Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-19
THE THEATER.
Columbia Theater,

A summer night in Washington has its
discomforts. But summer night In OLD
Verona, where languid flowers turn silver
In the breathless moonlight and fountains
purl faint obligatos to the sweest love
songs that poetry can utter-what have
maps and thermometric readings to do with
such scenes as these? Romeo and Juliet"
is essentially a play of the June time, and
1t is a blessed privilege to exchange the at
mosphere Of commonplace discomforts for
the surroundings of the stern but generous
Capulets. Again the performance of Miss
Galland and the company now playing at
the Columbia Theater, was noteworthy for
the attention to detail which enables an
auditor to appreciate a Shakespearean pro-
duction as a play rather than as mere
vehicle for the exploitation of single char
acter. Shakespeare was obviously a play
wright who would sympathize In the
maxim There is glory enough for us all :"
He was never a niggard with his wit, and
when the situation offers opportunities for
defamation. action subtle suggestion
they are placed unreservedly at the dis
posal of the fortunate player who holds
the scene. Mercutios Queen Nab speech
earned hearty round of applause for Mr.
Mellish early in the play He delivered it
with animation. and yet without any arti-
fical appeal for the incidental hand clap
pings which less conscientious actor
might have claimed at the expense OF leglt-
at home in the traditions of "Capulet'
than man of deeper voice and greater
stature would have been. nevertheless re-
Elected an intelligent appreciation OF the
parts requirements William k1ftrldge
emphasized the role of Paris conspic-
uous essential in the plot despite its COM
parative brevity. Godfrey Stein made the
fiery Tybalt' a parsonage worthy that trite
epithet and earned hearty applause for
scenes that are usually passed over as mere
perfunctory incidents of the story. Kate
Denim Wilson was thoroughly at home as
the nurse, and Robert Fergusons perform
ance of the role of Peter gives him right
to rank with the best of classic clowns
But it is of Romeo and Juliet that the
people came to hear 1t was their fortunes
that the audience assembled last night to
follow. JON Blair inspired confidence wnen
he first appeared, crossing the stage with
out uttering word. His jaunty costume of
red, from shoes to feather, caught the eye
at once and proclaimed him a beau ideal of
Italian gallantry and fashion His speech
and carriage, too impressed him as man
of culture and sensibility. Mr.. Blair is
singularly fortunate in being able to place
the stamp of refinement Enthusiastically on
whatever he does; not the ostentatious and
false refinement of the poseur, but the in
herent and genuine quality which makes
idealism matter of course. His Romeo
was frank, boyish, volatile. yet withal sin
cere. 1t was a study of human passion and
sorrow which he did not permit at any
time into a mere display of habitual mel
ancholia.
Miss Galland's Juliet revealed her once
more as beautiful and gifted young wo-
man, and a conscientious and intelligent
student Her work reflects the most care
full cultivation, and her personal graces
mark every scene in which she appears
replete with pictorial charm.
The audience last night was highly APP
preciative and the play progressed with
smeothness for which credit is due to Mr..
HickmanS stage management.