Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-23
MUSIC

SEdkpSptdTtan drama, crowded lle stage
Of the New National Theater with
men, women. children. quadrupeds and
himself this week All that can be said
in hearty praise Of the production is
that it WIS a bold and beautiful series of
tabIeauN Mr. Mansfield has to certain
degree disarmed candid criticism by
method So peculiar as to be absolutely
unique. By inviting attack he has avoided
IL His CYNICAL self sufficient and at times
insulting attitude toward his public and
toward individuals have made it almost
impossible to make sure that an unfaVora-
bic impression of him on the stage. might
not he due in some measure to prejudice
against his personality. Audiences and
people burdened with the responsibility of
giving public utterance to critical opinion
are more inclined to be generous than
otherwise. This is not the general impress
sion. but it is the truth. as the compli-
ments for mediocre performances which
adorn many scrap books will attest. 1t has
become the custom to declare that while in
private life Mr. Mansfield may be an ac-
cursed crank he is a good actor; which
he is as his Beau Brummel and Prince
Karl well testified. Mr.. Mansfield stepped
upon a pedestal and defied the world to
show that he is not in the broadcast sense
as his Richard Ill.," "Shylock'' and Hen
~ W conclusiveIy prove. The anxiety to
avoid the appearance of injustice on ac-
count of his personal eccentricities has led
to a generosity of treatment such as few
actors experience. 1t is indeed, a lucky
PLAYER who has reversed the ordinary rule
which makes praise cold and perfunctory
and adverse comment eloquent and spar
King. The appearance of Coquelin in this
country explains the undoubted merit
which Mansheds production of Cyrano
displayed The Mansfield performance was
a careful and most competent copy of the
great FrenChman. Americans having no
knowledge of the original mistOok really
excellent work of art for a work of genius
There is in the popular mind a certain adj
miration of unchallenged braggadocio. how
ever empty. and Mr.. Mansfield has proffted
by this sentiment to the utmost.
There is a story of Mansfield's produc-
ton of 'Cyrano de Bergerac'' which sounds
like probability. There is a series of towns
in Ohio. where Mansfield is considered a
very great actor, indeed, and where the
theater manager feel that they must
have him. He wanted the money to put
on 'Cyrano." He told these managers he
must have it. In the course of business
liberties are taken in discussing great stars
which the audiences who worship and ap-
plaud would never suspect. The managers
told Mr.. Mansfield they knew nothing
about his "Cyrano," and babe him go to.
He made a counter demonstration and de-
clared that unless they subscribed S1Oe
apiece he would not play their houses The
season without Mansfield looked like a
dreary waste. and they subscribed the
with the uOiprS+ aD6}np hot it u-ac
TO be taken out of the box office receipts
II Mr. Mansfield decides to bring over
another French play he will probably have
no difficulty in selling all the stock he
may care to issue.
That a man of prominence who has so
often exposed himself to censure should be
sometimes unjustly accused is not re-
markable-
of stories of Richard Mansfield and his
eCcentriCities there are many. They usu-
ally have To do with his excitable and I'M
movable disposition. ard as often as not
have no foundation save in the imagination
of their originators Some time since there
was circulated an account Of the hurting
Of an underdone lamb chop at the head OF
q Chicago waiter and the attendant dis
fsurement of the wall paper, with costs.
The facts. as related by a gentleman of
Mr. Mansfields company, who dined with
him on that particular occasion, disclose
Eothing more serious than plate of clam
nay macaront, which put the actor to bed
with case of indigestion. There was
rothing thrown
As to the flag staff incident in Philadel-
Ihia. it was not important. 4 super who
wanted to introduce some original action
into the siege OF Harfeur received light
tap over the helmet and was uniniured
Mr.. Mansfield merely made a side stroke
at the offender, without so much as inter-
rupting the flow of his own speech, when
he requests his friends to again enter the
breach.
"Unleavened Bread was in some respects
the most interesting play the Washington
stage has seen in a long time. 1t Is in
tcnsely literary. and the method of its
dramatization is a trifie peculiar, introduc-
ing as IL does new characters in each of
the three acts and dropping those to which
the interest OF the audience has already
been attracted. The character of Selma
White is an intensely interesting study.
whether regarded a social type or as
simply an individual picture of the supreme
selfishness the feminine nature may de-
Nelop- The Vividness Of this character
picture Is shown by a conversation over
heard in a restaurant in Scranton, Pa.
after performance.
Been 10 the theater?" asked one man.
Yes" answered the other.
What did you see?"
'Unleavened Bread And do you know
that woman, Selma White is just the
same kind of a COMPOUNDED cantankerous
woman that my wife Isl
Tonight the last performance of the sea-
son Of "Unleavened Bread will be given.
We are taking the play off" said Man
ager Walton Bradford for the Lebler
Company, because we could not make
satisfactory arrangements for time in
Boston We intended making Boston from
here. but could secure only a week there.
whereas we wanted an opportunity for an
unlimited run. Boston is the home of Mr..
Grant. author Of the novel from which the
play has been adapted, and we have been
looking forward to a big season in the hub.
The story Is one that should be appre-
ciated there, and. being the product of a