The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-26
wing that he could act the chivairous

believing that he could act the chivairous
part of Raoul D'Artagnan.
This statement is not intended to reflect
upon the player himself, but only upon his
limitations Of talent. There is no gain
saying the fact that Mr.. SotherR tried harl
for success in his Characterization any
more than there is denying that he proved
much too small for the role. Apart from
its apparent simplicity OF theme. untold
dash and FIRE and color are required for
the portrayal to which Mr.. Sothern could
give only noise and rounded sentences AMI
graceful motions. Neither shading nor
moderation existed in his conception.
which was more considered for its effect
than for the causes involved Paul Gil
more was quite as able a D'Artagnan. and
those who saw him must understand that
some years will have elapsed before his
effort will be remembered with anything
more kindly than pity.
Truth is that Mr.. Sothern is a matinee
girls idol and nothing more. In common
with John Drew and even with James X
Hackett. he can make well phras d
speeches sound musical. can wear patches
and powdered wigs gracefully and can
tread up and down the boards in a manner
that would drive Old Sleuth OF Laura Jean
Libbey to Crabb's English SYNONYMS for
descriptive ad1ectives- In Captain Letter
II.
sweet for anything" in The Prisoner of
Zenda" he became great" in AN Enemy
10 the King he was "a darling and "Tha
Adventure OF Lady Ursula brought down
scores OF other opinions and sent up hun
dreds of confectioners' and dentists bills.
But Mr.. Sothern in Straight" part-one
in which acting and good acting is needed
is rather at 4 loss. And this fact be-
comes more than usually evident in THE
X
week great deal more production than
star. Nr. Sothern should have realized
,his and thought twice before going ANUS
keteering.
The kind of fame that a prog ANNE
printer makes generally thrusts its pos
SCISSOR more into ridicule than into m m
DRY. and this was deplorab!y the case with
woman who was billed as DE Rosett
the Cuban Heroine last week with .aThs
Gay Masqueraders." This is an age in
which anyone who ever fired kitchen
range or drew a sword in a rattle can drapa
himseif-or herself-in the lone star a.d
a look pleasant. please" smile with ex-
cellent results. but even in the face OF so
apparent fact it is difficult to conceive
how this parsonage became Cuban or any
other kind of a heroine. Many peope VITO
noted the gun exercises with VIII. CHI d.
offered thought they could account for her
assumption of bravery and some of thsse
wondered If marital relations with the di-
rector could not explain her title. But
then the temerity to wed ones man
ager did not make Cuban heroine OF
either party up to last year, and there
seems no reason for believing that styles
nave changed since that time This three
cheers-for-t he-red-white- and-b u 'wha s.
he 1lf tar Kt-ff n
applause business is about worn thread
bare, and the idea of exploiting a Nor
gun-twirler as a modern Joan dare ap-
proaches what the street boy would csl
de limit" If the expectation OF Cuban
heroines continues Baxter Street will be
deserted.
And speaking of mixed nationalities,
about the most polyglotie portrayal that
mas been seen here in many moons and
few suns was that of Wun-Hi contributed
to The Geisha' by Charles Dandy. This
comedian will be remembered as the man
who preceded Walter jones as Dan Days
assistant in THE Lady Slavey" He was
London deputy in that piece and his few
Jumbled his were in place if out of posi-
ton But Chinese Jap with a Cockney
dialect is puzzle that could not be f.
nitely located by an English conzu,-and
anything that the average English consul
cannot claim as a British subject is in
deed in bad fix. The role of Wun- Hi has
never been considered a fat" one, and
Mr. Dandy got SO little out OF it that the
spectator was inclined to wondar why il
was ever written. Six laughs rewarded
the entertainers constant endeayors. and
hve OF these were secured by using that
most mirth- provoking OF all words
damn" So it can be seen that Mr. Dam
by's representation was no more humor-
Gus than consistent.
Considering the difference in their class
es of work. it is rather remarkable that
Annie Russell should make one think so
continually of Maude Adams The points
OF likeness are probably in mutual fidelity
TO nature-strong reserve and certain re-
hnement of suggestion that is striking in
the labors of both. Miss Russell is one of
the few players off Of the variety stage to
whom even press agent feels no shame
in afiXing the title of artistic" Her por-
trayals are so admirably thought out. her
meanings SO clearly eouched in a look or
a word. her methods so distinct and vet
so hidden that she fairly compels adnira-
tion- Risking an approach to monotonoy
she preserves her quiet through the most
mandatory of her scenes, prefering to ex-
press her ideas and those of her part BIZ
the must delicate ana graceful lntonatiOnS
or with the most usual and slight gestures.
This plan OF action was clearly demon
strated in her first bit with the Duke in
Catherine, the dialogue in which that
nobleman begged Mile. WALTON to be seated
and remain awhile with him. Here BASH
full glance. a hesitating step or two. and
half whispered word emphasized all the
sentiments that were necessary: the girls
elegance of nature-if one may use such
a term-her love of music her pride al
her accomplishment. her delight at the
gentleman's courtesy, and her pleasure in
accepting it. And yet this same woman
ran the gamut of the emotions two acts
later and rose TO an unexpected height in
her speech to the adventures who had
tried TO rob her of her husband-"You may
be his mistress for as long as you like, l
give him to youi"
Altogether Miss Russell is unapproacha-
ble-an artist of fine discernment and
true intelligence. She has done great
things in the past and great things may
be expected of her in the future.
CHATS WITH THE PLAYERS.