Evening star., 1901-12-03
AMUsEMENTs..

astic a greeting as that given Sothern
portrayal of Francois Villon, the vagabond
poet, in Justin Huntly McCarthy's play,
''If Were King" at the National Theater
last evening. The piece abounded in senti-
ment of popular character and the cur
tain descended every time upon a striking
situation. Add to these circumstances the
fact that the character portrayed was pic
turesque, that he was bold and skillful
swordsman, that he loved above his station
and that he was condemned to die unless he
won her heart and 1t would be cold audi
ence that would not be moved. But last
nights audience was by no means a cold
one. 1t was cordially responsive. Every
noble sentiment sonorously expressed
brought fire like steel from the flint On
every curtain fall the principal players
were forced to appear repeatedly, and while
the kindest feeling to his support was mani
fest, yet 1t was evident that the enthusiasm
was mainly for Sothern. Time was when
he appeared before small gatherings here.
But that was before he won his world in
THE Higgest Bidder Such is his popu
larity that he could appear in almost any
piece now and win cheers. There is such
direct, abrupt. hearty, wholesome sincerity
about his work that the hearer is captured
by the role and his sympathy is given at
the outset. "If 1 Were King is a good
representative of the romantic drama
which has been enjoying considerable popu-
larity since the decadence of the problem
play, but which has been served up SO often
that it has become thin and repetition is
common. 1t is old material worked over.
OF course, much Of it is always well re-
ceived. 1t is time-tried and never fails.
Everything seems subordinated to the story
to be told, and apart from Villon and Louis
XI there is little delineation of character.
Mr.. George w. Wilson, who portrays the
monarch, gives picture that is really more
interesting than that of the poet Repulsive
as is the ghoulish humor of the rascally
joker, yet it Is more refreshing than the
whining speeches Of the poet. Katherine
de Vaucelles Cecilia Loftus) loudly pro-
claims to the court that at last " a man.
has come who will deliver Paris from her
peril. but it takes all the assurances Of the
chorus to dispel the impression that the
poet cuts a poor figure as man.
The play is excellently staged. The rose
garden of Louis palace in the second and
third acts is as dainty a stage picture as
has been seen In long time. Mr.. Sothern
has devoted his attention as usual to the
correct reproduction Of the costumes of
the period of his play. The performance Of
his associates was intelligent and adequate.
Miss Lotus was an attractive Katherine,
who spoke her lines with discrimination,
betraying a well-marked conception of the
role. Suzanne Sheldon presented an i'm
pulsive Huguette, which won instant ap-
proval. Rowland Blackstone, Arthur Law
renee, Henry j. Carvill and John Findlay
performed their unimportant parts with
conscientiousness and aided in telling the
story VI tIle play.
COLUMBIA THEATER. - Mr. Louis
Mann and Miss Clara Lipman presented
themselves to a Washington audience of
noteworthy size at the Columbia Theater
last night in the most serious dramatic un-
dertaking of their careers. The play was
1.-The Red Kloof,' written by Mr.. Paul M.
Potter and redolent with the atmosphere
of ostrich farms, the Jameson raid of 1895
and other phases of South African latter
day life. The performance was accepted
as a complete success artistically-except
for few sententious appeals for the ap-
plause of American pro-Boers-and as more
than sustaining the ambition of the two
chief actors to advance from the level of
singing comedy to the plane Of earnest
character acting and sincere dramatic art.
In its essentials Mr.. Potter'S Red Kloof"
would bear transplanting' to almost any
country and any age South Africa is a
new field for the playwright, and, from the
attitude of last nights audience, it is too
givings. In the Transvaal ostriches may
move about in compounds and seem a
thoroughly natural element Of the land
scape, but in America their long legs and
waving necks make them essentially an ele-
ment of comedy. The stage settings, how
ever, are most elaborate and excited much
approving comment, and the friends of the
Louis Mann of older days are not indis-
posed to accept comedy in any play of
which he is the star.
Red Kloof,' or the Red Ravine, as the
words are rendered in a glossary Of Dutch
phrases obligngly included in the program,
is most remarkable for the character Of
fered Mr.. Mann, that of Dom Piett Prins-
loo, Transvaal cornet of advanced years,
whose life is union of Dutch thrift, pitt
less acerbity and absorbing love for his
beautiful daughter Mona The old herds
man was born deaf, and in the course of
the play obtains his hearing while his
daughter is singing at the piano set up in
their cottage-like Boer home. In this
q
play, comedy and tragedy are so curiously
intermingled as to tax the highest histri-
onic powers, and Mr.. Manns surprising
ability in alternately convulsing his audi
ence and impressng it into tense silence
appears to give promise of unlimited future
successes. Alike for those who attend the
theater to laugh those who favor drama
serious to the degree Of. melodrama, and
those who delight in restrained, reserved
and vigorous character impersonation, Mr..
Mann's Interpretation of Red Kloof is an
histrionic event.
Miss Lipman appears to almost equal ad-
vantage. Several scenes with DR.. Rodney
Blake one of the Jameson raiders who is
smuggled into Dom Pietts house by fraud,
are infused with the most spontaneous, in
genuous and light love-making that has
been seen in Washington for many a sea-
son. The part of DR.. Blake is given to Mr..
Lionel Adams and is filled acceptably. Ste
phen Maley, farm hand, and Miss Lille
Hall, as Tante Johanna Daw, storekeeper
and postmStress, the most prominent
members of large subsidiary cast.
Red Kloof' will rank as comedy doubt
less. But to the many who saw the play
last night and the many, many more who
are certain to view it later in the week. 1t
will depend for it's character rather on the
sad, sweet picture of an old man who is
stubborn beyond the degree of mercy and
whose heart is refined by the loss of his
daughter and the misfortunes of his race
into the simplicity and gentleness of lit
tie child
"a LADY OF QUALITY. The wide
play of human passion furnished in Mrs.
Burnett's and Mr. Townsends Lady of
Quality gives the members of the Bel
lows Stock Company some excellent oppor-
tunities for the display of the versatility of
it's members. Last nights performance in
dicated disposition on the part of all the
company to do their best stirred perhaps by
the ambitious requirements Of the roles.
Undoubtedly there were occasions when
they failed to measure the full depth Of
feeling required by the somber lines of the
play, and at times there was lack of hon
est .mirth In the intended humorous scenes,
but every failure to attain the high stand
ard set in previous productions of the play
by other companies was due to no lack Of
conscientious effort.