The Washington times., 1903-10-27
This Week. Offerings at the Meaters
VIOLA ALLEN is CHARMING
AS VIOLA IN "TWELFTH NIGHT"


claimably ridiculous. The role is ac-
cordingly portrayed generally without
any part of the dignity which attached
to Malvolio's post AS over Brutus, the
student and the actor have frequently
disagreed over this character. The re-
suit has been that wonderfully dra-
matte figure. filled with tragic interest,
has been degenerated into a buffoon.
Mr.. Betterton. Mr. Kemble, Mr.. Irving,
and Mr.. Taber. however. thought il no
derOgation OF their station as actors to
enact the role as the text requires. and
IL is most pleasant now to add Mr.. Blair
to their number.
The fmpersonation in this instance Is
unquestIonably one Of the strongest ele-
ments in the production a description
Of Mr.. Irving i'm the character fits Mr..
Blair admirably:
Lean. lank. with self-occupied visage
and formal, peaked. Spanish beard;
dressed in close garb Of black. striped
with yellow. and holding a stewards
wand I'm the llghtness Of which there is
something OF fantastic symbolism. Nal
vOlio steps on the stage with nose in
air and eyes half shut, as II in sin
gular and moody contemplation"
An unhappy arrangement Of the
in the dungeon scene most unfortunate
u: but the impersonation is neverthcl .
noteworthy for its dramatic vigor as II
is for the airiness. spirit, and conviction
with which Mr. Blair has imbued it.
All the Parts Justly Acted
Many laughed last night until their
sides ached. but II was not at Malvolio.
II was rather with the rarest trio Of
characters seen in Washington for
many a day-Sir Toby Belch. Sir An
drew Aguecheek, and the guileful
Maria. acted by Clarence Handyside,
Frank Currier and Zefie Tmbury Mr.
| Handyside has been seen in many parts.
! and in none Of them. be 1t said with all
] kindness, has he shOne. But Sir Toby
/ BeIch. one of the most difficult roles in
/ the dramatis personae Of all Shake
/ speare. evokes an ability OF the best
sort Mr.. Currier has acted Sir Andrew
with equal success IN other companies.
/ Miss Tnlbury made herself and the role
or Maria notable In one night when in
the company Of Beerbohm Tree. These
/ three gave the revelry Of the comedy a
! cogency which Il almost never obtains.
and they were rewarded last night by
peal after peal Of laughter as loud and
twenty times more spontaneous than
was ever provoked by a farce
! Niolas double, a character which
/ stretches the license even of dramatists
and poets. was acted exceptionally well
| by James Young. Nora o Erien was the
/ Olivia. physically beautiful. but spirit
I uaIly insignificant. seIf-willed. conven-
tional and selfish. Scott Craven, as
the Orsino. was the only weak figure In
/ the cast and those who remember the
production OF this play by Augustin
Daily viii regret this miscasting Of Mr..
/ Craven as much for his sake as for
the blemish on the production. Yet, on
7 the whole. the evening recalled crit
cism OF the Betterton performance: IAN
the parts being Justly acted, orown'd
the play
Rhythm, Music, and Success.
Rhythm and music are Joined with the
humOr OF Twelfth Night most hap
PLY in this entertainment. Feste, the
Jester, is permitted TO retain two Of the
songs which Shakespeare included in
the text Both Of these have been given
a beautiful musical setting by Augustus
Barratt, and are well sung by Edwin
Howard II the fine poetry Of the
comedy. the unusual acting Of the sup
porting members Of the cast, the
! EcnoldrEulU ana Skill OF MI GSl4li anu
/ the winsome charm Of Miss Allen are
not enough 10 make the entertainment
, altogether delightful, the only missing
element is supplied by this music.
The conclusion then, is this Tina
the perfection Of English comedy and
the most fascinating drama in the ian
p guage. as Twelfth Night" has beer
denominated by a great scholar has
been richly CARRIED and finely illumi
mated That the charm OF the comedy
IS REINFORCED by appropriate anC
sweet music That a lovely and pure
Z hearted actress has added 20 the mum
I Der Of her successful interpretation
the character OF Viola. That the mucl
neglected and much misunderstood rol'
C Of Malvolio has been given scholarly
e and Impressive enactment And that an
? audience directly representative Of IN
b city's intelligent interest In the the
= afer supported the undertaking gen
e erousIy. and heard the Performance
{ with delight. Surely, now that the ligh
: OF these facts shines on our stage. Thu
must be happy day for US all.
r A. ID. A.