Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-09
ADJUSTMENTS.


points in plot and dialogue as the titleis for
punctuation marks. There is no straining
for comedy in the piece; even those austere
pioneers who journeyed into the wilderness
for the sake Of principle could find no
fault with the mimic scenes which assume
to portray their lives, for through the wit
and humor there is no coarsening touch of
caricature. 1t is true that Miles standish,
as impersonated by Augustus Cook, looks
little as II he had stepped out Of pic
ture book; but he is bluff. human. stern
spoken but generous hearted Miles Stand
ish for all that, and Mr.. Cooks work, while
perhaps less effective than some Of his pre-
vious performances. was nevertheless an
attainment worthy OF the actors reputa-
ton.
Beulah Marie Dix and Evelyn Greenleaf
sutherland have written a play which pos
sesses extraordinary literary charm. They
have preserved the picturesQueness Of those
old colonists' mode of speech and have not
fallen into the clumsfness of diction which
80 often results from an attempt at lido
matte imitation. The wit flows brilliantly,
yet smoothly; there are no fiashy epigrams,
but gentle and sustained sprightliness
which seems. despite lts cleverness spon-
taneous and plausible
The auditors who feared an Introduction
to a group Of nasal-toned psalm singing
bigots had their fears set at rest before the
first act was concluded. The descriptions,
which represent those good people as in
variably talking through their noses. were
very possibly satiric libels. Psalm singers
,hey undoubtedly were and they sang their
psalms with the heartfelt devotion of
people whose religion has inspired a mo-
mentous and perilous step and must sustain
them In the hour Of trial. AS to their
bigotry, it is often hard to discriminate
where moral frmness ceases and bigotry
begins. The play does not invite the slight
ON hacn Nt,fn Nha nIor
acters are shown in both their rugged and
generous moods merely to form back
ground to the simple story Of the prim, yet
Wlllful lass whose coquetries spill blood and
come very near breaking hearts.
The role Of Rose de la Noye, whose name
gives the play its title, is taken by Minnie
Dupree an actress whose previous sue
cesses have emboldened w. J. Smyth to
formally present her as a star. 1t is not
a character that would call an actress to
be great in the majestic and overpower-
ing sense of the word. Yet it is not enough
to merely say that she plays the part well,
1or she gives 1t a SYMPATHETIC quality and
a vivacious charm which make her inter-
probation something higher than art in the
perfunctory sense Of the word. To the re-
suits of study she adds the appeal of per-
sonal1ty" She invests the character with
girlish refinement, and makes her lovable
even in the one vixenish mood which pro-
vides the plot of the play.
When the curtain descends on the first
o1t 'llele Is d suspicion lnat tnere 1S to be
no plot. Apparently, the story has been
told. The gallant young rascal who has
been stealing the corn that is more
precious than gold has been discovered and
forgiven by the doughty Capt. Standish,
and 1t is quite plain that the phenomenon
known as love at first sight must work out
to matrimonial conclusion. All that
seems necessary is the bless you my
Children The dialogue has been exquisite
and the comedy scenes well devised It
seems a one-act play. But the second act
brings renewed complications. They in
spire an interest which is maintained till the
close, when rescue party bursts in very
unceremoniously and stops spirited fight
with invisible Indians. The denouement is
not very skillfully reached as the play now
stands, but it does not seem possible that
the cleVerness which produced the proceed
Ing material should be unequal to the task
of remedying the deficiencies of the last
act.
Guy Bates Post was a hero after the au-
dfence's own heart. He reads his lines
finely and is not guilty of a clumsy pose
or maladroit gesture. Much credit for
the effectiveness OF number Of scenes is
due to Mr.. Post.
Despite it's melodramatic moments "a
Rose O Plymouth-Town is a production
which appeals to a refined sense of appre-
citation; it has not the assertive qualities
which overbear all obstacles and compel
success, yet II 1t gets its deserts it will be
recognized as one of the plays of the season.
NEW NATIONAL TIEATER-Take a
typical Irish comedian Of the old school
and place him in the center of a musical
comedy of the period and the result Is one
OF the happiest combinations the latter-day
manager has yet devised. The man with a
progue is such rarity nowadays in the
higher-class theaters that he is a novelty
the element for which all the play pro-
ducers are striving. In The Show Girl'
last night at the New National the Irish
comedian reigned. and Frank Lalor, Who
mas served his apprenticeship with such
facile farces as "a Hot Old Time made
one of the most pronounced successes of
his stage life. He plays the part Of Dr.
onysius Fly, the actor manager of strand
ed theatrical company in Greece, and the
fun evolved from the many weird situa-
lions In which he finds himself kept the
play-goers in gales Of laughter almost con-
tlnuously There are many other novelties
in THE Show Girl" One Is a most mys-
FERROUS and life-like cat which has at
tanned to proportions unheard of in fastidt-
Gus feline circles. The cat is a comedian,
too, and altogether one Of the most re-
markable features Of the play. The i'm
personator of the mammoth tabby had to
appear undisguised before the enthusiastic
audience would rest content. Still another
novelty was bit Of quite shocking cos
tuning Of the chorus girls for the first song
OF the second act. The girls sang and
dlmmed calcium; and 1t was we'll that 1t
was so.
THE Show Girl Is one of those great big
productions termed musical comedy for
want of better designation. In this In
stance the program does lend little assist
ance to proper description, and says it is
"a jolly bit Of tomfoolery" which is about
as near the truth as one may reach. The
play Is replete with lavish and costly cos
tunes. In fact. the girls Of the chorus
are kept busy throughout the entire even
ing displaying the inexhaustible wardrobe
with which this latest of the Rice shows
seems to be supplied. And SO it Is with the
comedy, the jngly music. the dancing and
the many other vaudeville features which
go to make up the whole. There is a sug-
gestton Of the three-ring circus about The
Show Girl" for after the first fifteen min
utes of preliminary dullness things begin
going with rush, and from that time until
the clock hands point well past II there
Is plenty to look at and listen to.
Last evening there were evidences of new
ness in the company. The curtain lifted
on the first act without warning, q cannon
ball collided with the comedian long before
the explosion In the wings occurred and a
pair Of Bowery dancers swung violently
into prim bit of chorus girl made up in
striking imitation of Edna May These little
incidents but added interest to the per-
rormance, and the audience, a big first
night crowd of enthusiasts was banny