Evening star., 1950-08-27

Faith of Our
Continued From First Page)
N. c., are sustained by tourists.
Showmen stress the fact that
Faith of Our Fathers" built to
order for the gigantic 78-foot
stage, had it's birth right there
in Rock Greek Park, before Presi-
dent Truman and his family, dig
nitaries and critics.
1t wasn't particularly brilliant
performance, either. as every one
from Mr.. Green to the most anon
ymous extra agreed. But neither
are most productions, particularly
of the magnitude of this one, on
opening night.
The difference is that Broadway
plays get their "shakedowns" Of
three weeks or so at some spot
not remotely related to Broadway
Faith of Our Fathers" has been
undergoing surgery from the first
night. They've been operating
nightly on some of the defects.
cutting 35 minutes from the
length, bringing some Of the 18
scenes into sharper focus, clari-
flying other misty sequences.
Answering Critics Gradually.
Gradually, the producers be-
lieve, they are molding something
in the stature of George Washing
ton, which will exalt him and in
spire the audience.
Gradually, they hope they are
answering the sharpest criticisms
that the show is neither fish
nor fowl, neither drama nor pag-
cant; that it makes George Wash
lington not so much human as
hag-waving, speech-making figure
moving through time; that there
is the need for the warm. roman
tic, story-book touch that has
made Mr.. Green's other efforts
smash hits.
1t is, indeed, Mr. Green's Lost
Colony" playing its 10th season
on Roanoke Island, and his "The
Common Glory" the Williams
burg success, that give Sesqui
people so much confidence in the
future of their third part of the
trilogy.
Mr.. Green's friends recall how
neither of the other symphonic
dramas packed them in the first
year. They had many lean days,
when the casts outnumbered the
audience, and it was onlys by
painstaking work that they be-
came nationally known. drawing
audiences of $500.
With the conscience of a man
who fervidly lives his patriotism,
Mr.. Green rewrote lines and whole
scenes, just as he has been doing
here on a minor scale. and which
he will do wholesale this winter.
Even before Mr.. Green began
his rejigging and William Voren-
berg began applying more vigor-
ously the directors needle, most
of the comment on Faith of Our
Fathers" was favorable.
Improvement Noted.
Now that the refurbishing has
been going on three weeks, those
who have seen a second perform
ance find it vastly improved. One
of the first-night criticisms, that
the sound was bad, is heard no
more. The acting generally has
improved, and the entire show
moves with more graceful tempo,
these critics say.
Many people still wonder where
the plot is, though 1t is evident
Mr.. Green did not construct one
as he did for his other dramas.
Some take exception with the
fidelity with which Hamilton,
Jefferson and Washington are
characterized in relationship to
one another.
There are other criticisms, but
all seem to conclude that Mr..
Green still has to supply that
touch. with the help of more ar
ticulate acting, which will give
the audience an emotional tug now
lacking.
Criticism. in fact, has run the
scale of tastes and moods. The
Sesquicentennial commission was
pleased with so or more letters,
all commenting favorably. and
many from high Government off,
cials who attended the premiere
performance.
One of these read like this:
II cannot restrain the impulse
to write this letter to congratulate
you on the success of the premiere
of Faith of Our Fathers" It was
a fine performance. The pageant,
with all its color and' movement,
music and ballet, went forward
with sprightliness from it's i'm
pressive beginning to its grand
finale"
On the other side of the ledger,
this comment from a young man:
"In it's attempt to be art, Faith
of Our Fathers in no way reflects
the age it would depict except for
the bones of historical narrative.