Evening star., 1942-12-06


to a "blitz" more lethally final than
that fell in this play
Now has come Lifeline" three.
act play from the pens of two Eng
lish authors-out of whose names
was evolved the pseudonym, Norman
Armstrong - produced last Tuesday
night at the Belasco Theater by Gill
bert Miller. Presented in London
last July, 1t has been playing to
goodly audiences there ever since
But I greatly fear that Lifeline" is
not long for Broadway.
This Is regrettable; for the piece
possesses merits and two or three
gripping junctures. It's major de-
feet is the lack of sustained story
value. 1t lack the approved formula
of initial interest, clash and denoue-
ment. 1t lacks an unfolding drama
of human relationships. The fact
that it makes a little pretense of
doing this will not serve. It's aim is
to tell the story of a steamship of
the British Merchant Marine, one of
those numbering, bluff bowed, rusty
old hookers that fare the war-ridden
seas bearing food, munitions, fuel
and general supply to the end that
an island empire may be sinewed in
Its fight for survival
Theme Is Noble.
Set In q single scene, the saloon of
the tramp steamer "Clydesdale, "
bound for England from Canada
with a cargo of petrol, the play
seems to exalt and glorify the role
Of British merchant seamen in this
war, to point their humble aspira-
tions, their self-sacrifice, their gal
lantry their rugged comradeship, to
depict their varying type and char
acter. 1t is a noble theme and a
big one-too big, must believe, for
the capacity of its authors. What
they have done is to outline theme
rather than to employ it as def
mite plot framework for an artis-
tically creative enterprise.
As the "Clydesdale" plods across
the Atlantic it meets with various
perils, from submarine, airplane and
confederation. These things occur
episodicaIly-just as they might
happen ON an actual voyage; just,
indeed, as they are happening week
by week.
That is all right. But the trouble
is the thread of narrative, the chain
of human interest, is not sustained,
It, too, is episode, and main
human theme must not be so. 1t
must engage interest in its origin
and develop consistently to climax.
Thrilling Second Act.
Now, for the merit of this piece:
1t has a really thrilling second act,
when the ship is on fire. 1t has
some absorbing moments when a
handful of the crew returns to the
abandoned ship and brings it into
port. The authors know a ship
and they know how seafaring men
talk, how they think, how they act
in common association. In sum,
in an impressive setting, bulwarked
by such splendid actors as Dudley
Digges, Colin Keith Johnston,
Whitford Kane, Rhys Williams-A
cast without a single f1aw-it is
great pity that this play was not
worked out in manner BETTING its
lofty theme.
Why, then, has London taken
this play unto it's heart whereas
New York probably will not? The
answer seems to me simple one.
England knows and loves the types
portrayed and is interested in them,
while New York, in its ignorance. is
not. You see, the merchant marine
Is indeed England's one and only
lifeline.
A Cajun Humoresque.
"The Great Big Doorstep" pre-
eented by Herman Shumlin at the
Morosco Theater was adapted by
the two accomplished Hacketts,
Frances and Albert, from a novel
by E. p. O'Connell. 1t possesses no
more plot than Lifeline" But it
has the compensating virtue of a
sustained interest in the ambition
Of a family of Louisiana Cajuns, the
Crochets, who exchange their
tumbledown shack for an abode
better fitted for the addition of a
big, ornate doorstep which one of
the Crochet boys fished out of the
Mississippi River.
Near by is more impressive
dwelling about to be sold for back
taxes. Sixty dollars will buy the
building and the effort of the
family. through three acts, to OBJ
tain this sum carries you along
somewhat breathlessly and with an
ever-increasing access of mirth. In
deed. 1t has been long time since
your reviewer has seen an audience
laugh in abandon so complete.
The piece, a combination of
Tobacco Road" lacking those ele-
ments the fastidious find objection
able in that enduring comedy, and
of Life With Father"-Albeit a
roaringly vociferous tatterdemalion
of father-finds Louis Calhern
supremely well placed as the head
OF the family. AS his helpmeet,
Miss Dorothy Gish is simply swell.
So Is every one else in the cast.
Drop in on the Crochets and for a
time forget this troubled world.
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