The Washington times., 1936-07-20
NOW
MeILerd rama
Lives Always
UNDER STARS
By HELEN ESSARY

A8uuyS
AS the broken-hearted woman
cast these just accusations at the
Villain. he, stony-hearted son Of
Satan, with a sidelong glance from
his leering eyes, slithered from
the room.
"Sz-z-z-z-z-z" Kissed the audience
IN joyous disapproval.
At this moment the deluded
Heroine's innocent sister entered
the ranch house. She, it was, who
was about to be deprived of q
wonan'S rightful inheritance of
love, home and children by the
lies. Of the evil Captain. She, it
was on whom the Hero rather
than betray another's shame, even
ct the price of his own disgrace,
then turned his proud back. The
little Sister thus seeing happiness
fly from her hungry heart, cried
out bravely:
Lieutenant" (She always ad-
dressed him as Lieutenant), ~
must remind you that even a
girl has some rights"
Bonita" the lieutenant said.
He turned his handsome, hon.
est, smiling face down to her.
Bonita, / love you"
"Oh-h-h, Lieutenant" sighed
Bonita and threw her eager
arms about his reluctant but
honorable neck.
Hurray," cheered the audi.
ence. cat last!"
It was at the Roadside Thea.
ter that such events were trans
piring Saturday night and are
again transpiring tonight. Out
on Wisconsin Avenue few miles
from Bethesda, cars are driving
over the fields to the big barn
where life as Augustus Thomas
discovered it, in the virile days
Of Arizona" is being told to q
delighted audience.
From my seat on the canvas
covered bench on Saturday night
I could turn my head and look
out the barn window, as many
another old mare had done in
her time, and see the lightning
bugs and hear the crickets.
The funny brown curtains were
being rolled back from the stage.
Virtue, though torn to Shreds by
temptation, was again to triumph
In the Southwest of our country.
Words seldom heard in a mod
ern world so determinedly casual
were soon echoing solemnly about
the old rafters. Honor" Shame"
Punishment" Guilt" st love my
husband" "a wronged woman"
"a broken heart" So was I'M
raveled 50 drama of love and
intrigue In the U. S. Cavalry"
The drama, as I gathered from
the fortnight remarks of the
clanking cavalry officers, was the
result Of the mating of age and
youth. The colonel of the regi-
lnent, IAN old fellow of S." had
chosen for his bride the beautiful
but unloving EStrella, daughter Of
the rancher with the heart and
pocketbook Of gold.
At the beginning of the first
scene, Captain Hodgeman, the
Villain, is already deep in deprav-
ity. He has asked EStrella to fly
with him (and bring her jewels .
He has been recognized by Lena,
the German houSemaid, as the
father of her little babe over in
Mercy Hospital.
The plot thickens and thickens,
until it is Of the consistency of
cold pea soup. The Captain sneerS.
Lena covers. EStrella mournS (Sin
doesn't seem to make her happy q.
Lieutenant Denton, incredibly
tall and beautiful, grows nobler
and nobler. The deceived husband
grows dumber and dumber. And
mistakes the Hero for his Wife's
paramour.
The grand climax occurs in
the last act. Lieutenant Denton,
major domoing heroically in the
ranch house of Bonita'S father, is
accused by the villain Of theft,
Legitimate fatherhood, cowardice
and lies. This is too much even
for the patient Hero. He strikes
the Villain in the face with his
glove. A mysterious shot is fired.
The villain falls mortally wounded.
As the bullet that pierced his
black heart is brought to the
Colonel, Estrella, the Colonel'S
wife, begS forgiveness from her
husband. She cries remorsefully:
ut was not love I had for that
wicked man. 1t was q wOman'S
recOil from the dreariness Of
life in the desert"
I never enjoyed a play more.
like a hero to be a hero, noble,
brave and true.
Let's have more mellerdramers.
Subtle, subconSciouS plays leave
anybody cold.
OnS 4udu was III SUCH d hurry
to see if the sign Standing Room
Only" told the truth that he
stepped into a fire bucket full of
water. His foot was long and the
bucket was wide. He hoped
around on one foot while the
water SplaShed. But no one
minded.
Between acts we wandered
around outdoors. The stars were
very bright and the air Smelt like