Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1903-11-24
THE CRISIS
Big Audience Turns Out To See
Isabel Irving And Com
pany In Winston
Churchill's
Play.


Manager Hollebaugh came very near
requiring his standing room only
sign last night at the Colonial Theatre
on the occasion of the only appearance
in this city of Isabel Irving in THE
Crisis" Every good seat on the
ground floor was taken, and the same
was no doubt true upstairs. The name
of Winston Churchill, the author of
the book and adapter of the play, is
one to conjure with in Annapolis, to
say nothing Of the we'll known merit
Of Miss Irving and her company. Our
theatre goers were not slow TO take
advantage of an opportunity to behold
drama by the author of Richard
Carvel, and to greet the lineal de-
scendants of that hero whose fictit-
ious career has done SO much to make
Maryland's capital famous.
The enire company, came here di-
rect from the West End Theatre, New
York, though they were scheduled to
appear throughout the present week
at Baltimore. Owing to the presence
Of Adelina Patti at the latter place
last might, however, and thanks to
the foresight and energy of our local
manager, the first night of the engage
ment was transferred to Annapolis.
We do not think that anyone connec-
ted with the production has reason to
regret the change of plan.
The story of 1.-THE Crisis is not so
interesting nor so well told as that of
Richard Carvcl, - although it deals
with q more recent and perhaps a
more stirring period of American his
tory. And in adapting his romance to
| the stage, Mr.. Churchill has been COM
PEELED to sacrifice much of the thread
of continuity which, at times was
stretched almost to the swapping point
in the original story. In fact, the play
is little more than a series of extracts
taken from those parts Of the book
which seemed most suitable for stage
presentation. As work of art, there
| fore, it amounts practically to moth
ing, and from this point of view it is,
perhaps, unfair to judge it. What is
chiefly to be considered on the other
hand, is the temporary interests which
| these extracts afford, and the fidelity
with which the actors have adhered to
what was very evidently, Mr.. Church
ills conception of the various charac-
| ters in scope that is necessarily mar
row. The first point may be dismissed
at once. The interest aroused was real
and though the applause last night
was ON on occasion hilarious, it was
always hearty and genuine.
1t is difficult to imagine part bet.
ter suited to the dainty grace of Miss
Irving than that Of Virginia Carvei.
As matter of fact, she had compare.
lively little to do, but what she did
was accomplished with q finish and
| winsomeness that can result only from
natural aptitude and seasoned stage
training. Miss Irving's acting of the
impetuous loving southern heroine
was the very essence of daintiness, and
as far as the masculine eye is con.
cerned, she left absolutely nothing tC
be longed for in the matter of persona
attractiveness. Indeed, we owe this
charming actress debt of gratitude
for demonstrating that hoopskirts anc
crinoline may be employed as articles
of genuine adornment.
The success of the production de-
pends altogether on the strength oi
the cast, and it is sufficient to say
that Miss Irving's supporting company
was quite adequate. Mr.. Wilfrid Nortf
fits absolutely into the part of the
hero, Stephen Brice, and there is rea
SON to believe that he has made &
faithful study of the character, no
only in the play, but in the book al
well. He possesses the superlativs
merits of distinct enunciatiOn, free
dom from bombast, and telling stage
presence. To our mind, he would make
most convincing Richard Carvel. :
Mr.. Charles Lamb was effective al
the crotchety Judge Whipple, 4" anC
was certainly not lacking in the quail
ity of strenuoufness. Mr.. Thomas
A. Hall had an admirable makeup Al
Colonel Carvel' and convinced the
audience that he was true, old fash
ioned secessionist The character d
Eliphalet Hopper which, it will b.
recalled, is made of primary import
ance in the book, and is one to which
Mr.. Churchill devoted much of hi
attention, was assumed by Mr.. Jaque
Martin, and though he extracted 1
number of laughs from his audience
he reduced to q system Of premedita
ted burlesque, q part that was intend
ed to be Of far deeper import. Th'
rest Of the company was satisfactory
The play was brought forward unde
the direction OF Mr.. James Il. Hack
ett, and this was sufficient guaran
tee that no detail that might add t.
the effectiveness Of the production
would be omitted. The costumes
even including the ill-fitting, baggy
/ trousers of the men and the crin0lin
Of the women, were true to fact, an
the scenery, especially that of the sec
ond act, showing the lawn and exte
rior Of Colonel Carvel's country house
was admirable. In particular must "
commend the practicable" lightnin
bugs that filtered to and fro Will
Colonel Carvel's guests disported them