The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-04-02

awful something happens m
- my brain box.
1t is cruel. Net kind and not
even. But it happens. 1t brings a
something that some people call De
vine-a thought. a dream, a real
thing.
And that is my mood as I write
to tell you Of George Arliss in "Old
English" by John Galsworthy.
A real example Of a great power.
A something so real that it worries
me. My confession is my own.
Sylvanus Heythorp, George Arliss)
yelling out for his perfect Might
cap"
A crash. A threat Of greatness
both In the author, John Galsworthy,
and George Arliss.
Then the scene that brings to me
q real something's thought. That
being-I thank God for an oppor-
tunity to see a projection Of a COM
plete mental and beautiful experience
upon the stage.
1 kneel in perfect understanding
to an old-time thought.
GeniUs-art.
The glory Of doing a big thing in
an cid way. The way Of many years.
There are few chances to see a some
thing, hal thing they call perfect
acting.
That thing which brings the stage
into the mental being and into the
soul. That thing which creates a re-
spect and a love for that power OF
creation, so called many times great
acting.
A threat Of greatness.
Galsworthy becomes Arliss and
Arliss becomes Arliss. Arliss is the
spark which turns a drab water glass
into a sparkling something.
A sparkling something was there.
Galsworthy wrote the play. Arliss
breathed into it a God-given power.
Just a threat OF greatness.
The big scene Of a playa very
old man, wined and supped in
fashion. Served by a man and a
playmate" "A great big scene in
which this happens. Masterful stage
direction. Lights dwell out.
Then the very old man becomes
very drunk. Old age mixes with
the intoxication of a purpose. Arliss
mixes the thought Of a great scene
and a great scene becomes even
more wonderful In the hands Of
Arliss. He, the character, can not
lift himself from the chair. He
must be helped. On all occasions.
But the great object-the bottle
Of port.
He struggles. He sinks. He
fights. Again he nearly falls. Never
giving up.
Then he gets to his feet. He who
eats alone and drinks alone in his
study. Failure is tomorrow. Bank
ruptcy. And out of that thins
which gives him power-Again he
tries. Always trying to get on his
feet.
He gets the bottle.
Then the greatness of George Ar
liss and> remembering John Gals
worthy.
Sylvanus IAN old English name),
that's his first name, and his last
(HeythropGthe lights go out.
Real stage lights go out.
A CHEEKY boy and a CHEEKY girl
come on again. The CHEEKY girl
wanted to show her frock to the old
man. The CHEEKY boy knows death.
Servants know and see death be-
cause they serve tomorrow, and they
don't if there is a will.
He is dead. You carry away a
thought Wait until somebody re-
turns to the great house. All ruined.
Nothing.
Here is George Arliss-perfect act
ing. Here is a great writer, but
made even greater by Arliss,
That is Arliss.
And there is also a large cast.
Right. Perfect. Honest. None bet
ter.
Here is that once and awhile which
comes only so seldom upon the
stage.
Here is a God given, a man given
experience in the theater.
I hope you are not missing.
There is glory in big things. Glory
to those who act and glory to those
who see.
In the early morning Of the hour,
I ask you to Q a marvellous
th1ng-"Old English" written by
Galsworthy and brought to life by
Arliss and a great company.
At English's tonight, Saturday
matinee and Saturday night.