Judge — November 17, 1928 — page 33: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Judging the Shows (Continued from page 18) As a stunt, “Jealousy” is worth your full attention; as a theatrical | evening, it is worth about half of it. Miss Fay Bainter, gen- erally a mediocre actress, gives an excellent performance of the réle | of the wife who drives her hus- | band to murder. John Halliday, in the réle of the latter, is ex- ceptionally bad. WHAT is called special plead- ing is another thing that | smouches interest from a play, even when it is otherwise good. Here again I am prepared as a | critic to offer proofs to convince myself that there are occasions when special pleading isn't as damaging as I am writing it is. But her in I allow myself to f ess, that in general it goes to make for a dull theatre session, Indignation always has a humorously objectionable air to it, and two and a half hours of indignation are likely to swing one’s sympathies over to the other side and cause the play contain- ing it to go flat. This happens to e the e with “Gods of the Lightning.” The exhibit is a journalistic transcription of the celebrated Sacco-Vanzetti rumpus, with the Messrs. S. and V. anointed as saints and their opponents set down as vile knaves and rascals. No intelligent man doubts that | the two wops got a rank, dirty deal, but no intelligent dramatic critic at the same time doubt that a play that does nothing save emphasize that rank, dirty deal literally, and at the top of its lungs, is obvious propaganda much more than it is persuasive “Gods of the Lightnin, \ is a play that Bricux would have enjoyed hugely and that Rostand would have walked out on in the middle of the second act. Charles Bickford and Sylvia Sidney give able performances. Some of the minor réles are also well handled, But the Russian Leo Bulgakov’s acting, articula- tion and pronunciations should be subjected to a skilful translator | and adaptor. EMOTIONAL THE LIFE OF A MOMENTS FLAPPER When he offers his hand and heart and banking account and you have no use for them . . . Offer him a MURAD. OP. Larittard Co., Fat, 1760 want ter kid a couple of pals.” in it for ‘arf an hour? I —Everynopy’s Wrekty 31