The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-27
AT THE THEATRES.
The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Meredith.

Patriotism was rampant throughout INC
four acts of the dramatized version OIL
Paul Leicester Ford's novel. Janice Mer-
edith" which was presented at the Ma
tional last night before an audience that
almost tested the seating capacity OF the
commodious theatre The audience saw
and heard great .deatl about Tories ana
the patriots General Washington and the
British commanders, and the stage was at
times filed with the brilliant coats OIL
one-t time foe and the stained blue and bun
of the revolutionists.
Resides all this patriotism, introduced
by clever playwrights for purely business
reasons the occasion served to present
new luminant in the theatrical armament
beautiful Mary Mannering, known here
tofore as the principal member of a Froh-
man company. Last night, however, sne
appeared at the head of her own organiza-
lion and scored hit Of no mean proper
tons. Handicapped by vehicle OF not
much real worth-although it may be q
box-office winner-Miss Mannering's sue
cess was in the nature Of a triumph. There
is no denying her merits as decided &C
QUESTION to the list of native women stars
and she easily ranks among the very fore
most of her contemporaries. She pos
sesses every attribute of the successful
actress-a really wondrous beauty, she
! gives to her work much grace, refinement,
and distinction, while her elocution is re-
markable in these days of careless stage
readers. And some day she may secure
worthy play.
| Mr.. Ford, the author OF the book, and
| Edward E. Rose, who assisted in the
| dramatization, may felicitate themselves
They have evidently endeavored to make
Janice Meredith" play that will please
hay lodi n
this effort The audience last night was
| highly enthusiastic at times, but from
critical point of view the play proved to
be cheap and homogeneous affair. During
| the Washington engagement the National
will hardly hold the people who will de-
| eide that Janice Meredith" is great
play and will pay their money for the
privilege Of verifying their opinion. And
for what better evidence Of popular sue
cess can anyone ask? The critic will OBJ
ject to the bald theatricalism of the whole
thing. the absence Of literary merit, the
paucity of constructive art, and the nebu-
lous character drawing; but notwithstand-
ing these comments Of the captious few,
the fact that the theatre is filled with an
eager, expectant, excited, and decidedly
enthusiastic assemblage should silence the
iconoclastically inclined.
Those who have read the novel will
| want to go to the theatre to see how the
Janice whose acquaintance they have
formed in the book looks on the stage
They will find she is not the same young
woman at all. Neither is the Charles
Fownes of the story book the same fellow
one sees behind the footlights. The rub
lie, however. will pay its money and make
its own choice. The stage Janice Is 9
most winsome, innocent coIuette ant
sweet and woman1y withal and, in fact
quite an improvement over the capriciou'
heroine of the Ford tale. Fownes, OF
the contrary, has suffered by the trans
terrence from the bound volume to the
stage. In the play he is too manife5tll
the triple plated hero SO common to tn,
average melodrama, and, knowing that h
is a hero he does his best to live up t.
the reputation. His heroism i so stage!
and is so persistently put forward that j
threatens at times to obscure some OF tn
wonderful accomplishments OF the star
ring Janice.
Each of the four acts may be said t.
be good in point of popular favor, but /
is the thru that claims the -rnerlativ
honor. Janice is prisoner ia re Land
Of the English, and her lover. Breretol
formerly Fownes), is brought in and OF
dered to be instantly shot. Janice. by
, clever ruse, manages to get message L
General Washington's messenger, who /
in hiding outside, the window. and Jus
as the guns are at .Brereton's head WASH
ington and his men, having crossed tn
Delaware. dash in and a fight ensne
which is bloody enough to satisfy the mos
bloodthrsty of the gallery occupants.
Robert Drouet's Fownes Is acted wit
a good deal of skill and appropriate spiri,
but at times shows a tendency to stagi
ness and exaggeration. splendid char
acter study is the Hennion OF Burr Nc
5 Intosh One OF the substantial hits OF tn
J. performance is made by A. 5. Lipman, L
whom is assigned the role Of Lord Cloves
Ii is an artistically conceived creation
: and is one of the really enjoyable con
;. tributions to the offering. George Backl
has the part OF the young British ofncei
Mobray. and while it is an unimportan
bit. II is made to assume not little Prom
inence by reason of Mr.. Backus' goo
, work. Helen Tracey's picture OF matro
of the period is admirably drawn Excel
lent also are Amy Richard, Vivian Der
: nard. Martin ]. Cody. Carl Abrend
: charles H. Collins, Aubrey Beattie, OF
There will be a special Janice Mere
! dith" matinee on Thanksgiving Day.
i Columbin-"Thc Monks of Malnbar.
e There is u typical Wilsonesque opera
: the Columbia this week, and those wh
. have long cherished an admiration FOR In
q comedian who thus impresses the must
of Ludwig Highlander and the story oil J
:. Cheeyer Goodwin with his own person
: atty will be vastly pleased by the per