Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-26
ANU SEMENTS,

COLUMBIA THEATER.-James A Herne
has so closely associated himself with the
gentler and more refined traditions OF the
stage that he has secured a following who
will applaud him, even when he descends
TO vacuous platitudes. There is a certain
sense of pride in Mr.. Herne ar American
playwright. manager and producer, and when
the curtain rises on one of his productions
it is before an audience prejudiced in his
favor and ready to consider past benefits
with grateful recollection which must
temper any critical asperities concerning
the present venture. Sag Harbor'' is very
plainly an effort to attain that coveted
prize for which SO many managers have
striven. another Shore Acres. If a du-
plication of this success which. combined
i'll 50 remarkable a manner the elements of
artistic worth and popular appeal, is to be
attained, ii would surely seem reasonable
to expect Mr.. Herne to produce it. BY
"Shore Acres" he made a certain field of
composition his own. He is the acknowl-
gdged prophet of quiet effects, and his deli
cate attention to detail asserted Itself very
prettily on many occasions in Sag Har-
Dor" The odor of genuine champagne and
real food pervaded the piece, and the little
common-places of homs life were wildly
portrayed. The dramatic quality of the
story was however suppressed to the verge
of annihilation, and the average of ability
i'll the cast, despite the presence of some
good character interpretations. was not high
enough to make the quietude forcefully i'm
pressve Some of the departures from ira
dition were remarkable for their holiness
In one of his recent productions Mr.. Herne
used The Lords Prayer for a curtain
climax. In this piece he avails himself to
the limit of the latitude which some circles;
of society accord "old married people" in
affairs of a private and domestic nature
The impression produced by Mr.. Hernes
gossipy candor depends doubt on the
al toy, 81,
some people regard as harmless pleasantries
others resent as gross indellcacy. Sag
Harbor' is unfortunate in the fact that
its plot does not keep the character as
sUmed by Mr. Herne sufficiently in the
foreground. Mr.. Herne's work is always
Interesting and meritorious, and the subor-
dinatiOn of his character is q disappoint-
ment. Mr.. Herne's two daughters young
women of unnistakable talent. but scarcely
well enough advanced in their art to call
for relentless scrutiny of their perform
ance for defects, occupied positions of very
marked prominence In the cast Some of
the work which falls to the principal femi-
nine role would test the powers of an emo
tional actress of the highest rank and rep
utation.
Sag Harbor'' is softly modulated an
oante ana perhaps only the over-sensitive
ear will detect discords. Mr. Herne is so
well known and highly approved a quantity
In the world Of entertainment that pos
sibly many people will love the play for his
sake, If for no other reason
NEW NATIONAL THEATER.-E. s.
Willard opened a weeks engagement at the
National last night with David Garrick"
large and appreciative audience evil
denced the fact that both the play and
the actor are favorites with Washington
theatergoers. The warm reception accord
ed Mr.. Willard on his return here after a
three years absence must have been graft
flying. Mr.. Willard brings with him q
supporting company, of which each indi-
vidual member seems to fit the part as
signed quite perfectly as does Mr.. Will
lard In the leading role.
1t would be hard to shed any new light
on the play itself. The plot Is not intri-
cate, but involves a charming love story
in which the immortal actor is made to
do the hero's part. Mr.. Wizards inter-
probation of this characterization is one of
the most finished pieces of artistic work
to be seen on the stage of today, In the
second act, where Garrick is made to APP
pear as acting a reality SO far as his per-
sonal interest was concerned, Mr.. Willard
is particularly effective. 1t Is a
case Of double quotation marks where
sometimes 1t is hard to tell just who it Is
that is talking. Mr. Willard as David
Garrick. lover of a beautiful stage-struck
girl; David Garrick. real actor. or David
Garrick. acting the actor. Is always so
thoroughly merged in the passing concep-
ton as to almost lose his own identity for
the nonce. Ernest stallard, who 10 the