Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-22
Columbia Theater.

When Mr.. Sothern playfully warned his
hearers last night at the Columbia Theater
that he might write another play the threat
was received with cheerfulness His initial
effort had so much in it that was good that
there was a general wish for him to come
again. The theater was filled with crit
ical yet friendly gathering that came to see
the first performance Of Mr.. Sothern's com
edy with the cumbersome title The Light
That Lies in Womans Eyes" Mr.. Sothern
has so impressed the public a man of
ability, graceful with the pen as well as
faciIe in delineation, that mertorious work
was expected. But his auditors were not
prepared to take him wholly on trust in his
character as playwright. The laurel
was waiting for him, but he had to win 1t.
The setting of the first act, the interior of
Anne Hathaway's cottage at Shottery. near
Stratford, earned a decidedly favorable
opinion. The scenes that followed, general
ly bright, sometimes trifie burlesque,
deepened the cordial impression, and when
the curtain fell the applause was hearty
and sincere. The second act went even
better. 1t was laid In the forest of Arden.
The delicious fOolery of the people who
were preparing for performance of LAS
You Like It. captured the house and the
curtain was rung up half a dozen times.
The audience was now ready to assure the
author OF its approval and the applause
ciates were somewhat weary of bowling &C
Acknowledgements and the orchestra started
to play. But the theater now echoed the
cries for "Sothern!' and the author modest
ly appeared.
Il am surprised" he remarked, with a
deprecating glance toward the orchestra,
that you would rather listen to me than
the band. l am sure he went on. Il am
grateful to you for your kind reception. l
hope you will like the next act as you have
yldt n lie. Won bow Oh,
encouragement to me-" he added syly
that you had better look out-I may write
another play
So that it may fairly be regarded as
Sothern triumph. Yet without the capable
company that presented it. apparently let
ter perfect in their lines, and the elaborate
and appropriate settings that inclosed the
scenes, a different story might be told.
Virginia Harmed is given the part of a
roguish Irish girl and is very winsome In
the scenes with her lover whom she brings
to her feet only to reject and humliate
him. The title of the play is the keynote
of these scenes, which caused one auditor
to witttly paraphrase it to The Lies That
Light in Woman'S Eyes" William Courte-
nay was given a wholly congenial and at
tractive part in Hector Cameron, the lover
of Lady Lorna Leinster Virginia Harned),
and his dash was a fair counterpart to the
fire and spirit of Lady Lorna. Stanley
Dark was given a freakish sort of role
as Wiggin Smythe- Wiggin. 1t was diff
cult to appraiSe it exactly He was re-
ferred to by his friend Cameron as a black
guard, but he appeared more simple than
sinner. At any rate, he was amusing
William A. Evans essayed the part of Mr.
Splinter, poet. and was mildly humorous
Miss Mabel Snider represented Margaret
Mayfield blind girl. Miss Margaret
Gordon portrayed an American girl with
not too exuberant spirit, and Henry Jew
EFT was comical and unconventional king
Of the gypsies.
Virginia Harmed portrays with rare
charm beautiful Irish girl, who to pre-
vent man falling in love with another
girl causes him to fall In love with herself
AS means to this end she has q rehearsal
of Shakespeare's LAS You Like It." appear
ing as Rosalind. and the hero, a part taken
by William Courtenay, as Orlando When
the heroine. Miss Harned's part, discovers
her scheme promises success she insists
she was making love only in the play, and
the lover thereupon has her kidnapped by
gypsies, who tie both to trees and reveal
the lovers secret. Humiliation follows to
the hero, and the rest of the love story
dwells on the efforts of the heroine to cause
him to forget this, and the play winds up
with a wedding.
The scenery was deserving Of praise. The
interior of Anne Hathaways cottage was
pronounced by those who have visited the
place as very creditable and faithful re-
production. dainty view was given of the
forest Of Arden, while the closing scene
interior of Stratford Church, deserved all
the hearty applause that was given 1t. The
presentation of part Of the marriage serv-
ice was regarded by some in the audience al