Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-24
NATIONAL THEATER-"La Gringo."

The drama perSonageS of Tom CuSh-
ing's new play. which was revealed to
very responsive audience at the Ma
t;onal Theater last night. roam the
world for picturesque human specimens
II is not an "ethnological congress
such as tent Showmen would offer II
docs not so so far as 10 introduce a
tattooed man or a bearded lady: yet
Il explores tho map. touching. in suc-
eestion. route rambling from Mexico
10 Polynesia. and intimating the infiu-
ence of barbaric rites over the souls OF
the innocent.
There is beautiful girl. descended
from aboriginal stock accustomed "a
cannibalisn. This part of the idea is
disclosed TO monotonous semi-melody
OF tom -tcming in the distance. The
narrative soon turns TO the usual
cruelty of a villain and the impracti-
cal though most admirable sentiment
of sincere and scholarly young man.
Any misty hope that a cannibal would
appear and mistake the audience for a
cafeteria layout is disappointed.
The plot Celebrates the question
raised from time 10 time as 10 how
many wild men can be created by one
wild woman.
AS the parade passes there are re-
vealed not only Scmi-civilizrd Speci-
mems from the lands of cactus and
palm. but sailor men. dauntleSs in the
gale, and ready TO revive the fringe of
wfiSkers which oSligingly provided a
guide line in case pirate made ready
TO cut throat.
Not the least fascinating group of
figures is, the assemblage of village
wives. SpinSterS and goSSipS in costumes
Gn'S to ~ hc-
hold. Some of these characters who
masquerade in ancestral finery are SO
charming. even though they strive 10
seem grotesQue. that they explain why
hustle" and "Grecian bend" were al
lowed TO persist in fashionable esteem
as attributes of grace.
The play has vitality and animation.
II seems like living thing breathing
an appeal II seems 10 wish il could
have been written by Willard Mack.
It was staged by Hamilton MacFad-
den and T. Daniel Frawley. Mr.. FraT-
ley added 10 the interest of the event
By taking on the responsibilities of an
nouncer and describing with fluent ease,
worthy of AtacNamee himself. the en-
thusiastic gratitude of the players for
liberal applause and the structural mod
tfcations undertaken in the play.
&c was AaOQuCktk
cere Good character drawing won SYM
pathetic appreciation. George Nash. a
good actor wherever he may find him.
self, has the role of follower of the
sea. with a rough tendency to lawless-
ness in love His death by poison sur
reptitiouSly administered seems almost
a normal retributive consequence, in
spite of any implied encouragement TO
q conspicuous feature of current crime.
Paul Wright appears competently as
DR.. Caleb Sprague. the village school,
master whose morals melt in the fierce
fame OF La Gringos aboriginal devo-
ton
The sustaining influence In the pres
entation Is provided by Claudette Col
bert, the child of nature" In case
scene seems threatened with deflation
Miss Colbert can be relied on with alb
solute surety to infuse an emotion
which srouses sympathy and apply a
technique which does not fail in spite
Of frequent and long sustaining de-
mands
The opportunity of seeing Miss COL
bert In her ea-lier career is one which
viii be remembered with pleasure when
her name is blazoned high in the cleo
tic arches Of fame.
Perhaps this play of vivid contrasts
viii be so finished as TO become the
means for her triumphant celebrity. II
not another play will, as time goes on.
serve the purpose Of exploiting talents
which cannot fail TO assert themselves.
PHILANDER JOHNSON.