The Washington times., 1902-02-18
but the Hit of the Performance Is
Mndc by mn Actor with Hare Lip
-"Ren Hur' in It's Second Week at
the NationnI-Other Attractions.
THE COLUMBIA-"Eben Holden. a
dramatization of Irving Bachelors
novel by Edward E. Rose
Charles Frohman presents the drar

Charles Frohman presents the dram
atization of Irving Bacheller's book
''Eben Holden" and. as a matter of
more than any other person to make
the novel-drama thing to be
dreaded by every person who has the
welfare of the drama at heart. Is respon-
sible for the tinkering that has taken
Mr.. Bachellers story from tween covers
and placed it behind the footlights.
Mr.. Rose can usually be relied upon to
the novel would hardly recognize, and in
the case of ''Eben Holden" he has done
some of his deadlest work.
'Eben Holden came to the Columbia
last night and a goodly number OF trust
ing persons came out to see it. Many of
those present had read the book and
wanted to see what the stage Eber ant
his companions looked like. They were
treated to a performance that while gen.
orally good did not at any time arise to
the plane of brilliancy, and although
there were number of opportunities to
laugh the audience seemed very loath to
take advantage of the chances.
Inappropriate Feminine Garb.
The first part of Mr.. Bacheiler's book
to many the vital part and certainly the
most poetic-is discarded by Mr.. Rose, and
the play begins with Will Brewer as a
young man. The first scerc is the inte-
rior of David Brower's barl, into whicr
most of the important characters o. the
play come There are Il co iTle of gig
Cling school girls from New York at
tired in a manner that suggests that the,
are on their way to a social function. al
though they take much pleasure in clirib-
ing haymows to look for eggs. The sec
onG act is by the side OF Tinkle Broo;:,
and the third is in the kitchen of The
Brewer house. ,.
The story of the, play concerns the love
/ of Hope Brewer and? her adopted broIhe
VIII. Eben Holden fiutters through tho
disjOinted fashion. standing by the boy
viii and putting any number of obstacles
! in the way OF yellow CATERS" who
comes from the city to court Hope. Re
yond the fact that yellow Caters" or.
as he is programmed, Mr.. Richard Liv-
ingston, is from the city there is 10 real
! objection TO his marrying the heroine OF
the play but be shows himself to be rath-
er ugly when he finds that he has been
displaced by viii.
Rather Interesting story.
! The story is rather Interesting in a way,
| but it will never see the footlights OF an
/ other season, unless it be in the hands OF
the stock companies. One visit to "Eben
] Holden" viii suffice the average theatre
| patron. He will be mildly amused-yery
mildly. too-and cannot help wonder why
! in the world Charles Frohman wastes the
services of such capable actor as T.. NJ
/ Holland in such a meritless Offering. Good
| artist as Mr. Holland is he has no chance
to display his abilities as Eben. As a
matter OF verify, most OF the praise for
the performance falls to a hitherto un-
/ heard OF actor. J. H. Bradbury, who plays
| the role OF Tip Taylor. the hired man al
/ Lone Pine farm who suffers the misfor-
! tune OF hare lip and palateless mouth
/ The part is a small one, but MIR. Brad
bury's genius lifts it to unlocked for
prominence. II there is any one thing
! that tends to redeem "Eben Holden ii Is
/ Mr. Bradbury 5 Tip Taylor.
/ Mr.. Holland has an excellent makeup
as Ebcn and utiliZes every art at his
/ command to make the character an inter
estiug one, but it is beyond even MS
/ proved talents. There are several mo
meuts when ne gives a performance tha'
holds out much promise, but the drama
| tization OF Mr.. Rose is a handicap tha'
cannot be overcome. The company gen
orally is good.