DRAMA AT CRYSTAL.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 925, 21 November 1933, Page 3

DRAMA AT CRYSTAL.

“ Gabriel Over the White House” is Well Acted.

A most unusual theme is cleverly exploited in • Gabriel Over the White House,” the drama which heads the excellent programme at the Crystal Palace Theatre this week. There is some splendid acting in the picture, mainly by Walter lluston, and some impressive settings, but the most memorable fact about the production is that it gives the audience something to think about—not that it is a problem play in the accepted sense of the term. “ Gabriel Over the White House ” deals with the social problems of the United States, which are the problems of the world in general, and it is intended to expose the hopeless futility of modern government to deal at all adequately with really important questions. The story opens with the inauguration of Judd Hammond as President of the United States. Hammond is rather more than usually futile and refuses to pay attention to the appeals of the distressed. A motor accident to the President results in a form of concussion. Recovery from the ac-c-ident finds a new man emerging from the old. The new man is a startling contrast to the indecision and casual ness of the old. Loyalty to the people is placed before loyalty to party and President Hammond sets out to "clean up” the United States. The acting of Walter Huston is superb. The contrast between his character as the weak puppet of a party and the farsighted idealist whose life is for the service of humanity, is finely drawn. The chief character is well supported by Karen Morley, whose sympathetic and dramatic portrayal of the part, of Pendola Mollo.v is not one of the least successful features of the picture. The supporting programme is strong.