The Indianapolis times., 1931-01-17

is now on view at the Fulton theater. the
late and unlamented Colonel Aaron Burr
was a tiresome and talkative gentleman
given to petty plottings. pretty speeches
and Peter-Pannish whimsicality.
In other words. the news I have for
you is to the effect that the creator of
Penrod and Monsieur Beaucaire has done
everything in his power to resurrect 5he
aforesaid Mr.. Burr and place him. al
Winnie-t -the-Pooh- like, on the Broadway
stage. The result. if I dare say so. is
calamitous. From the first rising curtain
to the last falling one you wish that Mr.
Alexander Hamilton had been quicker on
the trigger and of better aim.
When. not long ago. Mr.. Edward G..
Robinson made his appearance in Mr..
Samuel at the Little Theatre. there were
those of us who bet a dollar to dough-
nut that we were in the presence Of the
talkiest of plays. But we were woefully
mistaken. Little did We foresee that, Just
around the corner, lay Colonel Satan"
pseudo Historical romance in which Mr..
Mckay Morris begins to speak along
about nine and only pauses to change his
trousers between that hour and eleven.
Between the covers of book, Colonel
Satan" might make literary, If not over
" exciting, reading. The speeches are
long and nicely termed; the characters are
cautiously, not to say bookishly. drawn;
the story is developed with slow-footed
attention to detail In the library. with
an open fire in front Of you and high
ball at your side, this talk filled might
in the life Of Aaron Burr might be
not unworthy Of the Mr.. Harrington
whose name it bears.
But, up on q stage and in the hands
of Mr.. Morris and his associate munmers'
it is winding, windy bore. There are
plots and counter plots having to do with
the Paris Of 1911; moves and counter
moves toward the wished-for overthrow
of one Napoleon Bonaparte and the
bringing back of one Louis Philippe. Such
action as there is, is static, and the
excitement-or what IS intended to be
excitement--is as synthetic as bottle
Of Greenwich Village gin
Anyway. according to Mr.. Harrington,
Mr.. Burr was the Mr.. Ivor Novello Of his
day, while Mr.. Hamilton was an unat-
tractive old meany who knew no better
than to put a. dueIling gentleman in the
everlasting wrong by shooting in the air.
II you've read this far you may be
pleased to know that Mr.. Morris acts all
over the place as the Colonel Burr who.
under the pseudonym of Colonel Satan.
gives the play its name. Although Mr..
Morris is no great favorite with the dra-
matte critic Of The Telegram, that dra-
matte critic is honest enough to admit
that he can name no living actor who
could do better with a role which really
belongs to Miss Ethel Barrymore.
Among those present in what, for want
Of a fresher term. may be referred to as
the supporting company are Mr.. Ben
Smith. who is a whole lot more enjoyable
when following Miss Hope Williams around
in a Philip Barry play. and Miss Jessie
Royce Lands. who works courageously be-
meath the handicap Of an early nineteenth
century costume and name which Is all
Of Madame Ia Baronne de Bannaiae. Best
Of the lot. however. IS Mr.. Arthur Treacher
as Augusts Lally. Esquire. Of PerEdious
albion.
But. instead Of delving deeper into de-
tails. permit me to shed tear and ad-
nit that ell Mr.. Tarkington's horses and
all Mr.. Tarkington's men can do little to
make Colonel Satan" worthy Of Mr.. Tark-
ington's DISTINGUISHED name. more au-
thentic title fer the piece would be Bunk
frora Kennehunk. or Alexander Hamilton S
Last Revenge"