The Washington times., 1927-11-22
MEATH THE FLAP
OF THE GOSPEL
TENT

Certain rather hectic incidents
in the life Of one Of the country's
great women evangelists will be
credited by most playgoers with
inspiring the playwrights who
conceived BLESS You, Sister,"
offered for the first time at the
Belasco last night.
John Meehan and Robert Rislti,.
who co-author the drama, have
undertaken to peep under the
canvas Of the gospel tent. The
picture they paint Of trickerv,
chicanery, religious stage setting
and hypocrisy, all aimed to sway
emotional sinners to hit the saw.
aust trail is not one that the
ardent fundamentals will cherish.
Nevertheless the mingling of com.
mercialized religion and hot.
pIooded romance has produced a
Wen contrived play and one that
is splendidly acted in it's ma ior
roles by a cast, truthfulIy de.
scribed as superb.
Bless You Brother, Bless Yen
sister, Then Get the Dough ;;
Such Is the watchword of Rus;.
ness Manager Timothy Bradley
OF the Mary Macdonald Taber.
nacle troupe which tours the
country after the fashion of a
lhree ring circus. Mary Mac.
donald. daughter of q retired
minister, is the spotlighted souI
saver Of these high pressure nv.
ponents of spiritual salesman.
snip. A handsome picture she is
IN her flowing white robes that
niend perfectly with a refined
beauty. 1t is the hard boiled and
worldly publicity agent who Sos
penind the hallowed veneer, the
business OF exploiting youth and
cnarm and sex-appeal to emotion.
ally starved audiences.
whence comes this Mary Mac.
donald, from a small town where
her father had ministered faith,
Iully Tor years to a ranidIv
dwindling flock to be uncere.
Lnohlously bounced when his use.
iuIlness has passed. Into tho
household comes Timothy Rrad.
ley, a glib talking suner.saIas.
man OF Bibles. Peddling the HOLY
Book has earned Tim fine home
Tor his mother in Buffalo.
with your looks and flow Of
language I could own the whole
avenue" he tells Mary, whv not
join him? When. for one req.
son Mary loves Sam GribbIe q
happy go-lucky sort of fellow
with great many sins of the
world for companions. But Mary
needs money and there is her
Ia.ner and younger sister to con.
sloer. Thus is formed the part.
nership that soon leads to the
gospel tent and eventually the
great mission of Saving Brook.
lyn. Mary's love for Sam per.
slsts through 1t all and Manager
Bradley is finally confronted with
the task of finding a new plat.
form star. Now would YOU
IKE to become an evangelism" he
asks Sandy, the irrepressible kid
sister as the final curtain falls.
The gifted Ann Davis is the
Mary Macdonald and she endows
this difficult role with all the
emotional skill that has won her
constantly growing plaudits. Fine.
indeed. is her platform sermon
IN the calcium glare and con.
vincing enough to create a real
reverential atmosphere. Also
among the performances to be
pleasantly remembered is the
timothy Bradley" of Charles
Bickford, delightfully."- droll
Bible salesman. a blunt matter
OF fact business manager hut Al.
ways a character of noble stature
as depicted by this worthy actor
Robert Ames shone in well.acted
love scenes and the adolescent
SANDY of Mildred Mcleod was
ertectlve enough to be Irritating
ingenuity marks the staging of
Bless You, Sister" with the
tabernacle setting a. particular
credit to the craftsmanship ~
the designer. A. r. X,