Poldekin

The story concerns a Russian soldier brought to New York City to produce Bolshevik propaganda, who strays from his mission.He confounds his colleagues proposals by pointing out the inherent difficulties, and thwarts any suggestion that Maria carry out her task to assassinate an official.Poldekin realizes he has embraced the idea of America in preference to Bolshivik theory; as he does so, the act ends with a Decoration Day parade, only the flags of which are glimpsed over the top of the tenement fence as they go by to stirring music.In the original ending of the play, Poldekin dies at this point, with Blanche afterward placing a small American flag on his chest.They cited the humor in "Poldekin's method of showing the absurdity of Bolshevik reasoning by pushing its principles to their logical conclusion".[6] The production next played a few days at Parsons' Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut,[7] where again the local critic reported audience dismay at the ending and suggested that it might be changed.[10] Another Springfield newspaper critic went even further, opening their review: "Just why Booth Tarkington should becloud his latest play, Poldekin, ...with a tactless and blundering death denouement is a mystery".[13] Thereafter the production played smoothly to decent reviews in Detroit,[14] Philadelphia,[15] and Cleveland[4] before the inevitable summer shutdown, when Arliss would return to England.The critic for The Brooklyn Daily Eagle had a mixed opinion: in the hands of Arliss, Poldekin was as delightful as any Shakespearean fool, but the play itself was Tarkington at his weakest.[19] The Brooklyn Daily Times reviewer concurred: the play was weak and provoked little response from the audience, but Arliss as Poldekin was amusing.They also praised Julia Dean, E. G. Robinson, Mannert Kippen, and Sidney Toler, but thought Elsie Mackay "was lost" as Maria.[5] Due to a shortage of available theaters, George C. Tyler's production of Bab with Helen Hayes had been delayed, so he decided to replace the underperforming Poldekin at the Park Theatre.
George ArlissBooth TarkingtonPark TheatreBolshevismRed GuardBowerycharity girlDecoration DayKlaw and ErlangerHeywood BrounCollingwood TheatrePoughkeepsie, New YorkHartford, ConnecticutCourt SquareSpringfield, MassachusettsJean RobertsonFord's TheatreElsie MackayE. G. RobinsonNorma MitchellJulia DeanSidney TolerWilkes-Barre, PennsylvaniaThe Brooklyn Daily EagleThe Brooklyn Daily TimesHelen HayesNewspapers.comNYTimes.comMonsieur BeaucaireSeventeenAlice AdamsGentle JuliaPenrodPenrod and SamPenrod JashberThe TurmoilThe Magnificent AmbersonsThe Man from HomeThe Country CousinClarenceThe WrenThe Intimate StrangersRose BriarMonte CarloThe Conquest of CanaanBoy of MineCameo KirbyThe Fighting CowardFather's SonBad SisterBusiness and PleasureMississippiPresenting Lily MarsNewton BoothFreedom of Speech