Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-06

THE EVENING STAR
laughs ct hunger and remains kempt and
shaven. even In the face of eviction; an
anomalous creature who. IKE the sea SER
pent, IL described az haunting places re-
seldom II ever located by credible eye
witnesses. Miss Seawell has made him
frank, boyish, clean chap. Mr.. Young has
preserved this idea in the DEMONSTRATION,
and Mr.. Arbuckle realizes 1t thoroughly In
his performance on the stage. Possibly
Miss Seawell meant him to be handsome,
for In all other respects he Is the feminine
ideal of a story-book hero. On this score
Mr.. Arbuckle may be a slight disappoint-
ment, for he Is one Of the most wholesome.
Straightforward and conventional-looking
actors that ever lured a laugh across the
footlights. The utter absence Of affecta-
ton of any kind Is a negative merit which
gives additional force to the scenes in
which he is called upon for vigorous ex-
preston He is not only effective as
humorist. but he does good share of hon.
est acting In the play. He Is one OF the
most difficult of players to describe. His
success is due mainly to temperament.
The auditor likes him without knowing
caring why.
MIR. Arbuckle worked hard last night. He
had to. 1t was a hot pace.
What the play would or would not have
average merit. is a needless speculation.
The company was there, and in fine condi-
ton. Every responsible part was in the
hands of player who seemed to know
what the role demanded, down to the mod
ulation of a syllable, or the lifting of an
ey ebrow. Some of the comedy was a tr1e
reluctant and out Of tune with the refined
quality OF the play as whole. The glib
berish which the bookish young woman at
tributes to Plato is crude, unscholarly
and uncalled-for attack on the memory of
an able and well-meaning. though prolix
old gentleman The impacable girls from
the "Folies'' something-or other, who are
dragged into the inevitable restaurant scene
have the rfng-around-a-rosyh habit to a dis
tressing degree. and one of them INDUCES
In the culpable anachronsn OF kicking
gentleman's silk hat. As an evidence of
wild abandon, the kicking Of gentleman's
hat has come to be so perfunctory a ira
ditlon that 1t seems almost a solemn cere-
mcnial. When the story Is not interrupted
by these artificial attempts to put what
the wise men of the box office call ginger
into the piece, 1t moves easily and agreea-
bly,. The plot is not remarkab BILE for fntrin-
sic strength. Simplicity, quiet humor and
graphic delineations of odd characters are
what constitute the plays attraction. AS a
vehicle for Mr.. Arbuckle and the admirable
company with which he Is surrounded, it
Is thoroughly practical bit of writing
and 1t has the artistic dignity SO desirable
in getting a new star properly under way.
After the second act the curtain was
MANY tunes. Wnlle MT. ArDuCklG
bowed his Acknowledgements. The stage
marager, Claude Brooke, explained that the
dramatist was in New York and expressed
thanks on Mr.: Young's and the company's
behalf Miss Seawell occupied stage box,
which she declined to leave in response to
calls for the author.
COLUMBIA THEATFR.-It Is indeed a
pleasure and privilege to sit through
performance in which Otis Skinner is the
principal figure. He is one of the most
pleasing and satisfying actors on the stage
today. Possessed of a magnificent pres
ence talent which expresses itself grace
fully and forcefully. and thoroughly i'm
bued seemingly with the true idea of stage
craft, Mr.. Skinner gives an artistic tone to
any production In which he may be promi-
he reaches his best. In the ardency of his
affections he Is all the most enthusiastic
lovelorn maiden can desire, while in the
more serious phases of life, for there is
often to be found a thorn even in the rose
OF romance, he evidences a power that Is
convincing and impressive. The shades of
Mr.. SINNERS work are nicely graduated.
With all Of these pleasant attributes to
the himself, it was especially
rare pleasure to witness his perform
ance last evening Of prince Otto.' a
play founded on incidents in the Steven
son story Of the same name. Mr. Skinner
was strikingly fitted for the part of the
Prince Of Kronefeld. He gave an atmos-
phere OF royalty to his portrayal, notwith-
SlduulIS lUe ldCt tHdl the requirements
the play assign him to the realm of ro-
nance. In itself the play is a delightfully."-
interesting story surrounding the little prin-
cipality OF Kronefeld. with its court in
trfgues, Its plotters, Iull-grOwn revolu-
ton and final re-establishment of the
throne. The five acts are replete with Incl
dent and action, bright lines and an apt
interjection Of comedy. Underlying the
whole, however. is the enduring and re-
deeming love between the prince and his
princess, who are torn apart by state af-
fairs and the designs OF an ambitious prime
minister and countess who is filled with
schemes and an infatuation for the prince.
The vicissitudes of the revolution bring the
prince and his wife together in pure and
simple love at a time when they believe all
else to be lost. In their new found happi-
ness they care not for the throne or it's
surroundings. Before the curtain falls,
however. upon a beautifully conceived pic
ture in the last act, there comes an as
surance that the revOutionists have been
defeated. In a farmers cottage the tired,
wandering princess falls into gentle sleep
in her husbands loving arms Never has
Mr.. Skinner been assisted by such a COM
pany as Is now with him in Prince Otto"
Percy Haswell, who is really beloved by a
great portion of Washington theater-goers,
received fiattering welcome last evening.
In the leading role she has conSenial work
| to do, and nfuses into 1t all the charming
personality and magnetism that is stored
| in such great abundance within this artis-
tic little woman. Grace Filkins, another
actress of exceptional ability and a warm
favorite in Washington because of her tai
| ent and her social connections here, plays
| with womanly grace and fascination the
part of an adventuress-not the base type
OF milady, but woman who dares much
| to gain a love she covets. Maud Durbin,
as the farmers daughter, makes her minor
! part stand out as one of the successes and
| best character bits Of the play. Frank
| Sylvester and George Nash are foremost
| among the large male contingent Of the
| cast. prince Otto Is play of novel feat
ures and offers an evening of entertainment
| that is refreshing and delightful through
| out. At the end of the third act Mr.. Skin
| ner and Miss Haswell received a number OF
| curtain calls. and finally the former ex-
| pressed in a neat little speech his graft
| tude for the ovation The Columbia will
| remain open until o'clock tonight for the
receipt of election returns. The perform
| ance however. will be given at the regular
hour.
| LAFAYETTE SQUARE THEATER -
| 1.-THE Senator is a breezy comedy by Messrs.
| Lloyd and Rosenfeld; a satire on the social
and official life of Washington during a ses-
sion Of Congress. Senator Hannibal Rivers