The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1902-05-08
Theaters
z. s .WiIIard's suceesa

Coming near the close OF an ex-
ceptionRlly enjoyable theatrical
year. T. :. Willard has easily over
leaped the high standards Of his pre-
decessors and established his en-
gagement as the most finished and
artistic Of the whole season. AIR.
Willard is so much better than any
other actor that has preceded him
this year, that comparison ~ not
permissible
As large an audience as may be
expected In Seattle when anything
really first-ciass comes along, as
sembied at the Grand last night TO
witness Mr. Wizards opening In
The Cardinal" This Is Mr.. VIII
lard's new play. BY Louis y. Parker
yet IL can hardly be rcckoued as a
production OF unusual merit. The
play is Of thin consistency and one
may forsee the ending. indeed. the
greater part OF the plot Ia detail. BY
the fan Of the first curtain. And
more lines are afforded the Cardinal
de Medici than all OF the other char
acters together.
But with F. $. willard playing that
cardinal. one could ask nothing bet
ter. To discuss his Interpretation OF
the part would be- hypercritical. To
describe 10 justly. would be- to dis
svow and recall the fire terms Of
merit bestowed on his less worthy
predecessors. or 10 bring forth a
mintags Of new and ecstatic terms
OF admiration. II dramatic art SUI
perior 10 that Of T.. :. WIZARDS ex-
lists. Seattle has not seen II.
Mr.. Willard has fine face. with
wonderfully expressive eyes and
mouth intellectually and high
minded dignity seem stamped upon
II. Indeed. while Mr. Willard WIS
last evening the cardinal. body and
soul. one could not help feeling that
back Of It all was a type OF the per-
feet English gentleman.
OF his numerous and capable sup
port. Mr.. a. 5. Homewood as Guilt
ano. Miss Ellen D'Maliey as Fili-
berta. and Mr. Charles Garfield az
Strozzi do the best work. Miss Marie
Linden seemed singulariy careless
and ill-attuned as Ciarcia de Medici.
Unless the average Roman mother
would greet "a son just spared from
the gallows by the equivalent Of
careless handahake and Good
mOrning," then Miss Linden has SLAM
dered the Roman motherhood
Tonight Mr. Willard is 10 play the
tltle-role in Charles Dickens Tom
Pinch" Friday night Mr.. willard Is
the great David Garrick." and SAT-
urday night r. Professor GOodwillie
In THE Professors Love story"
Now note Mr. Wizards versatility.
He win as completely an each Of
these widely diverse characters as
he did that Of the cardinal last night
Popular Jessie Shirley.
Jessie Shirley and her splendid
company are winning golden laur-
els With their production Of Under
Two FiaGs" al the Third Avenue
fheater this week Nothing better
has been, seen az the popular up
town theater this season. The play
runs until Saturday night. includ-
ing Saturday matinee. Next week
commencing Sunday night. Miss
Shirley viii offer her admirers two
flno plays during the week sun
day. Monday. Tuesday and Wedues-
day the melodrarns. - Young
wife" Thursday. Friday, Saturday
and Saturday matinee. Dads Girl"
10th tho plays are good ones and
the Shirley company Is sure 10 make
them pleasing and interesting.
"The Buttsrhies' Tonight
Tonight the Cooley company VIII
produce the Butterflies" al the See
attle theatre. II WIN be the firF,
presentation mere OF henry Guy
Cartoons famous comedy. 81 D.
said that the Cooley company putt
on the piece in @ very elaborate man
uer.
Next week the same company wi
present From Sire 20 Son. the first
four nights of the week. and "Thf
Mouth Of the Cannon" the latter part
N the week. Both Of these pieces are
plays OF Western lfe, ana have W0r
much favorable criticism. In fact
they have been compared very fav.
orably with such structures az "Ari.
IONA" Although plays Of intense
human interest. a strain Of humOi
runs through both u them.