The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-04
AT THE THEATRES.
Nation.L"way Down East,

National-"way Down East"
Redo!ent with heart interest, replete
with clean. wholesome comedy, and pre-
scented with natural and splendid scenic
investiture, Way Down East" which
greeted it's many friends at the New Ma
tional last evening. may justly be &C
credited the first rank in the list OF pastoral
plays. Excellent as was its presentation
upon previous visits to the National Capt.
tal this seasons is still more elaborate
and true to life. Way Down East full
fills the great essential OF perfect play
one wishes to see 1t again and again. ami
with each reseeing and reheariDg. finds
new beauties and more poetry Of Ian
guage. thought. and action.
The year that has elapsed since its last
Washington presentation has seen the de-
velopment Of new class Of theatregoers.
and, too, many persons who properly
eschew the ordinary clap-trap OF comedy
and romantic drama will find In this beau-
tiful pastoral play a sermon equal to that
Of the greatest diyine-the lesson of hui
man charity and forgiveness mingled with
the old heart story Of love despite differ
ence OF rank. Numbered in the audience
OF last evening were fully two-score OF
local clergymen. of all denominations and
creeds. Nor was their appreciation less
sincere. their laughter less forced. or their
tears less human than those of the habitual
theatregoer, who finds in the simple love
story of Anna Moore and David Bartlett
that essential Of enjoyment for which he
has so often yainly sought in more pre-
tentious offerings. This Is the secret OF
the success of the Parker-Grismer drama:
it appeals to all classes: the studious and
the frivolous: the old and the young; the
sentimental and the cynical. with equal
power and effect. 1t is undoubtedly the
greatest of recent pastoral dramas. and the
grandchildren of the present generation OF
theatregoers will find in it the same beau
ties which are discovered today.
Another notable difference In the drama
under consideration. and others Of its ilk.
is in the company presenting it. Seldom
has a better ensemble been seen locally
than that presenting Way Down East"
From the smallest to the largest. the parts
are filed with people Who as far as ap-
pearances go. might have been transported
bodily from the New England woods with
the atmosphere of the frs and pines and
hemocks clinging TO their queefiy fash
Toned garments. From Hi Holler the chore
boy. to Mrs. Bartlett. the very human
mother. the actors are the personiication
OF naturalness. II exaggeration exists. it
is the result of an attempt to get away
from the mechanical-the inevitable Sc
quence of playing these same parts as
many as 1900 times.
II is little difficult to find beginning
i'll taking up the enumeration OF the cast
employed in the Interpretation of Way
Down East Phoebe Davis. whom many
critics have likened to Mrs. Fiske be-
cause OF her care in detail. still assumes
t1.1 n. 4.
an air of repc5e and authority seldom no.
ticed in member of her sex Miss Da-
Wis narrowly approaches greatness. IT, in
deed. she does not reach it, in the part of
Anna. She possesses starring material
fit for popular test in the near future.
Odeli Williams. alike at home in comedy
or drama is the Squire Bartlett, and
plays the part with wonted fire and in
telligence. Hi Holler, as seen in the
pudgy figure of Felix Haney. is such a
boy as every farm has known. and his
contribution to the comedy CT the evening
is no small factor in the success Of the
play. Ella Hugh Wood. spit curls, snow
white hosiery. muf, and reticule, is
picture as from a gallery in the role OF
Martha. the gossip. and J. II. Bunney,
in similar character role. Is almost
equally good. Mrs. Stevens is a country
mother to the life. while Frank Bell. al
belt little exaggerated in tine oharac err
of the village constable. is mirth-pro-
voking and pleasing at all times. Uric
b. Collins, following Forrest Robinson as
David Bartlett is at a great disadvan-
tage, but gives n frank. open and manly
study of the country boy with rare in
telligence. He has future worth watch
ing. Mabel Strickland is n good deal in
clined to be contortionistic in the part of
Kate. and in comparison with Louise CAL
loway and Pearl Evelyn seems light, ar
tistically. while Frank Currier and Will
Ellwanger are similarly disadvantaged by
contrast with the originators of their
roles. There will be the usual matinees