‘WELCOME STRANGER’

Evening Star, Issue 17764, 12 September 1921, Page 7

‘WELCOME STRANGER’

JOHN D. O’HARA AND JULES JORDAN IN THE LEAD. Shvlock’s query as to whether the Jew was "not very like the Christian in the matter of features and feelings is the motive of tho comedy ' Welcome Stranger,’ tho first piece in the repertory of the Williamson Company to commence a season at His Majesty’s on Thursday nest. This play is uncommon from the fact that tho hero' is a Jew, played by an unmistakable Jew. There is. however, nothing of the Shylock about this son of Abraham. “ Isi” "Solomon, tho hero of ‘Welcome Stranger,” is the very embodiment of most of the Christian virtues, and ho even takes to the study of Christian Science. When the playwright wants to make a sentimental, pretty - comedy with mors than a touch of pathos in it he jloes it oughly. The result in ‘Mel/mio Stranger is one of those pleasant, semi-pathetic plays which will always keep tho audiL'iCv pleasantly swaying between laughter and tears to the happy end. _ Tho scene of the story is an obscure village where there is a dislike for the Jew stronger than '.he traditional dislike of that individual for the flesh of swine. Solomon blows in to tho one hotWaiu the village on chilly New Year's Eve, and his reception is chillier than the snowstorm outside. Ills first act is Jo go into partnership with the unappreciated village crvnii i, who has a dream of harncssm,.; tin village falls and transforming the place with hydro-electricity; his second is to befriend a doubtful runaway girl, who proves a trump. These two incidents arc the pointers to a career of conquest.

As the Jew Mr Jules Jordan is naturally life-like; but be is move, for he brings talent to his task and gives a cleverly-worked-out rendering of the character drawn by the author—a very likablo person—ns the hero of a sentimental play. Mr John D. O’Hara has a smaller part on this occasion, as the old fellow with electricity on the brain, and plays as he always does, in a perfectly natural manner. The rest of this even company fills the subsidiary parts most capably. The second production will bo ' Three Wise Fools,’ which has had a phenomenal run in America, England, and Australia. John D. O’Hara takes the leading role of the old banker. The box plan opens at The Bristol to-morrow morning for the season of five nights.