Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-01

fact that at three of the theaters there
were plays which were beyond the ordi-
nary theatrical ventures. First aAd fore
most was Tess of the D'Urbervilles,' in
terpreted by Mrs. Fiske and her excellent
company in the most mastery and arts
tic manner. 1t is great play and master
fully played. Then there was Mr.. Gillette
and his new play, Secret Service" the
best effort of the actor-author. full of
heart interest and thrilling situations, and
adapted to popular taste. Fanny Daven-
port, too has been a strong attraction.
presenting a repertoire of Sardou plays in
a manner such only she can give. Sure
ly every craving for dramatic amusement
of the highest order ought to be satisfied.
The menu for next week is an excellent
one. including Mr.. Richard Mansfield in his
latest success. the Devils DISCIPLE Mr..
VIM. II. Crane in his new play. "A Nir-
ginia Courtshp,'' which has leaped at once
into popular favor. and the farcical success
of last year, My Friend from India
The career of Richard Mansfield has been
in many respects exceptional. He has re-
fused to follow the beaten track. Where
1t suited him to do so he has branched off
on new lines. and in SO doing he has effect
ed much for the American drama. His
productions. for example, are always
marked by a peculiarly skillful use of
lights and shadows. The red light which
floods the throne room in Richard III as
the guilty king is left alone in the great
chair of state, the uncouth shadow which
mocks Srotesqucly on the opposite wall as
Mr.. Hyde mixes his potion beside the dy-
ing fire. the way in which the eerie face
and long white fingers of that grewsome
being are made to catch the light, while
the rest of his body turks in the darkness.
the twilight in the room where Beau Brum-
mel lies dying. will all be remembered by
people who have seen those plays. And
yet ManSfield'S art does not depend on the
skill of the stage carpenter and the cleo
trician. He uses these men as tools. 1t is
his personality which impressss and DOM
mates the audience, and his power an
artist lies not in a happy choice of robes.
nor in defamation and gesture, but in the
creation of character. In every play in
which he has ever appeared he has created
his own role. Often the part was one
which would have been almost insignifi-
cant. and certainly ineffective, in the hands
of any other man. Mansfield saw its posi-
EilitieS and knew the possibilities Of his own
nature. and while few people would at
tempt to add anything to his Beau Rrum-
mel or Prince Karl. nobody can say just
where the possibilities of Mansfield are
likely to end. Every part ne creates is diff
ferent from every other part.
The role of Dick Dudgeon. the Devils
Disciple. is one Of in some respects, the
nest corgenial that this subtle and power
iUi has ever IOunu- MOSl men pay
a william in such a way that you do rot
sympathize with the villain at all. and. in
fact, he hardly seems to be n man. Mans
fields art is different. Under the influ-
ence of his mind the audience sees the
villain as he is. discovers the secret
springs of his villainy. finds him almost
admirable almost pitiable, feels its kim
ship with him despite his wickedneS<. it
takes genius to do that sort of thing. But
the scapegrace Dick of this drama is
not villain exactly, though ne is con-
sidered so by some OF the other charac-
tors. In the pale gray Puritan days of
old New England anything that had any
color in il was apt to appear black. and so
1t was with Dick. He is a lad with an
acute ard brilliant intellect and a Puritan
bringing up, and his reaction against the
prevailing temper of the time is somewhat
violent. In sort of satirical defiance he
proclaims himself as the Devils Disciple.
and Swaggers, swearS and SCOTS in n way
that causes him to be regarded with holy
horror by the people of the village.
CHANGING to be mistaken by the sergeant
of a British detachment for one Anthony
Anderson, a minister. and taken prisoner
as Il rebel, he allows the mistake to go I'M
corrected. in spite of the entreaties of the
minister's beautiful young wife, Judith,
who is won over, against her Puritan will
by the generosity of this man, who was
been abused as sinner AT the last mo-
ment his life is saved by the minister, who
appears under the protection of safe con-
duct from the British general, and with the
Inconsistency which, according to novelists
and playrights, is woman's most prominent
Characteristic, Judith turns to her huS-
band. repentant and pleading for forgive
ness. Dick, with little waif cousin to
whom he has shown a chivalrous tender
ness throughout the play, returns to his
fathers house. and the play is over.
The author. Bernard Shaw, the brilliant
critic of the London Saturday Review,
tried his hand once before on a play for
Mr.. Mansfield. but Arms and the Man"
to
succeed. The DEVILS Disciple" on the
contrary, is original without being eccen-
tric, its situations are strong without be-
ing forced, and the whole action is natu-
raj. and therefore truly dramatic. The
simplicity of the conception is one of its
strong points, ard the character of Dick.
while in some respects complex. and giving
full scope for the fine satirical powers Of
the author and the subtle characterize ion
of the actor. is one which would be the in
evitable result under the given circum-
stances. Dick is winsone and lovablc
fellow. and his vices, like beauty are
Only skin deep, while his virtues are shown
with an Inconsistencies and lack of af-
feCtation which is rather refreshing in
these days of virtuous poseurs on and off
the stage.
And one man in MS time plays many
parts" remarked William II. Crane the
other day. DO you know ! think Shake
speare must have been thinking of his
truism, when in all likelihood he had the
same experience that nearly every actor
has gone through that ever served an ap-
prentice ship in a provincial stock company
IN the so-called palmy days of the drama
When / attempt to recall the number of
parts j have played ii seems incredible,
and. mind you. most Of these played during
the first three of four years CT my dra-
matte career. ] think i can venture 10
assert that / have played more parts i'm
che night than has any other actor since,
and without a change of costume. The oc-
casiOn was when Macbeth was put on by
the company l was with. / was one Of the
utility men, AMI was cast for one of the
officers, and for the apparition in the cal
dron OF incantatioE scene. This latter de-
named only that l appear through the
trap above the caldron, so that, as / was
eager to get off to see some other play at
another theater, / was dressed for the
street, merely pulling on long white robe
over my own garments. But as fate would
have II, the super captain had neglected TO
engage me TO make the other eight appari-
tions who appear to Macbeth at short in
tervals through a large opening in the
stage. In the stage managers dilemma
was hurrledly pressed into service for the
eight apparit,ons- Now, the business OF
the play required that the apparitions
should each stalk very stiffly across the
stage. The first entrance was all right
but in order to get back for the second ap-
IL