The Washington times., 1932-04-13
Basil Rathbon
Is Brilliant in
Fine PLAY

For the farewell attraction Of
the regular season the National
Theater last night offered one
of the most thoughtful and beau
tifully written Of plays, inter
preted by such a flawless cast the
sum total for the serious playgoer
is an evening Of rare entertain
ment.
THE Devil Passes" by Benn
Levy, presents a novel idea and
fascinating footlight method OF
working out its fantaStical spir-
itual lesson.
This all sounds rather profound
and solldly intellectual. Yet THE
Devil Passes" has genuine over
tone of rich wit blended with its
subtleties and once Playwright
Levy has captured your imagina-
ton and interest with his earthly
presence of Satan as weekend
guest in an English cottage, the
dramatic happenings take on a
charm and a tense fascination
that holds until the final curtain.
They Reveal Secrets
Neither as grim nor as tragic
as Death Takes q Holiday"
nevertheless there is certain
parallel in eerie atmosphere as
this high priest of He'll in the
guise of q clergyman moves un-
suspected among casual friends
and causes them to bare the
secrets and ambitions Of their
souls.
What Satan finds out is that
the painter who sought to create
beauty, the actress who yearned
to be the greatest Lady Macbeth,
the author whose hearts desire
was to outfame Joseph Conrad,
the girl who longed for a love
as honest and as ardent as that
visioned by the scullery maid, the
Dominic who prayed to become
an archbishop and eventually
defy God, the free-thinking
realist who desired only comfort
all of these had something within
themselves which made them re-
sist the devils temptations. Call
it Christianity, if you will. What
ever the force it was too much
for Satan. He offered them in
turn their dearest wish. None
would pay the price which in
volved sacrificing fellowmen. So
he moved on.
A Perfect Cast
Playwright Levy is fortunate
in having a Selwyn cast of close
to all-star distinction for the in
depreciation of his play. Not
often is such acting talent as
sembled in one dramatic group.
Basil Rathbone played the mas
querading prince of dark regions
with a quiet effectiveness that
lent dignity and the required
reverence to a many-sided role.
Particularly impressive were his
love scenes with Diana Wynyard.
the English beauty contracted to
WOO fame in Hollywood. Miss
Wynyard has figure and face and
the physical assets essential for
the cameras. She has, too, a
lovely speaking voice and a
knowledge of the acting graces
which makes her presence some
thing more than just purely
decorative.
It is assigned Cecilia LOTUS
famed mimic of the varieties)
to don the frowzy frocks and the
dowdy hats of a meek religious
zealot, wife of cynical and
doubling churchman. Her per
formance is something to treas
ure for apt and intelligent facial
expressions, for choice bits of the
plays comedy seasoning.
For its second act punch "The
Devil Passes" relies upon Robert
Lorraine and that seasoned actor
contributes a scene wherein brit
tie nerves explode in an emotional
outburst that leaves you awed
and breathless. The great mo-
ment of a fine play.
Arthur Byron played the real
iSt author who professed to live
solely for his own pleasure with
quiet forcefulness which made
it real delight. There were
other sparkling performances by
Mary Nash, Eric Blore and j.
Malcolm Dunn.
For its provocative theme, its
fine acting, it's intelligent direc-
ton and thoughtful content I
recommend THE Devil Passes"
Fundamentally. 1t makes q
precious evening at the play.
ANDREW r. KELLEY.