The Washington times., 1903-01-27
Supported by an Excellent
Company-PIay Is Well
Mounted - Star Heartily
Applauded,

The EUzabathan farce which Shakes
peara remcdeled and christened The
Comedy of Errors" was presented at the
Columbia Theater last night by stuart
Robson and q competent company. and
the prescntmeut was received and an
plauEed by an audience which was at
once notable tribute 10 Mr.. Robson's
personality and an indication that
Shakespeare Is s5iI q potent force in
American theatrical affairs.
The Comedy of Errors appeared
from the pen OF william Shakespeare in
1898. being the third drama of which he
was the accepted author. It was proba-
bly, q revised form Of The Historic of
Errors" played a. Hamp on Court in
1916. a Comedy OF ErToTs like 10 PIaU-
tus his Nenechmi" was played by the
players at Grsy's Inn, London. on Inno-
cents Day. December 1894, as is recorded
in the "Gesta Graiorum. The players
ere described as a Company Of base and
common fellows" to distinguish them
from the members Of the inn. who acted
in an accompanying masqUe composed by
Bacon. The comedy reverted temp0rari-
ly TO its old form. in name at least. ana
was subsequently acted before the court
as The Plaje of Errors" in 1905.
This historical information has an Cs-
pectaI value, as it indicates the lose
connection between the comedy as IN
Jerpreted by modern managers and the
broad farce OF EHzabeth's reign In JhaJ
early day, and for several hundred years
following, it was presented very much as
a prototype of nineteenth century
knock about" comedy. Two gentlemen
ana two slaves. .costumed and hammered
alike, were constantly confused; the four
characters dashed on and of the stage,
cluss and whips served the offices Cf
the Iatter-day sIap-stick; confusion and
disorder prevailed, and the audience. in
2 spirit OF cooperation with the ac-
tors. egged them on to further hfIarity.
license. and noise. The Plaie Of FL
rors' was a merry making. rather Than
Q theatrical presentment, an entertain
ment. rather than an enactment
With singular perunacity this atmos-
phere cIung about ''The Comedy OF Er-
Tors until nearIy. every other play from
the same source had been refined. Even
in the SOS it was presented as broad
farce by actors who were otherwise
mirrors Of the best tendencies OF the
stage. The moderation of last night $
j. performance Is. therefore. a particularly
notable achievement. and. as has already
been Indicated in these columns, il con
stitutes Mr. Robson-s greatest con,ri-
button to the American theater When
presented with skill and moderation
The Comedy Of Errors" becomes re-
strained, Iaughable, divertfng comeIy,
and an effectuaI answer 10 those play
vrights of the present in whose iudg-
Tnent laisons between pottering old men
and characterIess young women are es-
senuals for every comedy" situation.
Mr. Robson personality blends most
pleasantly with that of the Dromio of
EDhesus- The greatest detriment OF ais
acting-an InsurmOuntable and unmis-
taxable jdentit--is Jnus made an "a
vantage in this enactment He seemed
last night TO surpass himself. Every
quip, grimace, roll Of the eye. ambIe. and
jog illuminated the part. and lent
illusion to the scene. He inspired laugh
ter spontaneously After the climax AT
the end Of the third act he was rewarded
by long and enthusiastic applause. which
even the orchestra could not subdue.
His opposite was Clifford Leigh, whose
studious imitation of Mr. Robson's voice
and fairly capable enactment Of his role
contributed fairly 10 the success OF the
performance Edwin Holt. the Antipho-
lus, Of Syracuse: AdoIph Jackson, his
counterpart OF Ephesus: Miss Eleanor
Barry the Adria8 Of tho cast. and Miss
Frances Mayo. as Luciano. we're all
abundently able, Miss Barry's fine pres
ence lending a special charm to her
rather thankIess role.
a considerable portion Of the audi
enee viewed the play with a special in
teFest IN the acting Of Laura Thompson,
a resident OF Georgetown. whose stage