Evening star., 1945-12-15
By HARRY MACARTHUR.

"The Silver Chord" staged last
night and scheduled to be pre-
sented again tonight by Cue and
Curtain at Lisner Auditorium OF
George Washington University,
poses something of barrier for
any amateur group. The late Sid
ney Howard was an accomplished
playwright, who wrote of life as it
was reflected against a searching
mind. In this particular case, the
characters he drew were not done
in mere black and white, but rather
were made of complex shadings,
which might easily, in some in
stances, be difficult enough for en-
bryo theater artists to understand,
let alone portray.
Also, the dialogue of "The Silver
Chord" is not easy. There are a
number of speeches which are both
long and impassioned and which
might easily trip professional. Al
together it is quite a project and a
challenge to university group.
1t is to the credit of the Cue and
Curtain players, under the direction
of Floyd Sparks and Florence New
comb. that they managed we'll with
the Howard play last night, once
they got a stiff1y nervous first act
behind them. Once they warmed
to their work, the things Mr.. How
ard had to say about maternal af-
fection grown pathological-and
harsh things they are came
through in fine fashion.
The Silver Chord" of course,
while it does pose barriers, is con-
versely satisfying vehicle for nom
professional players. 1t is a solidly
constructed piece of dramatic litera-
ture that gets those who see it
just as mad as the playwright was.
second act last night large part
of the audience seemed completely
in a mood to hiss violently, or even
pitch overshoes at the mother who
refuses to yield up her two sons to
matrimony.
The G. w. performance Of the
drama is enhanced by pair of
handsome sets designed by Ray
Tallman. The players are Cay
Knockey, Richard Lathrop, John P.
Mcclure, Margaret Fry, Mimi Bran
son and Jane Drew.
+
Among the newer drama ofgani-
cations of the Metropolitan area,
now in it's second year, the Airing
ton (VaD Little Theater Group will
stage Wilfrid Pettitt's mystery
drama. Nine Girls" Monday and
Tuesday evenings at the Claude
Swanson Junior High School. How
ard Wentworth, who has been ac-
tive in dramatic sort of way for
10 years or more in the District
and nearby Virginia, is president OF
the Arlington group.
The cast of Nine Girls" includes
Helen Murray, Constance Schwelger
and Jennie Lee Schweiger. of Cross
roads Theater productions last
summer; Sue Fullilove, of both
Catholic University and George
Washington University plays; En-
sign Rebecca Clarke and Jane APP
pleby, of Wisconsin and Georgia,
respectively, and Betty Carter
Elizabeth Dinges and Marie Man
ming. Of college dramatics in Vir-
ginia.
See. Select plays like that and
there is no casting worry, no matter
how long the manpower shortage
continues. Furthermore, perhaps on
the theory that no mere man could
tell nine women what to do-and
get away with 1.-THE director of
Nine Girls" is June Stoll.
X y
Another local drama project un-
der way at the moment Is the pres
entation, during this season, it is
hoped, of series Of three short
plays-with- music. written by George
Harold Miller 'in an effort to re-
vive some memories of our own his