The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-03-30
Continued from Page II

miscegnation problem of the South
the main difficulty lies in getting
the patient to take the remedy .
even here in once staid and now liberal
Boston, the local reviewers have lifted
their skirts and tip-toed over the pud-
die of comment which would have
arisen from fact reporting how
ever, in fairness to the producers I do
not hesitate to state that the manu-
script has been sugar-coated for col
ored consumption and the race is
really given a break in dialogue and
the commission of that shady appella-
ton which CRATES harshly on our rug
ged ears when quoted too often on the
stage E. you may sit and not be I'M
duly embarrassed by the conversation
of the cast but I defy you to remain
absolutely quiet during any scene of
the entire play . for this drama is
fast moving vehicle in which you
ride every inch of its turbulent pas
sage living moments of passion, muir
der and violence which wrench your
deepest emotions to the surface . .
in truth, l believe that every member
of the colored race interested in seeing
an intelligent and forceful presenta-
ton of this gripping picture of the
relations of black and white in the
South will thoroughly enjoy "Mulatto'
The original play was first produced
in 1885 and since has run a solid year
on Broadway with sporadic revivals in
the hinterlands which suffered labor
trouble . the timely interest shown
in the anti-lynching legislation now
under fire in Washington, the theme
of the play strikes home both hard and
deep Col. Thomas Norwood has
defied the town white society of a
Georgia community and lived openly
with his colored mistress, Cora, rails
ing her children in his mansion and
sending the fairer ones away to be
educated at school in the North . .
comes time when he must choose be-
tween running for State Senator at
Washington by abridging this rela-
tionship or live a hardened outcast
from his people, he chooses to seek
political ambition and plans to leave
his offspring socially secure away
from home =. here on the fireworks
begin as the youngest son, Bert, re-
turns from college.
Most outstanding was the brilliant
etching of Colonel Thomas Norwood
by that splendid actor, Curtis Cooksey
every inch a southern aristocrat
who had a kindly sentiment toward
his field workers but refused to yield
to the new freedom of the North. {.
L Sc. t,es4Sny,c f,.nt1o nVNnvNln4sa 4C
controlled restraint were truly re-
markable and he died with his boots
on sharing leading honors was
Mercedes Gilbert Cast seen here in
Green Pastures) whose role was a
natural she walked through her
characterization of the mistress, Cora,
with sympathy and understanding for
her children conflicting with her years
of affection for the Colonel her
highly dramatic moments of mental
alteration at the conclusion of the
play missed fire slightly but she was
apparently being trouper under the
handicap of a severe cold . next Ray
Parker as the educated son, Bert,
played hob with old southern tradition
by holding his head up and setting a
bad example for the field hands
his acting was trife too sensitive for
the bravado the role demands but Earl
Cough as the darker brother and house
servant William lent humor and SER
vile contrast to an excellent portray
Miriam Battista, lovely of shape
and features, scored another natural
as the literary ambitions Sally Lewis
who desired to become teacher and