Evening star., 1901-10-29
AMTsHIENTs.

ADJUSTMENTS.
NEW NATIONAL THEATER - The
audience at the NesFs National Theater last
night was typical of1the assemblage usual
ly attracted by a Daniel Frohman stock
company Hilda Spong, who is remembered
for some charming characterizations in
other plays. was presented as star for
the first time in this city, but with the con-
fidence which conesz of admiring recoyni-
tion elsewhere. Lady Huntsworth's Ex-
pertinent Is a placid and unpretentious
comedy, yet not commonplace. X. Z. Car
ton. its author is a. play writer as well SIS
playwright. Hesconstructs pretty and in
genious plots, andshesembellishes them with
talk which fully merits the compliment SO
fndiscriminately applied. 1.-The dialogue Is
clever" He has, the faculty of de-
picting social life in smart and candid
fashion without ostentatiously dragging
forth its seamy side and gloating over har-
rowing details. Lady Huntsworth is a
woman who. finding her husband en- I'M
possible scamp, decides to earn her living
as cook Here is a theme for roaring
farce or bouncing melodrama. But this
play is neither. 1t is simply the story of a
courageous woman and pretty reminder
of the respect which superior femininity
unconscfously commands, whatever the sur
roundings may be. The character does not
open the way for very startling histrionic
achievements Miss Spong contributes to
1t an amiable and reposeful personality.
Her amiability is not forced and her repose
is due to discretion and not to a lack Of
vitality. Her style of acting is more or
less elocutionary. She occasionally manages
to chant the most ordinary chat as II 1t
were blank verse. Miss Spong was support
ed by company who acted with the
energy and care to be expected from
corps OF players each of whom is waiting
his turn to be presented by Mr.. Frohman
as star. From the Importance of his
n ri nv,6 t1n IL iy, xxyhto nh, 1O
acquitted himself, it would look as If
Arthur Forrest were next on the list.
After seeing Mr.. Forrest play the part of
Petronfus in Quo Vadis," it seems almost
shame to take his bracelets and his jew
eled bath robe away from him and put him
into pantaloons. His character is that of
good-hearted fellow of small intellectual
pretensions and a penchant for sports. He
realizes 1t very efficiently, despite the great
contrast 1t presents to his work heretofore.
One of the best bits Of acting on the stage
was done by Jameson Lee Finney, who had
bard role to handle-that of the drunken
and dissolute husband. 1t was dash of
lbsen which seemed almost incongruous in
the surroundings of comedy calm, but he
succeeded in fully justifying Lady Hunts
worth's aversion to her matrimonial asso-
citation. Miss Nevada Hefron played a
small part with large results. Her picture
OF the s1avey was charming bit of humor.
Grant Stewart played the vicar, and Will
liam F. Owen the butler. Both were GOOD.
desired in her performance of the lady
whose code Of proprieties becomes more
exacting with advancing years, and he. re-
mainder of the company conscientiously
fulfilled all requirements. Lady Hunts
worths Experiment" without being pro-
foundly impressive. can be relied on as an
agreeable experience of the hour and a
pleasant recollection for the future.
1t is expected that President Roosevelt
will attend tonight's performance.
COLUMBIA TTfEATER.-Hall Gaines
christian stands out as one of the most
conspicuous successes in American stage
annals. Following closely in the wake of
novel which had attained wholesome and
widespread popularity, the adaptation for
the stage was eagerly taken up by the play
goers, and since the fan of 1888 John Storm
and Glory Quayle and the other striking
figures Of the story have been discussed in
theatrical circles almost continuously. Last
night at the Columbia Theater the third en-
gagement of 1.-The Christian in this city
was begun. Judging from the size of the
audience and its enthusiasm, the play has
lost none of it's attractiveness. Those
among the playgoers present who had seen
the dramatized version before were inter-
ested in the Interpretation given it by the
present company. while those who witnessed
it for the first time expressed entire satis-
faction. There are those among the critical
followers of the theater who have MAIN
tanned from the first that THE Christian"
was essentially a play for the exploitation
of a man star. In the original production,
when Viola Allen was playing the role of
Glory the work of Edward J. Morgan as
John Storm attracted the full share of IA
vorable attention it merited.- Now Mr. Nor
gan has dissatisfaction of holding the CEN
ter of the stage in his own right. The char
acter he created three years ago was so
splendid in it's possibilities and so promi-
nent1y brought forward that the play has
not required alteration In the slightest de-
gree to make it fit the new order Of things.
Mr .tri1ra
after the third and fourth acts there were
loud calls for speech" His interpreta-
tion of the part is held out as the standard
and has come to be so well known for it's
forcefulness and general effectiveness as to
need no further comment. A large need of
interest centered in the appearance of Elsie
Leslie as Glory Quayle. AS wonderful
child actress, and more recently as MEM
ber OF Joseph Jenerson's company, Miss
Leslie has been a prominent stage figure
1t Is unfortunate that her first really serious
effort as a woman should be in such a try
Ing position as that which she now occupies
She Is called upon to take up work left
off by much older and a much more ex-
perienced and finished actress It is an or
deal to make less brave young woman
hesitate, but Miss Leslie has gone in for it
ing. In the lighter phases Of the character
she Is at her best. OF the original company
Georgia Dickson is again the Mrs. Callen-
der, while Carrie Merrilees and Perdita
AouopCtA al al Siudl ToiGS. Inc company
as whole is good, while the scenery and
stage settings are new and elaborate.
THE LAFAYETTE.-The farce at the La
fayette this week reminds one of Charley
Hoyt In his palmy days. 1t has much of
the clever nonsense Of the Hoytfan drama
without the Introduction OF specialties by
gifted members of the company to help
along dragging scene His Exeellency.
the Governor" is of varying degrees of ex-
ceilence. Much OF 1t Is farcical, some of 1t
Is what is usually termed high comedy"
some OF 1t is exausitely satiricai-all of 1t is
joyment in the caricature of the conven-
tional war play: But statesmen, officials,
government affairs, imperial administration
the management of unciyilized peoples as
Well as the lighter themes of coquetry and
romance are touched in turn and with
deft hand. The gathering at the Lafavette
last night that witnessed the performance
OF the Bellows Stock Company was a large
one and was highly pleased After the fail
OF every curtain the appearance of the lead
ing players was demanded and they. were
given hearty greeting. One scene remained
through the three acts, the vestibule of Gov