One could hardly say too much for the beauty of the presentation. But that was to he expected for Mr. Browne, poet and dramatic artist that he is, is perhaps the only manager who could work out with complete delicacy the pictorial and theatrical subtleties of the theme. Already those of us who love the poetic drama are deeply in his debt. Who that has seen The Trojan Women or Medea at the Chicago Little Theatre has failed of conviction that the Greek drama is available for the modern stage in a wider sense than the strictest academic rules might approve? And who can see Mrs. Browne as Medea without recognizing a great tragic actress—an actress, moreover, capable of amazing variety, as her impersonation of broad comedy parts—especially old women—proves.
I have left little space for praise of Overtones, the strangely imaginative one-act piece in which Miss Alice Gerstenberg proves her ability in poetic comedy as Mr. Head in poetic tragedy. Not that this play is in verse, if that makes any difference! As I saw it given, with the author in the cast, by the Lake Forest Players, I paid once more to perfect art the tribute of spiritual exaltation—for the Primitive Selves of those two much-mannered women seemed really supernatural—shadows endowed with flesh, embodied desires.
Twice in one month the poetic drama—alive modern and magical—by Chicago playwrights, on little Chicago stages! Let us have more, and let us not be afraid to salute the miracle when it comes! H. M.
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