The San Francisco call., 1901-12-22

ANGWILL somewhere diScourses
with point and eloquence upon the
choice of parents. 1 forget his ad-
vice to those intending to become
/ g. the sons of great men, but imagine
/ If must have been Mr.. Punch's to those
| about to 'marry-"Don't!" There is an
! arr in being the son of a great man thdI
! seems particularly difficult OF mastery
! and characteristically unapproachaple Oy
! those who have most need OF us
| sources. One of its chief laws seems 10
| consist in making sure of maternal PLO-
/ genitor of distinction, and turther' III uO-
! ing anything else than what your 1atner
! did before YOU.
| There is no question that Thomas JEFF
| ferson. the son of Joe of that ilk. has
/ taken every care to provide himself ex-
ceuently in the first regard, but he mas
vitally erred in the second and equally
| important requisite to virtuoso-hke SON
| shin to a great man. An actor 1atner'
the son also devotes himself to Ihespls;
( the father a wizard in two roles, the son
would also seek fame in one OF these;
| old sRip with the characteristic habit OF
! surrounding himself with dramatic make
weights and young RIP" with the lden-
tical same inexpensive vice, IN exag-
/ gerated form.
The Rim Van Wrinkle of Thomas Jeffer-
of course. failure. Naturally he has the
| TECHNIQUE of the character to the last
minute requirement, the gesture, accent,
| can. coat and trews Of the lovable no
! count But there is no leg in the breeches,
as the painters say. no heart under the
vest. no head under the cap. 1t is
walking technique, dramatic thing that
casts no shadow without light. life or
bodv and finally an affair of misused con-
NJ Toffo IL
metic art is undeniable. His Rip Is an
| excellent imitation of his fathers. That
he has industry and conscience is equally
unmistakable no smallest detail Of the
mechanics of the character being neg
| lected. That he has good taste, ample
! intelligence and much individual charm
is also not to be denied, but that his
brains, conscience and emotional talents
are worse than lost on RIP Van Winkle"
| perhaps on the stage at all-is no less
matter of certainty.
1t would have made difference Of mo-
ment to the show as whole If the dra-
matte furniture surrounding Jefferson had
| suggested only for a charitable moment
| that it's legs were long enough to reach
the ground. There is absolutely no ex-
! cuse for such a company-save the mark!
| The Jeffersons are of the plutocracy-if
! modest million counts for anything in this
| acknowledgements to offer with a
warmed-over rip the dregs and orts OF
| the green room is '1eetle" too much
even for the stomach of gratefulest mem
| ory That much for a possible pecuniary
reason. If. on the other hand, the COM
| pany represents a desire for contrast to
his own luminosity on the part Of the
| star, then 1t can only be said that he is
| IT, credibly modest. An actor requiring as
| shadow to his own brilliance the archa-
| typal badness OF Mr.. Jefferson's assist
| ants would better put up his shutters and
| go to selling peanuts for his daily beer.
| Indubitably Mr.. Jefferson knows very
much better; still, It's free country and
II he can gather In the dust as the son
| of his father even with these raggedest
| OF retainers, one can only say with ad-
mlring envy, Let her Rip, JeffersonP'
| God rest you, merry gentlemen,
! Let nothing you dismay-
| Not even the Christmas shows that are
crowding thick and East upon us, The
theatrical brethren arc all seeking to out
| do their noble efforts at entertainment