The Washington times., 1902-01-14
Mr.. Bellows Stock Players Revive
Lady windermere's Fan"

From the lofty heights of Shakespeare
an tragedy to the less pretentious, though
intensely absorbing satire of Oscar Wilde
is indeed a wide jump, and one which only
a stock company would have the courage
20 take, but the players under Mr.. Bel
lows direction fall easily into the spirit
OF Lady Windermere's Fan." which
opened the week at the Lafayette Theatre
last night.
Shakespeare is for the student; Wilde
for the amusement seeker, and certainly
nothing more brilliant, more deeply in
teresting than the dialogue Of Lady VIM
dermere's Fan can be conceived. 1t has
been long time since the play was given
locally and it should prove happy re-
vival for it sparkies with smart sayings
and aphorisms, yet the story is told in a
direct terse way which not only COM
pels approval but sincere admiration. In
Lady Windermere's Fan" the author has
used his pen with free hand, present
ing vivid picture OF certain portion
of London society. But the story is IN
tensely entertaining despite its question
able moral tone, for it depicts phGse
of lire with which the ordinary theaCe-
goer is not familiar, or rather one OF
whicn he knows just enough to make Its
| representations interesting. The atmos-
phere of London society is not over
charged with purity, and SO story written
within its limits is almost necessarily OF
the problem class. So many plays OF ike
! variety have been produced since Lady
Windermere's Fan that the public has
either grown accustomed to their broad
tone or is willing to tolerate them for the
sake of some redeeming quality, which, III
| the Wilde play, is its smart dialogue. Epl-
! grams are generously distributed through
| out the play and the lines fairly scintll-
! late.
| The play is well constructed, and no
| doubt formed the model for many OF It's
! kind which nave since been brought 10
| light. The third act, especially, is very
| strong dramatically. and at its conclusion
| presents a scene which, while important,
| being cleyerly conceived, is remarkable Tor
| its very simplicity. The one important
! female character is Mrs. Erlynne, and 1t
| is not TO the discredit of Katherine Clinton
| to say that she does not quite I'LL the
part. AS the author has drawn her, Mrs.
| Er,vnne is woman of the world-sharp-
| yitted. big hearted, and generous 10 a
| fauIt but still a woman of the world. The
| mart calls for an experienced actress-one
| who. through actual and long contact with
| the social set, has become familiar with
| their foibles and who, therefore, is abso-
| lutely capable or representing them anu
the atmosphere of the so-called smart set.
| Miss Clinton works hard. and does her
| best with the part, but it proves trife
| too much for her and besides, she looks
| too Youthful Lillian Lawrence plays Lady
| Windermere acceptably. Antofnette Walk
| er has little to do. inasmuch as her only
lines throughout the play are Yes, mann
ma" but she provokes much amusement
nevertheless Mrs Thomas Barry is an eX-
ceIlent Duchess of Berwick.
White WhittIesey makes Lord Winder-
mere a very manly fellow, one of whom
| any wife might be proud. In such parts
| as Lord Windermere, Mr.. Whittlesey al
| ways act with commendable discretion and
| repression. To Charles Wyngate belong the
| comedy honors of the evening. for he
| scored a distinct success as Mr.. Charles
| Dumby, the man whose hearing was i'm
paired. Mr. Wyngate plays the role with
| fine intelligence. Frederick Sullivan is
| amusing also as Cecil Graham.
"AlI the Comforts Of Home" is under
| lined for production next week.