The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-12
AT THE THEATRES.
The National - Crane in s.David
Harumy


enquired: Have you read" and the
answer came promptly. Yes. indeed and
isn't it create" 1t wasn't deemed neces-
sary to mention the name of the York
state banker-horse trader philosopher.
David Harum. for at that moment he was
filling the public's literary mind to he ex-
clusion of almost everything else
And this week. at the National Theatre.
W. II. Cranes production OF the dramatic
zation of the Wescott story will undoubt-
eddy attract a series of audiences that
will crowd the house to Overlooking for
everybody who has read the book-and
who hasn't-will want to see Harum in
the flesh and blood. Just as it was deemed
sacTilege n twelvemonth ago to proclaim
the Wescott novel a commonplace tale,
quite unworthy of the great vogue it en-
ioyed so il would be unnecessary advice
to the average Crane spectator to inform
him that The stage version of the book is
anything but 4 good play. Yet to the con-
firmed theatregoer David Harum' Will
fail to appeal as strongly as to the ma
jority of the people who will be at the
National during Mr.. Cranes engagement.
The former Will proclaim il as inferior to
such bgosh plays as way Down East"
and several others of its type, and tell
you that Mr.. Harum and the late la
mented Alvin Joslin" with its brass band
and peck of diamonds occupy unique
places in the history Of the native stage
in that both have the power of crowding
theatres while possessing little real merit
as dramatic compositions. The Harumite
will tell his critical neighbor that this is
the greatest play he has ever seen and
applaud with zest that will prove his
honesty.
The one thing in the piece that appeals
with particular emphasis to the captious
is the admirable work of Mr.. Crane, who
in David Harum has perhaps the best
part he has ever had. Crane not only
looks the character. but he is Harum to
the life. 1t is a great triumph for the
comedian and one that will be as init
mately associated with his name In the
future as is RIP Van Wrinkle" with that
of Joseph jefferson. And if Harum was
as good piece as Rip Crane might emu
late the example of the dean of the pro-
fession" and never look for another play.
There is about as much plot to the
David Harum" of the footlights as there
is to the David Harum" of the bound vol
ume. In making over the story for the
stage few liberties have been taken with
the original. The principal deviation
from Mr.. Wescott's tale is the bringing of
Mary Blake to bonneville so that she may
be near John Lennox. Mary has learned
that General Wolsey. her guardian. who
has made her believe that she possesses
a fortune, has been enthusiastically lying to
her and she runs away to bonneville to
teach school and incidentally carry on
love affair with John Lennox The deacon
and the horse that would stand without
hitching are in the first act and are its
longest episode The fare at Eagle Hotel
Aunt Pollys visit to the theatre. the util-
ity of fieas in the moral universe of dog
the Christmas dinner, the surprise of
Lennox in having his goods moved to Da-
vid's house. the counterfeit bank notes,
and other prominent features of the novel
are more or less touched upon in the play.
One of the best bits of acting of the
performance is done by Ellos Francis
Clark as the Widow Cullom. Her pathos
is not the ordinary mushy sort of stage
article. but ingenious and sensitive and
is given with n delicate touch that is
very delightful. Dick Larribee is splen-
didly portrayed by William Sampson,
whose humor is of the genuine and con-
vincing kind. Grace Heyer is very
pleasing Mary Blake. although the part
is one of those that are commonly de-
scribed as 'thankless." To Frank Bur-
bank also Is assigned role that belongs
to the same category, and it is greatly
to his credit that ne makes General VOL
sey stand out in the general picture as
much as he does Kate Meek is a cosy,
comfortable looking Aunt Polly. while
George s. Probert. as John Lennox. fails
to come up to the rest of the cast. The
horse goes through with his part with
seeming confidence in his ability to make
a hit with the audience. AS has been
indicated, Mr.. Cranes personal success
in the name part is unquestioned. He
makes up very closely after the descrip-
ton of Harum as given by the author.
and the stout figure. ford complexion.
the fringe of rusty hair. and even the
wart on the side of the nose, are all
parts of the comedians drawing Of the
character.
Those who enjoy David Harum as a
book will find a vast amount OF pleasure
in visit to the National this week.
There Will be matinees today and Sat
urddy