The Washington times., 1903-05-05
H. V. Esmond's Comedy
e. Well Received at Hands Of
William Faversham, Fay
Davis, Hilda Spong, and
Other Good Actors.

A comedy reflective of life in a GER
tain strata OF English society, called
''Imprudence," and written by H. v.
Esmond, was presented at the National
Theater yesterday evening. The cast
was headed by William Faversham, and
included half a dozen other actors OF
pronounced ability. AT these hands the
comedy obtained an exceptionally
bright and artistic Interpretation, so
that the audience. confused by the as
sociation of suggestive dialogue with
hne and noble character, left the thea
ter in much genuine doubt
Mr.. Esmond belongs TO that new
school of dramatists which depends
upon the burning interest Of Illicit as
ISOLATION and the fostering sore of an
unsound society for the force OF its
products 1t is enough for the members
OF this school to presume the existence
OF a sweet young girl. manly young
man and liaison, of which one or the
other may be suspected. For several
years these ingredients were accepted
as abundant for every theatrical feast
but firing public and few ambitious
Diaywrights have now lifted this ''soci-
ETY. drama" into the realm of fairly
good delineation of character. In one or
TWO instances the playwrights permit
themselves TO close their writings with
a little glimpse of sunshine, and a
breath of air only half polluted and I'M
I'll the favor of fashion exhausts itself
on this school. theatergoers and critics
Viii DO well to rejoice in this show of
mercy rather than protest against such
q perVersion of stage purposes.
Little Virtue and Much Vice
1mprudence" is admirably represen-
tatiYe CT this tendency. 1t depends upon
the seamy side of life. 1t displays al
most score of characters who are well
dressed, fairly well educated, and of I'M
doubted social position, and whose i'm
morality ought to condemn them 10 jail.
Each of these persons. like Shiny frog,
befouls everything he touches. In this
instance, they blacken the name and
imperil the happiness OF a fair, young.
bhthe. and rather unguarded woman
whose life has been spotless and thought
pure beyond the ken of such creatures.
She Is lifted out of this mire by a calm
and adroit young gentleman who is for
tunately able to achieve her vindication
with hands comparatively clean.
The impairment of this play is pleas
ant. and saluuary thought is left in
remembrance. 1t teaches. if it teaches
anything, the imperative and unceasing
need of circumspection in the conduct
and speech OF daily life. 1t serves, also,
TO display an American English &C
tor. Fay Davis. as a merry and
needless girl. and Mr. Faversham
as a stanch and loyal young man,
to the delight of everyone in the
theater. Such types, presented with
care, restraint. and charm. are ever de-
lightful and serve to dissipate the fog
and smoke of such life as Mr.. Esnond
pictures in -Imprudenee." They indi-
cate also that perhaps the real ends Of
the drama were best served by those old
writer's who found the shadows of their
plots in the Vaccinations OF one or two
eharacters only and did not rely upon
deceptive, confusing. and perpIexing
quality of atmosphere. No one who
saw 'Imprudence" last night could ever
compare il with The School for Scan
dal, comedy OF much subtle humor.
brisk movement. bright style. and-on
the whole-fne and helpful lessons. Yet
Sheridan was able entirely TO subordi-
nate the whole scandal-mongering CO.
eterie on which the adverse events of his
plot depended. To Mr.. Esmond the cor
responding element of 'Imprudence"
seems TO be the end and not the means
of his play making
A Company of Great Strength.
Excellent acting was done by ir.
Faversham and Miss Davis. both Of
whom gave smooth, sound, even, md
sincere representations OF roles chiefly
noted for their simplicity of manner
and fine basis of character. Hnda Spong
who embodied the actual cuIprit OF the
story--a brilliant and unscrupulous wo-
man-appeared TO much advantage ex-
espling alone in her first scene She
easily eclipses all her competitors Of
the modern stage in acting which is de-
lineatiye OF the life in modern artificial
society. and the distinction between that
life as it is portrayed on the stage and
life Of earnestness and industry is
admirably manifested in this associa
lion of Miss Spong and Miss Davis
rN<A-eAi Afs mai y .alCndFu bennett, MIS-
George Dickson. Mrs Sol Smith. Maggie
Holloway Fisher. Helen Lowell. and
Jeffreys Lewis presented distinct and
finely drawn portrayaIs of rather exag-
Fgerated types and contributed to their
several regulations by supporting
comedy which has not the intrinsic
strength to stand alone.
.Imprudence" is TO be noted. then
for the presentation OF fine company
in roles more or less congeniai; for the
discovery TO Washington OF an actress
who is eminently talented, well trained.
exceptionally intelligent, and charming
TO a rare degree; for the announcement
OF lesson which is distinctly sound
and perhaps needed today; and for the
exhibition Of that inherent and uncon-
scious strength which prevails over in
sincerity everywhere and rides through
the storm OF scandal and suspicion, Sc
cure and indomitable OF all this last
nights audience may not have been con
seious, but the pleasure manifest in the