick with a gun, but
Don Jose owns the town. 1t is rather
one-sided struggle. In the end there
is nothing between Johnny and a fir
ing squad except the quick wit of a
girl and the vanity of Don Jose. THE
bes' dam caballero in Mexico" is the
vanity that Dolores makes her final
plea. 1t is sure touch that in the
twinkling of an eye turns grim trag-
edy into comedy, and leaves the au-
dience chuckling over a mastery
characterization.
Holbrook Blinn has the part of Don
Jose, strutting. brutal, and wtthaI a
certain kind of grandeur.
1t is a dominating part. 1t has its
aHN cr~fv1 -ola \,
competent hands OF author. producer
and Mr.. Blinn, Don Jose becomes a
personality that repulses, wins and
amuses. The strain of vanity in his
makeup runs throughout the play and
renders plausible a conclusion that
otherwise might be difficult to
stomach.
The Dove is played by Miss Judith
Anderson-an enhancing Dove. in
deed, a Dove with fire, with wits
Miss Anderson is pitiful, loving. play
full, flaming with disgust and hatred,
From her lips drop strange oaths that
are anything but dovelike. She has a
wonderful singing voice. Her acting
in the scenes which demand a light
touch Is just as effective as in those
which call for emotion. Mr.. Belasco
seems to have found new star Of
brilliant magnitude.
a very convincing Johnny. He IS the
professional gambler, soft-voiced, but
sudden in action. deadly on the drop.
He is the lover, AM angel in contrast
to Don Jose.
The new play calls for a large cast
the stage is literally filled with peo-
pie in some of the scenes. Sidney
Toller is Mike Morowich, proprietor of
the Purple Pigeon, where the Dove
sings in a cabaret show, and William
Norris plays Little Bill, who handles
the roulette wheel in the gambling
Joint. Girls, Mexican and American,
poems, Cinnamon, Mexican soldiers and
police all help to fill the picture.
The settings are wonderful. brilliant
in coloring, true in detail. They won
not little applause from an audience
which expressed its appreciation in
many curtain calls of the actors, and
finally drew from Mr.. Belasco a
speech of thanks.