The times., 1899-11-18
THINGS THEATRICAL.
NationaI-"IsI Gran GnIeoto., :,

Don Julian ..............-.-...... Arthur Forrest
Don Severe .--.....--.-... r. Augustus Anderson
Christina ................-. Florence Kahn
MefceJPS Observation-Disclosures Ina Hammer
Ernest OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. John Blair
PepitU U...........-.-....... j. Brandon Tynan
There are a thousand clever remarks
that might be made in speaking OF the PEI
formanCe of Jose Echegarays 'El Gran
Galeoto provided yesterday afternoon at
the National by John Blair and his ass0-
clates. The number OF spectators in at
tendance was very small; the presentation
was given as economically as was consist
ent with good taste. one or two people
who acted without appearing in the an
nouncements. were inefficient. All OF these
circumstances are Of a nature usually
seized upon for facetiOus comment and
small s1Bartness. Occasionally, when they
are apparent TO any degree. the brutality
Is warranted At this special matinee
they were enveloped with the excellence
Of a production so aTtistic-so astonishing
SO impressive that they were not noted
by the audience. The above preface is in
explanation 20 the captious who might eX-
pect a record OF them in this criticism.
Enthusiasm is an emotion so Tecklessly
and incousderately expressed by the many
that its outpouring is rendered ineloquent
for the few. Therefore, a conservative re-
view of "El Gran Galeoto" must be begun
win oh dBiItdl AtdA AAS 6UuAAt BE iG-h6
niZed in the reading. For John Blair and
John Blars company surprised their most
devoted admirers with individual and en-
semble work seen in Washington so rarely
that having identified il, one is put at a
loss for comparisons Every portion Of the
piece was gone through with intelligence
and discretion every line was uttered in a
fashion that proved thought, but did not
betray il, every gesture showed skill and
caution. Those of the slated organization
who were not masteriy-and they were the
miHOrity-weTe adequate. So much cannot
be said truthfuny of any other aggrega-
ton that has visited the Capital within
recent years
"El Gran Galeoto' affects not less b.
cause Of what it is than because Of what
il is not. That its strength is marvellous
and its theme magnificent and its episodes
unexpected hardly is all. Other plays have
been great Other great pays have failel
10 impress those among their audiences
who know Of theatrical articles and trick
cry. -El Gran Galeot0' is remarkable be
cause. in the main, il IS natural, and be-
cause, except occasionally. il lacks both
artificcs and tricks. The story of the man
ner in which Don Julian takes into lis
family the son of his benefaCtor, so tlat
his wife and he grow TO love the man; OF
the manner in which the sgspi-iOns and
calumnies of society bring first horror and
distrust and then hate to the three in
volved, Of the manner in which hate re-
suits in the smaller tragedy of death and
in the larger one Of the union of friend
and spouse-this Is not the principal essen
tiaI in the admirabiliry Of "El Gran
Galeoto." Neither are its ingenuity and
its comPactness principal essentials. One
might admire through them-One feels be
cause the piece lacks disagr5eable comedy
relief" aud tawdry devices for exciting
the emotions and all other forms of per
ceptibIe stagecraft. Ibscn alone ap-
proaches the realism OF this Madrid college
professor, of this Senor Echegaray.
John BlaiF's surprising performance Of
the aforementioned friend was anticipated
so confidently that perhaps its Importance
as an impeTsCnation is second TO the wife
OF Florence Rahn. This woman, practical
ly unknown in Washington, provided a
portrayal as yirile and intense as anything
yet seen here Her subtlety was remarka-
ble-her voice a gift. What others eX
pressed in asides that seemed q bit out Of
place in such a production she brought out
with a glance or a gasp. And her power
was astonishing. Largely through her ef-
forts the scene in which she confronted
her dying husband in the room OF her sup
posed lover evoked three curtain calls If
Mrs. Leslie Carter's one great Bit Of acting
could place her at the head Of her profes-
sfcn. no lesser reward should suffice Miss
Kahn who, in an hour and a half. made
her creation as distinct and clear as David
Belasco's prCtege did Zaza in over twice
that time
Mr. Blair's Ernest was. like his Orlando
and his ether notable works finished and
intellectual. i served as the key in which
the entire play was rendered p Augustus
Anderson who used 10 come to this city
with Tine Electrician, was the third
member Of a marvellous trio, his Don Sc
vero being the most characteristic Spanisrd
observed since Julia Arthur gave "Merce-
des" Arthur Forrest, last year the De
Guiche in "Cyrano de Bergerac," was re-
sponsibIe fer g single touch Of theatrical
ism in the second act but except for that
was perfect while ina Hammer and J.
Brandon lyman strove almost effectively
70 assume the tone maintained by their
associates
The presentation, in brief was such a one
that the critic can DO better than say 81
Jirical things Of the small audience gath
ered-he can remark that the few who com
posed that audience were the only folk
in Washington VINO did not miss a treat
One Of The cleyerest posters seen here in
a long while is being used TO herald the
coming Of Mile. Fif" next week at the
Columbia. The advertisement is a half
sheet bearing a hollow square OF the char
I acters exploited in this farce. In its cen
ne is pictured the parsonage who starts
rolling the plays ball Of comp1 p1caIions. She
is in fetching attitude and beneath her
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