The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-20
AT THE THEATRES.
decentralization Fric,chie."


As the programme announces, and as
most OF the audience understood before ar
irving at the theatre, Barbara Frietchie"
is not intended to be in any sense a his
toTica. play. The author has used the
name OF Barbara, and one incident assO-
ciated with it, for the sake of dramatic eff
feet For the rest, the play is simply
reproduction of characteristic Maryland
life during the civil war and the cos
tunes incidents. and general atmosphere
are thoroughly in keeping with this idea.
The series of pictures which it presents
would be delightful even without the ac-
ton which links them together.
The action, however is absolutely reai-
istic, which is more than can be said of
most war plays. The first scene, in VIII
the young men and maidens OF Frederick
are found enjoying a little mild fiji tati0n
on a moonlit porch, is one of the most eX-
quisite bits of realism ever put On the
stage. and when the comedy is tinged with
a deeper and more serious interest, on the
appearance of Barbaras lover, Captain
Trumbull. of the Union Army, there is still
not the shadow of anything strained or UNI
real In fact. it is all so very natural that
it gives the beholder the sensation of bang
himself seated on a doorstep and watching
the doings of his neighb0rs.
Although the play has a tragic eEd.nS.
the atmosphere is less tragic than pathetic,
and its sadness is so lightened with spon
taneous and apparently casual bits of
humor that it is anything but gloomy in
its general effect. In the second act this
mingling of pathos and humor is most pro-
nounced. for it is in this that Barbara and
her lover meet at the house OF the Hage-s-
town minister with the intention of be g
married. Before the minister arrives,
however, Captain Trumbuli is perempto;i
ly summoned to duty, and subsequently
Confederate sharpshoCters are stationed in
the house. Seeing one CT them take aim
at her lover. Barbara, in desperation,
shoots him, disabling his rifle arm. In the
following scene. which takes place in the
Frietchie house. the tragedy deepeEs. as
Trumbull is brought TO the housc, mortally
wounded, and Jack Negley. crazy lover
OF Barbara's. attempts TO kill him, and is
prevented by Barbara. This incident
which might easily become melodramatic.
is, by the quiet and artistic work of the
players made one of the most telling In
the piece. In the last act Trumbul es,
and Barbara, while displaying the Union
flag from the portico of her home, is shot
by her crazed lover, and SO the scene eLd=.
Few of the roles which Miss Mariowe has
played in the past have suited her powers
more thoroughly tnan this. The sugges-
ton of the balcony scene in Romeo and
Juliet" which makes enc of the charl ing
elements of the first act was a happy re-
minder of her juliet: and while the char
acter of Barbara is winsome and tender
rather than strong. there are opportunities
for powerful emotional work here and
there, not one of which is lost.
The company as whole is good Norah
Lamison. as Barbara s bosom friend played
her part smoothly and successfully. as
usual, and Katharine Wilson made the
most of the somewhat limited role of Sally
Negley. A decided acquisition to the com
rany is Alice Leigh, whose abilities as a
character actress are well known, and who
plays Nanny Lu the old negress, in a way
which is restful delight to the eye and
to the mind. Her representation is quiet,
realistic, and never by any chance over
wrought. J. H. Gilmour is a fairly salts
factory Captain Trumbull, and did some
OF his best work in the trying third act
Arnold DAILY. as Jack -Negley. was also
at his best in the emotional crises. and
Lionel Adams was excellent as Arthur
Frietchie. Less acceptable was the work of
George Woodward Barbara's father. In
every Southern play it seems inevitable
that at least one or two actors should mar
tie general harmony CT things, and Mr..
Woodward is in this case unfortunate
enough TO be one of them. The character
of this fine old Southern gentleman should
be one of the strongest in the piece, but in
Mr.. Woodwards hands it is anything nut
convincing. c. F. Gibney. in the less di.n-
cult part of Colonel Negley. is open to the
same criticism. While very good in the
serio-coniic first act. he does not rise to the
demands Of TIE character in the later
scenes D0dson Mitchell and Becton Rad
ford played the two Yankee soldiers ex-
ceedingly well, and the minor parts were
aeceptably filled.
In staging a play Of this sort too much
attention cannot be given TO the details OF
scenery and costume. and few of these
minutiae have been overlooked. One is
tempted to wonder whether. in SO. young
Southern gentlemen wore their hats while
talking TO ladies, and if these hats were
suspiciously modern looking straw sailors:
but that is a small affair. The scenery as
whole IS an artistic MASTERPIECE, and
nothing prettier has recently been seen on
the stage. 1t may be said in conclusion
that there was very nearly enough playing
of Dixie" to satisfy even a Washington
audience. and that the house was packed
TO the doors The audience paid the play
the unusual compliment of remaining
seated, apparently speilbound by the beauty
and Dathos of the closing act. until the
curtain was fairly down.