The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-09-22

ehA SkAAAAs Nao DGtotultQ at the 90
lumbia Theater last night, as the latest
ESSAY in playwriting of e H. sothern
Thu work bore as a title two lines from
Thomas Moore, taken from a song which
tegins:
The time I've lost in wooing,
In seeking and pursuing
The light that lies
In woman's eyes,
Has been my souls undoing
Substance and title are thus from
distirctively differena sources. but this
strSngeness of material, this association
of the mountain heights of Shakespeare
and the pleasant valley of Tom Moore
in dramatic landscape of unexpected
plaE did not deter last nights audience
An assembly characteristic of the in
tencctual life of this Capital-from
manifesting every sign of pleasure. sym
pathy. and ultimate approval, in spite
of its mystifcation.
Many elements united to give especial
interest to this performance The
play was then disclosed for the first
verdict OF the public. 1t represented the
constructive talents of an actor long es-
tabhFhed as a favorite in Washington.
II was known TO be a comedy of clean
and heaithful substance. consideration
which had new weight, in view of the
fact that the star. Virginia Harmed. had
earned her present position almost en-
tirely by delineating the most conspicu-
cusly immoral characters of the stage
Finally. the performance marked the
opening of the theater for the current
season, and the dedication of a new and
fttrective scheme of interior decora-
ton.
Novel Scenes and New Characters
An air of general expectancy was
therefore. to have been anticipated. But
the spirit OF the evening. expressed in
simcst continuous laughter. much hand
clapring. innumeTable curtain calls. and
an irresistible demand for a speech
fror> the author, belonged Enthusiastically
to tie play alone.
Mr.. Sothern. apparently. built his plot
partly as a lifelong student OF Shakes
peare, partly as an actor and partly as
en author of free fancy and poetic
spirit
1t is begun in Anne Hathaway's cot
tage. where the Elizabethan Age and the
Age OF Commerce are opposed by the
advent of group OF twentieth century
sightseers. II then continues in a glade
where the visitors al the cottage are TO
play LAS You Like II" in the open air
From the Forest OF Arden il moves 10 a
gypsy camp. The conclusion gathers in
the threads strewn along this tortuous
way and disposes of them-in the nave
OF cathedral.
The characters correspond admirably.
II Mr.. Sothern the stage manager is
ingenious. so also is Mr.. Sothern the
author. His subsidiary creations include
an old woman who is the last OF the
Hathaways. and who has apparently
stepped out of Mother Goose" a blind
girl whose sight fed in consequence of
an attack OF scarletina and in defiance Of
all ophthalmic science; a fop whose
worst chatter is relieved by altogether
unsupported wit; stableman who looks
like John Bull: an American girl who
has .piquancy and yet tact and common
sense. and king of the gypsies. TO
mantle as a comic opera and realistic
as prizehghter. The hero is an Arctic
explorer who narrowly escapes sailing
out OF the plot in a submarine boat.
and the heroine. Miss Harmed. is a
mad-cap. volatile. playful and mischiev-
Gus Irish noblewoman. II is a singular
array, but delightful beyond question
A Curious Plot Slxillfully Woven.
Curious threads weave curious pat
terms. Mr.. Sothern's plot matches his
scenario and bis cast Of characters. His
hero assumes to be the blind girls
sweetheart to indulge a fancy OF her III
ness. The heroine mistakes a quizzicaI
sally for a threat to entrap the invalid
and sets herself to save her friend by
capturing away her supposititious lover.
She entraps him by acting Rosalfnd 10
his Orlando. but when her game should
end she finds she cannot fling an ex
pIorer's viii TO the winds The latter
is determined 70 win her, acquiescent or
TebelliOus. A chance remark suggests
that he have her captured by gypsies and
rescue her. but the rescue leaves his
wiilful sweetheart still in command. and
he wins eventually only when all his
fighting strength is gone and his re-
sources are all exhausted.
dent even from a synopsis like this The
plot Is a series OF surprises The comedy
is very largely that of the unexpected.
Yet plot and comedy have both distinc-
tive charm. The play was written by a
man Of intellect for others who also have
intellect. II Is built on an appreciation
OF Shakespeare. The text Is varied
graceful. and. in turn. clever. audacious.
poeticai and humorous IN the sense that
the "PiciSlvick Papers are humorous
With all this. the work IS stilI an actors !
play The action" is incessant the
business is abundant, and all the 4
properties OF the stage are put to
their full use
The company is. on the whole. agree.
ably cast NJ. Jewett, as the gypsy |
chief. Was a pronounced success. Mrs. I
Fanny Addison Pitt will develop "the i
last OF the Hathaways" into one of her
best OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES last nights
promise is deliberately disregarded.
MarKaref Gordon aDDparad n much ID