The Washington times., 1901-10-16
"THE WAY OF THE WORLD"
Elsie de wolfe Makes n Hit I'm Her
Play at the CoIumbin.


scored pronounced successes last night
at the Columbia Theatre in the presence
of ono of the most notable audiences that
has thronged a local playhouse this sea-
son. The occasion signaiized Miss de
Wolfe's entry into the charmed circle of
stars, and while there are all sorts of
luminaries in the theatrical armament,
the de Wolfe constellation shone with un-
common brilliancy during the five acts of
Mr.. Fitchs new drama of contempora-
neous life in New York, which he has
called The Way of the World"
1t is marvellous that this playwright.
who stands pre-eminent today, can turn
out such an immense quantity of dramat-
ic material, all of much merit, although
widely divergent in theme, and while
two more Fitch productions are adver-
tised for Washington next week-each an
undOubted success, with metropolitan
careers to back up their claims for atten-
tion-it is doubtful if either will present
more dramatic novelty than does THE
Way of the World"
Last night the big audience that greeted
Miss de Wolfe and her admirably bal
anced and schooled organization applaud
ed the many splendid scenes almost with
out stint, and at the conclusion of the
fifth act, when the curtain dropped for
the last time, the general opinion was
that not only had the star done by all
odds some of the best acting of her
career, but had been chiefly responsible
for giving very delightful performance
1t was the first performance of the
Fitch play. but there was little beyond
the assurance of the management to de-
note the premiere. The performance
| throughout was finished, each player was
secure in his lines, the proper emphasis
to the speeches was always in evidence,
and but few bitches on the part of the
stage carpenters were noted And in the
matter of encores. there were curtain
calls almost without number Not only
were the friends of the chief player desir-
Gus that she should make some ac-
Acknowledgement before the curtain of their
appreciation of the work of herself and
her associates, but those who knew but
| little of Miss de Wolfe, and whose great
est concern was that they should witness
n good entertainment. were prominent in
the applause No more reputation of the
Frohman clotheshorsey order for Miss
de Wolf; she's through with that part
of her stage life, and enters upon the
more responsible and dignified period with
every reason to expect the uncommon
share of reward she deserves.
Clyde Fitch-essentially a dramatist of
modern society-has evolved no story so
good since his Moth and the Flame"
and there is every reason to believe that
it will not only increase his bank account
considerably. but add to his reputation
as a writer of brilliant dialogue, de-
wiser of unusual situation and a COM
mander of every trick of stagecraft.
.srf.t-- ~. r,
trio of chief characteristic. Croydon,
who goes in for politics and decides that
his personality is strong enough to with
stand the ''machine's'. demands; his wife,
a loving. trusting and innocent young
woman, and NeviIl, cad of the most
pronounced stripe. There are several
other people who appear quite promi-
nently during the action of the five acts
into which the play is divided; one of
| them, Mrs Lake, the divorced wife of
| a Congressman. being the best drawn Of
the lot An ingenious device catches the
attention and fancy Of the audience at the
very outset The scene is the west side
of Central Park, New York. The back Of
the stage is a panorama which is made
to move constantly, displaying the at
tractive scenery in that neighborhood. In
the centre of the stage is an automobile,
so arranged that the wheels revolve with
out actually moving the machine, the
panorama giving the effect of the vehicle
speeding through the park
Mr. Fitch has made another innovation
by having his two principal people on the
stage at the very commencement OF the
play. They are Mr.. and Mrs. Croydon.
They are seated in their automobile, with
the engineer in front. The conversation
between the pair reveals the fact that
Croyden has been offered the candidacy
for governor of New York On the anti
Tarnrnany ticket Mrs. Lake happens
along, dragging her disabled bicycle, and
is given lift. The talk brings out the
fact that. although the Iroydens have
been rparried eleven years, the union has
brought no children 10 gladden. their
home Neyill is soon introduced, and
comes cn the stage in his racing auto.
While Croyden goes of to have a pet
dog looked after Mrs. Lake is sent home
in Nevills machine, while Mrs. Croydon
and he discuss a mild Irritation that has
peen going on for some time between
them. The act which, in its present form.
is too long and talky, closes with the ap-
pearance of Croydon, who, to humor his
wife permits her to go of IN NeYlll
machine while he takes the Lake bicycle
tC its owner.
The second act occurs year later, and
is located in the drawing room OF the
Croydon house, WnlCh mas beCn visited Dy
the stork NevilTs Irritation has been
taken seriously by him and everyone else
but Mrs. Croydon. Toward the end OF the
act "A newspaper article is introduced
wherein it is hinted that Nevill Is the
father Of the Croydon boy who Is soon
to be christcned. Croydon has been nom
mated by mis- party ana is IN the hldst
of the excitement of the campaign. the
target for the opposition press. '''hich has
made an effort TO attack his private char
acter He sees the scandal but refuses
to permit his wife to see the paper. lie
orders her to have Nevill cease his VISITS
10 the house and then leaves the city, pre-
sumably to deliver a speech. Mrs. Croy-
d-a and NeVill go to a reception at Mrs.
Lakes the former. however, missing
telegram stating that her husband has
decided not to leave the city. At the Lake
reception everybody is talking of the
Croytlen scandal as it is termed. II Is
an admirably planned scene. Guests are
arriving and being entertained by q
famous opera singer. Nevill and Mrs.
Croyden meet and he tells her of his love
for her She is shocked and demands TO
know why he has ny right to believe she
cares for him. l.C points to ian ne mas
given her and minds her thdt sne pre-
fars il above any other. MIS-. Cruyden
breaks the fan into pieces and goes home
alone MIS-. NevilI announces that she
has determined upon suit for divorce,
and will name Mrs Croydon as the CO.
respondent Neviii tells his wife that he
has loved Mrs. Croydon for over \ year,
and as he speaks, Croydon comes in and
nverhcars the conversation. Then occurs
C,rCvdan (to Ncyill-Take back every