Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-16
ADJUSTMENTS.

COLUMBIA THEATER.-There were
some empty chairs at the Columbia Theater
last night when that really great actor,
Martin Harvey, made his first appearance
before a washington audience. These va
cant places represented SO many opportuni-
ties overlooked, for Mr.. Harvey is one Of
the very few players whose art Is genuine
and unaffected and at 4he same time Inn
pressive He has no need to affect vocal
volume that jars the atmosphere or to lend
himself to extravagant poses. He Is, of
course, a master of the technical side of his
profession; the eminence which he has at
tanned in his art guaranteed that this much
might be taken for granted, even before he
made his appearance He has In addition
to this the tense nervous force, the COM
pelling magnetism which establishes bond
OF sympathy between the actor and his role
and makes the latter an animated fellow
being and not a mere momentary fiction.
1t has been contended that Dickens char
acters are exaggerated beyond the posi-
blfities of humanity. Mr.. Harvey's Sidney
Carton-for the Sidney Carton of the stage
belongs to Mr.. Harvey almost as much as
THE Tale of Two Cities belongs to Dick
ens-is a refutation of those criticisms. SO
far, at least, as this one novel Is concerned.
Inc character is intense because OF Its
simple reality.
This actors personality is wonderfully
striking. Although he is not large man
physically. he commands by sheer force OF
intellectually and artistic fervor. In ap-
pearance he is well built, without being
rugged, and fine featured, without effemi-
macy. He has somehow wholly escaped
harsh mannerisms which mar the work Of
so many English stage celebrities, and while
he is always the center of interest there Is
no trace Of egoism in his methods. He is a
new type; a relief from the busting, bonn
bastic performer who has worked his way
up and Is still hurrying and jostling in order
to get on. He steps into a position OF en-
vlaole eminence as one to the manner born
and carries himself without trace Of self
consciousness to suggest a doubt OF his
title to a natural inheritance. He does not
seem to regard his art as merely a means
for furthering personal ambitions but
rather to hold himself as chosen instru-
ment-a devotee-whose rewards are found
primarily and chiefly in work itself 1t
seems almost fantastic that these impress
sions should arise from the mere observa-
ton Of a man engaged in performing play
Of no higher classical pretensions than
1.-The Only Way" But the piece Is entitled
to rank as great play, because of the one
character Of Carton, and this actor has SO
completely identified himself with the role
that other performances Of 1t can be &C
counted successful. only SO far as they are
good limitations of his Interpretation.
The portrayal of Carton as q drunkard
and prohigate presents difficulties. There is
no visible effort to palliate the grossness OF
the debauch in which he is first revealed,
yet there Is so much refinement in his
nature that pity dominates disgust and the
auditor follows him step by step to his splen-
did sacrifice, glad that his native nobility
Is enough to conquer the sensual tyranny
under which he has fallen. and yet sorrow
ing that this tragic conclusion should be
the only way"
The production has the finish as to detail
which would be expected in the case of so
distinguished and capable a player. A
number Of competent performances were
given, notable among them being that of
Miss N de Silva as Mimi. VIM. Haviland
Nee
Charles Darnay.
The audience last night was unsunted in
its display Of enthusiasm and Mr.. Harvey,
at the close Of the second act, made ac-
THE NEW NATIoNAL-'The Wilder
ness" is one Of those conversational London
plays wherein lone" says lots Of things
about zones self" After seeing 1t one feels
that one has come through the wilderness
with the characters themselves. Whether
this is a tribute to the ability Of H. V. Es-
Hyond to portray the barrenness Of a sea
son in town." or because the piece drags a
bit in spots, one must decide for ones self.
The dialogue Is good and the English all
that can be desired. But there are times
when one really wishes events would move
forward just a bit more rapidly. Mr.. Es-
mond the playwright, has endeavored to
surround his finale with doubt and uncer-
tainty up to the very last moment. But he
has drawn his characters too well and has
charged the atmosphere too heavily with
that lived long and happily ever after
ward spirit to cause much doubt In the
minds of his auditors as to the eventual
arm-clasped love scene upon which the cur
tain will fall.
The Empire Theater stock company, the
Frohman stepping stone to stardom, is al
ways assured Of enthusiastic hearing in
the capital city, and last nights audience
which braved the muggy weather was i'm
portant from a social standpoint, as 1t was
from more mercenary point Of view. The
1ao ding Of ha no I'll
Richman and Margaret Anglin, both of
whom are well known to Washington play
goers, especially Miss Anglln. Mr.. Rich
man is given the difficult task Of portray
most too good to be appreciated. One Won
ders how he has managed to escape the
tendencies Of his environment for all his
thirty-f1ve years. Mr. Richman is manly in
the part, however, and lends his personali-
ty to 1t In such large degree that it is
lifted up and inspires the sympathy and
confidence which the author unquestionably
is striving for. Miss Anglin in the three
acts goes through a remarkable transfer
nation. much to the delight Of her friends.
At the beginning she is shown as a rich
misunderstanding young person Of no scru-
pies; her brain filed with the instiled ideas
of a mercenary matchmaking mother. She
learns things as the play goes on, however,
and comes not only to admire her husband,
but to love him above all things In the
world. Their happiness is threatened at
the end by the appearance OF a former
cousin-lover of the young wife, but the
storm clouds are passed safely through
and all ends WELL William Courtleigh
plays the cousin. He has the thankIess
task Of framing contrasting character for
the good hero. Mr.. Whiffen, Ethel Hor-
nick. Lillian Thurgate, W. H. Crompton,
Lawrence DOrsay and others are In the
cast. The play Is best in the parts where
society is satirized
LAFAYETTE OPERA HOUSE.-Laytnia
Shannon was accorded the warmest Of well
comes last evening at the Lafayette
Opera House upon returning home after an
extended absence. A native Of this city
Miss Shannon must have felt particularly
gratified by the evidence of regard for her
on the part of the audience. AS the princi-
pal character in Beyond Pardon" She won
the good win Of the auditors from the In
itial rise Of the curtain. At the end Of the
third act number of floral offerings were
passed over the footlights AS the popular
actress bowed her acknowledgements a rep
resentative OF tho Washington Lodge of
Elks mounted the stage and, on behalf Of
the lodge, presented Miss Shannon with a
huge bouquet OF American beauty roses
saying that the recipient was held In high
regard by the Elks because OF the material
assistance she had given the organization
time and again in connection with it's bene-
fit entertainments The audience, which in