The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-22

NEW YORK. Nov 21.-"why didn't
YOU I said to James /. Ford. head
your notice OF the Rohertson-Elhott
performance, The Play That Failed?'
Because. replied Mr.. Ford, Il
thought that was just what all the 9TH
er critics would do
Doubtless that IS what they all must
have thought, for I did not see review
with that caption. although practically
all Of them had few good things TO say
Of she play that George Fleming Miss
Constance FIetcher) made out of the
Kipling novel.
Surely NJ Robertson and his charm
ing wife. Maxine Elliott's sister. would
never have thought or offering this
piece in New York had if not made an
extraordinary hit in London last sea-
son. But I think I can understand why
the English should have taken 10 IL kind
"; they and their concerns as a ma
ton are being constantly harped upon
And I can understand. too. why Mr.
Robertso. should like 10 play Dick Hell
dar. In lie scene where he goes blind
he certainly has some magnificent op-
portunities for cting-opportunities. be
ii added. of which he avails himself
with admirable art
But by that time the play is more
than half over and surely a thing OF
this sort cannot be considered fair
theatrical entertainment 20 the tune Of
3 a seat.
A Dull Prologue.
The prologue to The Light That
FAILED is one of the dullest- most
arid stretches of stage talk it has ever
been nv misfortune to sit through.
When the curtain fell on it the night
Of nv ATTENDANCE at the Knickerbocker
there was not the faintest handicap
10 be heard.
But there was still worse to follow.
The second act Of this play contains.
10 my mind the most indecent and re-
voting episode ever placed on any stage.
II occurs in a passage between the
model. Bessie Broke, acted by Miss
Auriol Lee. and Torpenhow. played ex-
cellently by c. Aubrey Smith.
Mr. Smith remember in London two
years ago serving IN dual capacity
as business manager for the St James
Theater and impersonator of Hugh
CSraersce in THE Wilderness, a role
done here at the Empire by Lawrance
D'OFsay.
There is still another reason why
Forbes Robertson should enjoy enacting
the part Of an artist in a play of even
50 unequal cs-liber as THE Light That
Failed" He IS himself a painter of
no mean ability. A work from his
brush, the wedding scene from Much
Ado About Nothing" belongs TO Henry
Irving and gives portraits of all the
leading members in the Irving troupe.
including Mr.. Robertson himself as
Claudio
Ncc RObertson's First Visit.
This is ~ no means Mr.. Robertson s
first visit 20 America. He was here
long ago as leading man with Mary
Anderson. and also acted in Sardou's
failure ar the old ProctOr-''Thermidor "
His Hamlet has a high reputation In
England, and it Is 10 be hoped the
slender patrona ge which the public has
accorded the kipling drama Will induce
him TO present the melancholy Dane at
the KnickerbOcker. and also possibly
a Winters Tale" with which he and
Gertrude Elliott delighted Londoners
the winter OF 19O0-1s0l the year Of their
marriage.
Their original New York booking was
for seven weeks, but unhappily the
American rights 10 Mice and Men" are
vested with Annie Russell. so there is
not much chance that they may be
seen On this. their greatest London
triumph. before the stage of IN KniclS-
srb0cker is given over To Anna Held
ana her gorgeous Nam selle Napoleon %
IL was on this same stage. by the way
that Gertrude Elliott made her last APP
Dearance in town, as the lively young
girl in Nathan Hale" IL Is another
coincidence that just now another CLYDE
Fitch revolutionary play should be on
view. also that for the first week oil
Miss Elliotts engagement. her sister
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