The Washington times., 1902-04-29

Marquis of Chateauroy. castor Meryal,
Lord COnstantia. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS lanes Aller
Pierre Baroni ......................Le Lewis McCort
Renee Baruni ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mary Mackerzi,
Naitre savignol. Frank Browning
General lamoricierc. ............ Matt u. snydei
Paul Lamoriciere. ....................Ma dge West
Captain DE Chameleon. ..........H Henry BcreSforC
ab-De -harecn. ......--.........::. Lewis McCort
Afnineh. ..-.-..--...--..-.--..--M Mrs =. NJ BATES
Missionary. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. Robert Itc6
Felicie. Agnes West
Blanche Bates made her first success
before Washington audience by a sen
sational fall down a flight of stairs. II
was while she was member of the Fraw-
ley company. and the occasion was her
initial appearance in The Dancing Girl.
The young actress, fresh from the West
fairly electrified the audience that saw
her. and more pronounced local sue
cess has never been scored by any actress.
Again last night, at tie National. Miss
Bates won another triumph, not by fall
ing downstairs, but by means of mad
dash up mountain side, on the back OF
horse that knew its business as well as
any of the actors.
The scene is one of the best things in
Under Two Flags" the Paul NJ. Potter
version of ouida's novel of the same name.
1t represents the capture of Cigarette by
band of Bedouins. Instead of winning the
admiration and confidence of the leader
as 0uida makes her heroine do in the
novel. Mr.. Potter makes his Cigarette es-
cape by hearing the approach OF typhoon
and delaying her execution by a variety of
tricks until the storm bursts upon her
captors.
1t is seldom that such an impressive
scene is presented on the stage. At first
the rocks. peak upon peak of painted can
vas. wonderfully natural, are all that are
seen.
Then soon creeps from behind bowlder
a white-garbed Bedouin; then another,
and another. until finally there is a whole
battalion OF the white-robed creatures in
evidence.
Cigarette appears on her horse. She
feeds him and gives him moments rest.
Then on come the Bedouins. They silent
ly close IN on her. they seize her. tear
from her the reprieve she is carrying TO
her lover. and call her a witch.
Wonderful Sand Storm.
gently: than it bursts in mad fury and
the stage is swept by the greatest simuia-
ton of storm that has ever been seen.
The trees bend to the earth, the very
rocks seem TO move before the strength
of the winds and immense drifts of sand
sweep the scene, and drive the Bedouins
TO the ground.
A friendly Arab restores the reprieve
to Cigarette and sewers the bonds that tie
her to her horse. and In a second she is
riding for her life up the side OF the
mountain. first in one direction. then in
another, but always up, the horse going
at full speed. and forming a stage picture
remarkably sensational and effective
'Mazeppa" once aroused audiences to
great enthusiasm with its equestrian cpl
sode. but compared with Miss Bates
flight UP the Under Two Flags" noun
tains. il is absolute burlesque.
The National audience last night liked
the scene immensely, for the applause
was prolonged. and II seemed as IL they
wanted Miss Bates to bring on the sand
storm and go over the whole scene again
There are a number of other good scenes
In Under Two Flags" but this is so
sensationally great that it dwarfs all else.
Mr.. Potter's version of Ouida's story
is better than most affairs of the kind. and
its chief purpose. TO provide Miss Bates
with a play in which she will appeal to
the general theatergoing public, is emf
nently successful.
Play Has Inconsistencies.
The captious will tell you that the thing
is all pure rot, that Mr.. Potter has twist
ed the original story all out OF shape, that
he has made q grave mistake in making
Cigarette the mistress of BERTHE Cecil-the
cautious will tell you all these things
and many more that he will claim are in
but the fact remains that
the National audience last night showed.
by the volume of its applause, that ii
liked the performance, and Cigarette has
a perfect right TO love BERTHE any way
she wants to. with or without the ac
OF the circlet of gold. Inn
agine Cigarette with her visiting cards
changed to the Hon. Mrs. BERTHE Cecil,
She would not attract half filled houses
during the remainder of the National en-
gagement.
Mr.. Potter certainly knows what the
great American public-the public that
pays its hard earned coin for its stage en-
and in Under Two
Flags" he has given it TO them with an
allopathic prodigality.
washngtonians thought they knew the
limitations of Miss Bates art, but last
night they found out that they were mis-
taken. In Under Two Flags" she gives
a performance wholly unlike anything
else she has ever done in this city. She
knows her trade better now than ever and
she displays IL with a thoroughness that is
quite unusual even among actresses Of
her standing.
In the scene where she dances before
the Bedouins while watching Lady Venetia
and in her love scenes with BERTHE Miss
Bates Is at her best, although the reckless
defiance of her enemies is a splendid bit
Of dramatic intensity.
A Good Equine Actor.
The company is but fair.
The best member is perhaps the horse
that carries Cigarette through the big
scene He goes at his work with the
ease and confidence OF veteran. and IL
the human members of the organization
exhibited the same intelligence as this
animal certain portions of the perform
ance would be infinitely more enjoyable,
and one would not sigh for the return of
Cigarette quite so often.
II is related that one of the important
members OF the company sprain-
ed an ankle during the Saturday after
noon performance in New York last week,
and was unable to accompany the organ
zAtion to the Capital. When the manager