Evening star., 1927-10-30
WALTER HUSTON National
Authors Demanding More
Study From Audiences
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.

In front of the National Theater
last Monday night strolled a man
with cigar. apparently quite unin-
terested in what was going on in the
PLAYHOUSE As matter of TACT. he
was tremendously interested and
was possibly in the frame OF mind
of that celebrated plunger Pitts
burgh Phil, OF whom it is told that
he seldom watched race on which
he had a big bet. but turned his
back ON the track and waited for the
numbers to come up.
His immobility of facial expression
was proverbial among his associates.
He was chewing a cigar and for once
was watching the finish of race on
which his play was heavy. His horse
lost. A glance at his face revealed
no change OF expression. But the
cigar was gone. He had swallowed
it.
Producer George c. Tyler has not
swallowed his cigar as yet. His new
play "Surmise" has still long way
to go before its fate is decided as a
contender for purse and honors
among the starters of the present
season.
Changes were freely made in
Washington, d. c., which was util-
lied to break the jump from Atlantic
City to New York.
The title "Surmise" is to be drop
ped and the original title restored.
This was "Spellbound" and is, in
fact, a much better indication of the
plays idea.
AS a rule the expectation of seeing
an author playing a prominent part
in his own work is not inspiring.
Frank VoSper, who enacted the hus-
band-villain in this latest starring ve-
hicle for Pauline Lord, is unusually
capable as a player. He stepped out
of the role, however, and gave place
to Campbell Gullan, whose reputa-
ton implied possibilities OF an i'm
provement. Mr.. Gullan with all his
accomplishment did little more than
call attention to the close precision
with which the author had defined
the character. leaving little chance
for intelligent playing to vary the
impression.
A superficial survey OF "Surmise, "
or "Spellbound," as its title changes
overnight, creates fear that the
producer is trying to give his public
entirely too much ior its money. 1t
is not SO much a drama OF plot as a
drama Of Characterization it is a
psychoanalySIs rather than ro-
nance. It delivers heavy consign-
ment of thought on no less abstruse
topic than the workings of the hu-
man brain and human emotions de-
liberately at cross purposes in mat
tiers OF life and happiness.
It is an effort 10 lure lowbrows to
terms OF congenial understanding
with highbrows. Every professional
playwright declares that he keeps a
package OF newspaper clippings to
suggest ideas This idea cmerees
frankly from the scrapbook OF po-
lice annals, but gets far away from
the atmosphere OF the jury room. 1t
depicts married lie as d duel. The
interest OF hatred is substituted for
that OF love. This home lie holds
the fascination Of enyeuoned strife
the woman is vacillatng. inconstant
The man, cruel, yet clever, takes a
ferocious JOY in following her embit
tered thought. and in anticipating
with pitiless mockcry every move
she may make against him; even the
effort TO kill him.
The responsibilities allotted tc
Pauline Lord are very heavy. She
meets them with fine Conscientiou,
playing in a role that i'll some mo.
ments leaves her dependent to {
great degree on her own personality
The play is not constructed on the
conventional lines of proportion. i
has comedy, but it is not utilized il
a manner which secures the value