The Washington times., 1902-12-16
Young Englishman Appears
in The Only Way" With
Artistic SuCceSS-Origin-
ated the Role Three Years
Ago,

by appearing last night at the Columbia
Theater I'm "The Only. Way" His first
performance here was substantially an
inaugural his acting being so thor
oughly appropriate to the role of sgd
ney Carton. so completely consistent.
and so uobly artistic, as TO establish
him high in Washington favor in one
night He and his admirable company
we're greeted by rather small audi
ence. but the assembly was distinguish
edit included a large party from the
British embassy and many other per
sons OF fashion-and it atoned in en-
thusiasm for it's lack Of number. The
favorable report which those persons
are. no doubt. now circulating viii
surely obtain for this excellent orFani-
zation a more commensurate attendance
at its subsequent performances
"The Only Way" is now familiar to
nearly all American playgoers as a.
dramatization Of Dickens widely read
and universally beloved "A Tale OF Two
Cities" This version OF the novel IS
from the pen OF the Rev. Freeman
Wills, and has been previously pre-
sented here by Henry Miller and CO.
pable American company. Two other
presentations Of the same scenes have
been made in washinEton-a competent
performance OF sydney Carton" by
Thomas Shea. and a -presentment of
still another version by a stock
company. II IS assured, therefore.
the city is fully familiar with
the events from which the play is
made up. and that any interest
10 be manifested in this last pres
entation depends rather on the actors
and investiture than on interest in the
drama. In the course Of a brief speech
last night. Mr.. Harvey referred with
much courtesy TO Mr.. Miller's produc-
tion Of the play, saying that such re-
eeption from a community which had
viewed and enjoyed the latter's acting
in the same role was a high compH-
ment as. indeed. it was. Il should be
noted. however, that Mr. Harvey origi-
mated the role and in one performance
made both the play and himself famous
A comparison Of these productions is
perhaps inevitable. but 1t should not
preclude the general statement that ibis
performance must surely have aroused
the city TO great enthusiasm had 1t
been the first local presentation OF The
Only Way" and that it IS abundantIy
easy to understand Mr.. Harvey's instant
success in the role. The play is bright
with color, tense in plot. vibrant with
emotion. brilliant fin dialogue. redolent
with appeals TO manly and noble sym
pathy. and wondrously refreshing IN spirit
and tone in this age Of anaemic hero
ines and jackass heroes. The scenery is
little threadbare (it has doubtless been
used many hundreds Of tiuss). put Il is
entirely sufficient The company is so
generally capable that the performance
must long remain a pleasant memory
for its unbrOken smoOthness and con-
sistent strength. Several Of The sup
porting actors may be expected 10 re-
turn as stars. as 70 is now the fashion
10 import all the capable actors or for
eign countries, and send away nearly all
the talented actors Of America-pot-
ably william Haviland. w. appears as
Ernest Defarge and Jean Desarge. dual
roles. and acts with singular power and
skill. and Fred Wright. ST., whose acting
as Dr. Manette IS a delight 70 thu eye
and a pleasure 70 the understanding.
More extensive advertising would give
the scene OF Darnay's trial. in which the
entire cast appears. as marked an in
terest and as wide a celebrity as any
mob scene which has been produced in
Washington IN recent years.
Mr.. Harvey Is abundan'ly equipped FOR
bis work. He Is young. handsome. earn
est, intelligent. studious and artistic
and all OF these qualities manifest them
selves in ms acting. He is essentially
naturalistic. It may be doubted whether
any other actor who has appeared locally
in similar roles could have so closely
reproduced his model He embodies the
Sydney Carton Of Dickens-purposeless
careless. self-oblivious. drunken. irrever
ent. low in every thing save only the
high ideal of his love for Lucy Manett'
and his goutlenoss with the fallen and
depraved. II IS fin the end a lOvable char
acter. but never a beautiful one.
Mr.. Miller and Mr. Shea arc NOR,
3dealis.ic The last named sacrifices con
Bistency for dramatic climaXes only. bu
Mr.. Miller so far adapted the character
20 bis own as 10 invest with q magnet
ism. a spirit. an ideality almost. whicl
lifted it entirely without the scope O
the novel. but made a correspondence,
deeper impression on the sensibilitie
OF his audiences.
In the day OF Wallack. Gilbert. III
elder salvini and the great actors @
Germany and France the standard o
high histrionic art was the complete ef
facement Of the actors personality 70
the creation Of the new personalities de
manded by different roles. Today !
seems 70 be the attainment OF emotiona
force merely. The old standard produce
such actors as Irving. Coquelin. Drew
Modjeska, Mansfield. Florence. and Ad
Rehan. The new develops such as Ma
Goodwin. Stuart Robson. Henry Mile
Viola Allen. Virginia Harmed. Mr
Campbell and Mrs. Carter. To say thH
Mr. Harvey belongs with the forme
group Is % grant him a title hich car
not be lightly borne. When those OF tn
newer school shall have worn out thoi
personalities or lost their charm thrOug