The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1936-05-18

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society observers will have it, it has
again become "the thing to do" to
go to the theater. They are afraid
that the interest is a transient one.
The fact remains, however, that
the word artistic" when applied
to current Chicago shows, does not
denote anything pale. This should
bolster their spirits. The word Is
rather applied to a number of bril-
liant experiences in the theater
which are also grimly real and
thrilling; combination that IN
failingly receives the public's sup
port.
Anderson Tragedy Outstanding
Maxwell Anderson's tragedy,
"Winterset," is the outstanding ex-
ample. As play to read it is
gripping story told in modern and
forceful poetic manner. 1t is the
tale of Mic Romagna, a character
in part both Hamlet and a Romeo
of our times. Mic is Romeo whose
balcony is a shanty of corrugated
tin set against the foundation struc-
ture of a great suspension bridge
and whose Juliet Is the daughter Of
an impoverished rabbi. And he is a
Hamlet more direct in purpose,
somewhat less articulate and fully
as bitter as was the Danish prince.
The reader is conscious of wanting
desperately to aid this young man,
and that, perhaps, is the first test OF
true tragedy. Although Mr.. Ander-
son states in his preface he is not
a poet, "Winterset" is the work of
a man who knows and loves poetry
and who is enough Of a thinker and
craftsman 10 thrill those who feel
keenly abouS this art in America.
AS a production Of the American
Theater Society and the Theater
Guild, "Winterset" is both a finan-
cial and an artistic success. 1t re-
Gently was awarded the New York
Drama Critics Circle Prize as the
finest play of the season. Now en-
joying an extended run at the Har-
riS Theater in Chicago, It has right
ly accomplished what Mr.. Anderson
hoped for in finding its audience"
Setting Is Inspired Work
Jo Mielziner's setting under the
bridge is an inspired work in de-
sign and execution. On one side OF
the stage beneath the shadow OF
this cold pile of steel and stone
lie dingy tenements, housing char
acters that the playwright pictures
as the backwash of great injustice.
And what seems many thousand
feet out in the distant moonlight,
the span of the bridge filings itself
across the water toward the opposite
shore, losing itself In the rolling
mist Of a night
a. when the winter sets his
foot on the threshold leading up
to spring and enters with re-
membered cold. :. :"
In short, it is a breath-taking
sight.
Guthrie McClintic's staging is a
compliment to himself and to the
author. 1t is impossible to tell where
the play ends and the direction be-
gins. Mr.. McClintic has done
splendid piece of work in bringing
a poetic tragedy in highly accept
able style to audiences raised on
Broadway's never diminishing sup
ply of laugh riots"
Chicago Cast Good
The Chicago cast, minus only
Richard Bennett, Is good. Mr.. Ben
nett was forced by illness to re-
linquish his part to Anatole Vino
gradoff during the New York run.
The production has not suffered
noticeably by the change. The other
two outstanding players are Mango
and Burgess Meredith in the re-
spective roles of Miriamne and Mic,
the young lovers. Mango Ca Miss"
is strictly against her wishes) may
be remembered as the rhumba
dancer in the first Hecht and Mac
Arthur moving picture, Crime
without Passion" This is her first
stage appearance.
Burgess Meredith IS an intense
and believable MILO, as pleasing to
a theater-goer as to an interview
err backstage. To be a brilliant con-
versationaliSt Immediately following
a performance and while removing
grease paint is a decided feat OF
mental agility; like whistling an in
tricate tune with q toothache.
Young Mr. Meredith was hardly up
to it, but he did manage to answer
a number of inexperienced ques-
tons and enthusiastically quote his
favorite passages.
He had known Maxwell Anderson
for a number of years and, while
playing as Katherine Cornell's lead
ing man last year in Flower of the
Forest" was approached by the
dramatist as possible Mic for the
then unfinished play. Shortly after
ward the Cornell vehicle gasped and
died and Meredith and Anderson
retired to rural Connecticut to
complete the manuscript and put it
to reading test. Rehearsals COM
menced early in the fall.
Harmony in Production
The harmony that existed be-
tween the author, the director and
the leading actors was a more than
ordinarily important feature, Mr..
Meredith said. Many were unfa-
Yniliar with the poetic medium and