The Washington times., 1901-10-22
AT THE THEATRES.
The yntionnI-..Tb. ,,,,

present experiencing an epidemic Of Clyde
fitchitis and while the disease is not ex-
actiy bad. even In its worst form, the spe-
cios of the malady as noted at the Ma
tional Theatre last night by a large and
modish gathering when Amelia Bingham
and her admirably balanced stock com
pany gave The Climbers" is decidedly
the most pleasant form of the complaint
that has yet been brought to the attention
of the amusement lovers of the CAPITAL
City
While the work of the Bingham com
pany always compels admiration for its
evenness. briliancy, and exceptional ex-
cellonce, yet one cannot refrain from
marveling at the producer. Mr.. Fitch. who
had one play last week at local the
atre and Is now entertaining the patrons
of two houses here with offerings totally
dfssimilar in themes and eatment and
yet each a recognized success in its par
ticuIar field. Last nights National au-
dience liked The Climbers" immensely
and took occasion TO show the players
that it appreciated their efforts by an un-
| commonly liberal amount of applause
The play opens with jolly funeral par
ty. goes on in the second act to pretty
dinner party, the third act shows a we'd
ding breakfast and the piece concludes
once during the entire performance is
| there any cessation in the interest in the
| development of the efforts of the Hunter
! family and the other characters of the
story for some sort of advancement So
| ciaI or otherwise. 1t Is distinctly
| ciety drama. somewhat after the style OF
| The Moth and the Flame" although de-
! cidedly better So far as regards the mo-
! tif ii might he regarded as a problem
play but the dramatists treatment of the
subject is always so light and frivolous
| and the comedy element is always so
much in evidence. that the piece must be
accepted as an endeavor to satirize, with
| considerable cleveruess and originality
| certain set of Gotham's social fabric. The
| comedy is not the sort theatregoers are
| accustomed to, but more like the small
! talk one reads in the so-called humorous
! papers 1t cannot be called wit or humor
| by the widest stretch Of the imagination;
! it is more in the nature Of rapid-fire.
! frothy absurdity.
! Immediately the curtain is lifted on
| THE Climbers" the playwright strikes
| the note of modernity. The stage is
empty. and for moment the audience
/ sees only the evidences OF a recent fun
| eral. A widow and her daughters return
| and congratulate themselves that the af-
| fair passed off with so much eclat. Two
friends-women-o the family and a real,
! sweet boy call, oste nsibly to be the first
to offer their condolences, but as mat
ter of fact to be on the ground eirly to
buy the handsome gowns which, now that
the Hunter family is in mourning, they
viii have no use for. And with this
funeral atmosphere as a background. Mr..
Fitch proceeds to paint his subsequent
pictures.
THE Climbers tells Of the ambitions of
the Hunter family for social recognition.
and the struggle for wealth of Richard
Sterling. the Hunter son-in-law. The lat
ter has spent his wife's fortune in specu-
latiOn. and is largely in debt He looks
to his wife's legacy for financial help. In
this he is disappointed, rcr about all that
comes to Mrs. Sterling is a note rom her
father telling her that her husband is
practically a thief. After year, during
which Miss Hunter a sister of the de-
ceased Hunter, has entrusted her fortune
to Sterling for investment which he
promptly loses in Wall Street, besides the
property OF a Miss Godesby, Sterling S
shortage is found ot4t-A chUm. Edward
Warden, comes 10 his rescue, and with
the knowledge that Sterling is thief. but
also because he loves his friends s wife. !
Warden assists the disgraced man with (
money enough to tide him over the crisis. /
Blu; the love OF the wife has gone, and in /
n very strong sCeae she tells Sterling that !
she cares for Nar6 en- but for the sake Of :
their boy she viii OF leave him, although (
nothing he 0anFd9 u say Will change her /
"a ling toward mn Then Sterling very |
considerably takes a dose OF morphine I
and the play that is commenced with /
funeral concludes with slIieide-ceTtain- !
ly not a CHEEKY outlook for the person /
who anticipates witnessing the piece. not /
knowing Of the fun that the portion of So I
ciety that The Climbers treats of finds /
in such sGmbrc subjects.
The Climbers does not profess to /
teach any moral that is new; indeed, no 4
one has ever accused Fitch of being
mOralist in his society plays. but the .
venerable /. sson thEt ''as one sOws, etc,
is dragged into th3 piece. There is a
suihci,ncy Of movement in The Climb
Crs.' an abundance Of smartness. a 4
wealth Of piquant a!Iusion TO modern folly
and vivid contrasts OF pathos and humor
II Is seldom that play er gaging the
same subject provides so much real en-
joymcHt for the average audience Is does
THE Climbers
Naturally much of the interest In the
play centres around MISS Blngnam ana
the character she potrays-Mrs. Sterling.
Local TheatreEoers recall the actress-rnan-
ageT principally rs member Of several
Frohusan companies and the successful
contestant In a New York papers prize
beauty competition some years ago In
The Climbers" Miss Bingham is called
upon To do some very CA1CtlIE Work. ana
she comes out victorious from several
scenes that would tax the powers Of "A
more noted emotional actress. Her act
ing Is invariably intelligent and in every /
way her portrayal Of Mrs. Sterling Is Il
decided advance upon anything she has
ever before showed to a Washington au-
dlence
1t is in the general excellence of the
supporting company that The Climbers
is notable. There Is hardly part, no
matter how insignificant, that is not in
the hands of a capable player. Frank
Worthiug as Sterling and Robert Edeson
as Warden are both admirable, and
their scene in the third act. with Miss
Bingham. IS perhaps the best illustration
of capable histrionism of the entire per-
formance. Ferdinand Gottschalk contrib
utes a splendid bit Of acting to the per
formanCe In the role of Trotter. Bijou
Fernandez as the breezy Miss Godesby
is splendid and Madge Carr Cook is an
almost perfect, worldly. ambitious mother
of attractive daughters. Minnie DupTee
adds greatly to the comedy of The
Climbers" by her excellent portrayal Of
Clara Hunter.
The stage settings are elaborate and
the scent" portion Of the production. too;
Is excellent especially a well-hehaved
snow storm i'm the third act. There will
be matinee performances Of The Climb
ers" Wednesday and Saturday.
CoIumbin-''Lovcrs' Lane"
With the poetry of sunshine and shad-
CIV, the atmosphere of blossoming orch
ards. the sweet odor of summering