The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-01-10

A far cry from Whistler's
ideal is this portrait Of a dis
trait mother, evoking your pity
in her regulations at being
separated from her sons but
more of your contempt at her
embittered and scheming des-
peration to keep them at all
cost under her own roof. This
Mrs. Phelps is a she-wolf bat
Ting for her cubs and no she
wolf ever gouged and bit with
more furious industry than does
this hapless psycopath who, in
her milder moments, is really
q fine lady.
Sidney Howard dipped no pen
in the poster inks when he wrote
this play. 1t is a fine example
of playwriting, OF continuity,
suspense and reason. The un-
masking OF one type of mother
hood is sordid but it crumples no
illusions. In her final defeat I'M
der the onslaught of natural inn
pulses. she is a tragic figurine
whose plight stretches invisible
arms across the footlights to sup
plicate your pities. And you do
pity her. She is cold blooded to
other peoples children, she is a
liar. she is vengeful and she would
shatter the whole worlds happi-
ness to preserve her own but
that last scene where she -
utterly flayed by an outraged
bride, taps one remote corner IN
your heart for a few yagrant
beats in her behalf.
Left a widow, and rich, in her
youth, Mrs. Phelps closes her
ewes to second marriage and
constructs the illusion of romance
in the rearing of her sons. Hers
is a sadistic torture which she
suffers for her sons and the
legend of her long hours in labor
pains when Dave was born, is OF
80 years standing in the town.
The action begins when Dave,
after five years absence, brings
his bride to the family hearth.
Robert. the younger, Is engaged.
The specter of loneliness hovers
over the Phelps domain and the
old girl girds herself for the fray.
It's to be a fight from ambush
and SO she maneuvers it. Find
ing David the harder nut to
crack, she insinuates opinions
into Roberts head until this
weakling, imagining he is speak
ing his own mind, turns churl
and breaks off his engagement
with Hester. Score one.
fnNzT0
David, amplified by promises OF
a rosy and independent future II
only he will shape his career
from her fireside. But, in scratch
ing David's bride, Christina, she
finds a Tartar. Turbulent and
exciting is the scene wherein
Christina denounces her with
truths that scar and cut. Mrs.
Phelps brings all her stole re-
serve to bear. The two know
now where they stand. Honors
are even.
81 say to you" addressing
Chris, that would cut off my
right arm and burn out my eyes
to rid my son Of you" Such is
the intensity Of her hatred.
David is given a flat choice
. his mother or his wife. Auto
matically he makes the choice but
he is so dazed and COMPOUNDED
that one conjectures within
month the silver cord will be
spliced again. Victory for Chris.
Miss Crews positively triumphs
in this vari-shaded role. The dis
like she engenders means only
more power to her characterize
ton. The two girls, Pamela
Simpson and Vera Allen, each
have stout moments which they
do not slight. Ted Emery, jr.,
is rather ingenious as the older
brother Dave. AS a matter Of
truth. he looks younger and has
less Doise than his supposedly
younger brother, Robert, essayed
by Jack Livesey. This, however,
is a solo Characterization, and
thank heavens and the producers
that Laura Hope Crews chants
that solo