Evening star., 1926-12-12
Drama Discloses
A Shifting Sympathy
BY pHILANDER JOHNSON.

| The delineation of the woman un-
lovable has not been so uncom-
promisingly undertaken since the
presentation of "Unleavened Bread"
in which a different cast of charac-
ters appeared in each act, represent
ing the new associations to which
a Climber" successfully arrived by
cold blooded system of husband
sacihce. 1t was related that when
"Unleavcned Bread was first pro-
duced in Scranton, Pa, once rival
of this city as a theatrical expert
ment station. a man found friend
in an ice cream parlor sitting dis
, consolately with the CONNECTION un-
tasted before him.
What is the trouble?" asked the
friend
Il have got the blues was the
answe:. Il went to the theater.
trying to cheer up, but do you
know there is a woman in that show
that is Just the same kind of cold
blooded Simon Legree that my wife
isw
The same mental effect is very
likely to be produced, in many in
stances, by Chrystal Herne's ex-
traor rdinary and admirable perform
ance.
There were moments when a wish
asserted itself that "Craigs Wife"
could remain over till next week
and have a few special rounds ar
ranged for her with Col. Bridau.
Another instance of the selection
of long abused parsonage as en-
titled at last to sympathetic and
admiring regard is the father who
has long been, resented either as
too stern a disciplinarian or else as
too frivolous in his protracted en-
thusiasm for the joy of living.
The attitude toward mothers has
been that of affection and poetic
delicacy, but the most conspicuous
incidents of song as addressed to
the head of the family were such
ditties as Father. Dear Father,
Come Home With Me Now" imply
ing great reluctance on the part OF
the old gentleman to curtail his stay
of Ten Nights in Barroom.'
Later on the censure was modified
and the family songsters contented
themselves with interrupting an ef-
fort to attain well earned repose by
singing Everybody Works But
Father" Within recent weeks the
stage has shown Magda as a
melancholy sacrifice to the stubborn
folly of her sire, and THE Master
Builder" presented picture of an
old man obstinately refusing to re-
linquish the triumphs of life of
labor in order to make way perhaps
for the ambitious experiments of
self-dazzled youth.
**
Under the auspices of Mr.. Belasco,
Mr.. E.. H. Sothern is enabled to give
the new and sympathetic side Of
good old Pater's story. Mr.. Soth-
ern, himself a veteran of blank
verse, allows a hint to drop that,
after all, his sincerest inclination,
long suppressed, was toward those
delightful roles of his early career
that depicted the graces. the senti-
ments and the whimsical impulses
of a youthful spirit. Sothern, by
the way, is another of our heredi-
tary actors. He once paid tribute
to his fathers memory by reviving
for a season the role OF Lord Dun
dreary and playing it with remark
ably good effect.
In the supporting cast, notwith-
standing the presence of artists in
the truest sense of the term. with
working material we'll worthy of
them. the most notable and charm
ing figure is Haidee Wright. With
many years of stage service to her
credit, she reveals polish which
time has heightened to beautiful
brilliancy; brilliancy the more de-
lightful because it possesses the
serene glow that distinguishes gen.
uine quality from Aashy tinsel.
Ingenues and emotional stars we
have many. Miss Wright is the one
Grande Dame of the theater seen
in many day.