Evening star., 1931-12-06
Maude Adams
BY OLIVER NJ. SAYLER,

Author OF Our American Theater."
TN all my theatergoing in this country
and around the world I have never
experienced quite the same thrill as
during the first three minutes Of the re-
turn Of Maude Adams to the stage in
the Ohio Theater, Cleveland, after
13 too long years Of retirement These
three minutes were minutes of excite
ment, of emotional food Of long pent-
UP and finally released affection Of
spontaneous mutual esponse-audience
to player and player 10 audience. They
were moments of miracle, double
miracle, both of them performed by the
beloved artist herself
l don't suppose any of the other arts
compares with the theater in oppor-
tunitieS for the spontaneous, for the
unexpected None of them is so flexible
as the theater, Books and poems are
written and published and sent out to
the world rigidly fixed The cinema is
even more deliberately canned" ana
released for performances that vary
only with the skill of the operator and
the fallibility or infallibility of the ma
chine
That the theater's susceptibility to
give-and-take would be taxed by the
first entry Of Maude Adams upon the
stage which had missed her so long
must have been foreseen by any one who
recalled the hold she used to have upon
all Of us-a mystical and spiritual bond
outside the range of mere technical
skill and admiration for It, Modest and
self-effacing as she is, Miss Adams her
self must have expected something to
happen. But it is safe to say that
neither she nor any one in that Cleve-
land audience expected to happen what
did happen. The artist was wholly un-
prepared for the ovation she received
the ovators were equally unprepared for
the ovation they provided. 1t all just
happened out of clear sky, and the
happening surprised and confused. be-
wildered and all but overwhelmed
everyone involved.
From the proximity of the first row
and with the detachment which l in
variably carry with me to the theater.
had an unusual perspective from
which to view this extraordinary event.
After the ovation had run it's course for
two full minutes, it became apparent
that one Of two things must occur:
either the situation must be brought
under control, or the returning artist
would be sWamped under a blanket of
! applause and affection. and, though she
| had returned to the stage, she might
never speak a line.
If Miss Adams had broken under that
avalanche Of goodwill, kindly but
crushing, the curtain would have fallen
and she would have gone back to the
seclusion which had been hers for so
long, probably never again to emerge.
There were two steps necessary TO
bring under control this tribute which
had gotten out Of hand. Miss Adams
had to take both of these steps herself
No one else could help her First, she
had to bring herself under control. And
then she had to control that vast
throng and that avalanche of good
will. From where I sat 1 could sce
that double fact dawn upon her After
the briefest moment Of hesitation, she
! performed the first miracle by the very
simple but effectual act of swallowing
hard. Self-mastery was the result
Half the day had been saved.
But how to save the rest of the day?
How to perform the second miracle? No
! words would suffice, for words could not
| be heard. But some things speak louder
| than words and Miss Adams knew it
knew instinctively as we'll as by expert
| ence how to speak a silent language
CONSCIOUSLY or uncOnSClOuSly 90 not
know, she translated her entire body
into silent message. Advancing half
step with smothered and pleading
reach toward the audience, she said
more eloquently than words ever could;
Thank you Thank you! But please
| stop and let us go on with the play
Instantaneously, as If an electric
! switch had been turned, the avalanche
halted. The theater, as one man. turned
| from pandemonium to utter silence
| Maude Adams had survived the unfore-
seen ordeal and had saved herself for
! a new life and a new career in the
| eternal art of the theater.