The Washington times., 1901-10-29
AT The THEATRES.
The Corumbin-"The Christian

The Coinmbin-'.The Christian.r
After singularly successful career,
! covering three years. Hail Gaines very
remarkable play. The Christian" re-
turned to Washington last night. anG
| without the aid Of the original GIory
Quayle. Viola Allen, drew to the Colum-
bia Theatre an audience that filled the
house and evidenced the most genuine
and sincere approval of not only the
piece, but the John Storm Of Edwar1
Morgan and the Glory of Miss Alien
| successor, Elsie Leslie.
1t was the first appearance in this city
of Mr. Morgan in the capacity Of a star.
for in THE Christian" this excellent
young actor is practically given all the
stellar honors, even if his name is not In
heavy letters on the programme
The record Of this play, that started
Miss Allen on a prosperous career as a
star. is quite remarkable. There are criti-
cal folk who will say that it is not good
play. that it lacks the saving grace OF
humor that in two Of the acts, the first
and the third there is hardly a chance
for lone smile. and they will point out
many things which they term deficiencies.
but despite all OF these shortcomings. dis
cerniblc only 70 the captious-inclined, the
fact remains that The Christian" is
about the strongest and most effective
play that theatregoers have had offered
for their patronage for many a day. Hall
Gaines story is so full of intense human
interest, his characters are SO clearly
drawn, and the climaXes are so impressive
that even in the hands of less capable
players than these seen at the Columbia
last night the play would be uncommonly
successful.
The Christian" of this season is still
the same play which was first given in
this city when it's worth was an unknown
quantity, but the Interpretation is dissim-
liar. Storm is now made the dominating
character and without the dramatic art
and personality of the original Glory
Quayie to hinder, assumes an Importance
never shown in Viola Aliens production
of the piece.
Mr.. Morgan's John Storm is generally
conceded to be the very best work he has
ever done. The ascetic churchman of
Hall Gaines creation the Storm of the
fishtiest and most uncertain religious
status, is played by Mr.. Morgan as quite
rational being, with strong emotions of
course, but with none of the mysteries of
the character III the book. 1t is an ad-
mfrable portrayal of a role that might
easily be overacted, and which has suf-
Tered from this very defect in the hands
of less secure actor than is Mr. Morgan.
quite as much interest was centred in
the appearance of Elsie Leslie as in the
work of Mr.. Morgan. Miss Leslie. chiefly
known to fame as a mighty clever juve-
nile prodigy, who had never done any
thing that-even approaches excellence
since her Fauntleroy days. had the diff
cult task of following in the footsteps of
Viola Allen. While Miss Leslie's Glory is
a vast improvement upon anything she
has heretofore done in Washington, il
lacks many of the characteristics that
M. = h.. grtFIrat atg.y-
The familiar red wig Is present how
ever, but apart from this there is not
much in common between the two imper-
sonations of the heroine of the play Not
that Miss Leslie Is not entirely satisfac-
tory, for last night she surprised those
who were familiar with her previous
stage work, and showed an ability that
she had not even before suggested Miss
Leslie is not yet a Viola Allen by any
means. She has not the rich vibrant
voice of the older actress. and she lacks
the experience possessed by her predeces-
sor; but she is a really good Glory. and,
were one unfamiliar with the original,
she might be termed even excellent.
Oscar Eagle plays Brother Paul effect
lively. and, as he is programmed as the
stage manager of the production, is en-
titled to a lot of praise for the expert
handling of the mob and the humorous
slums mission gathering. Charles Hal
lock is a first-class Horatio Drank, and
the Lord Ure of Edward Emery is fin
ished. although quite conventional. Geor-
gia Dickson, who was the original Mrs.
d,allendfr gives hor customary clsvsr and
humorous Interpretation of the role.
Clara Merrilees, Rose Norris and Jessie
Bradford are sprightly music hall girls.
The prices haze been slightly reduced by
the management of the Columbia Theatre
for the enga cement of The Christian"
but this should not be construed into the
idea that the performance is not as good
as on the occasion of the previous visits
of the play to Washington, for. taken as
a whole. the Hall Caine piece has never
been given a better production in this
city. Matinees will be given Thursday
and Saturday.