The Washington times., 1903-03-17
Play Proves to Be Para
phraSeOf Dickens "ChriSt-
mas Caro-" Mr.. HaWtrey
Well Received.

A voice from the past sounded in the
New National Theater last night It
was either an echo OF the miracle play
OF six hundred years ago or the speech
Of christmas Present" in Dickens
"Christmas Carol" For nearly three
hours a characteristic local audience
listened intently. Then. when the old
fairy tale had ended and the growr-up
children had rubbed their eyes. they
passed hurriedly TO the street, crowded
their way into clamorous electric cars
end we're whisked in truly modern style
to modern homes and modern channels
OF thought.
This miracle play OF To-Day is entitled
a Message From Mars" and is the
work OF Richard Ganthony, en- Ameri-
can. II was presented by a company OF
English actors, headed by Charles Haw-
trey. a light comedian OF much celebrity
abroad and now on his first tour of
America. Both actors and stage set
tirgs we're noted with some favor. But
81 the play is successful at all It Is
due rather to the holiness OF the play
wright and the power of fairy tales
than TO superior acting OF extraordinary
investiture
Mr. Ganthony's story may be more
easily told than it's sustained interest
would suggest He has conceived a
wealthy young EngIishman with a heart
so shrivcled by selhshness that even
a devoted and self-deprecating sweet
heart finally rebels. To this man in a
dream comes a messenger from Mars.
and the latter. subduing the English
mans will by an exhibition Of strange
and frightful power over chairs. tables,
room and tenant. takes him out into
the snow and exhibits to him his repu-
tation among his friends. With this
lesson comes financial ruin, the sud
den transformation OF his fine clothes
into rags and totters. and an association
on humiliating terms OF equality with
the riff-raff OF the London streets. The
experience is salutary. Mr.. Ganthony's
Englishman like Scrooge in a Christ
mas Carol" is saved from himself. So
the curtain falls on the play. on the
story Of Dickens, with voices sounding
over and over in many hearts the i'm
mortal sentiment OF Tiny Tim God
bless us. everyone"
ishness az Christmas. the playwright op-
poses selnshness at all times Horace
Parker becomes az Mr.. Hawtrey's hands.
however, much more lovabie figure
than old Scrooge could ever be. The one
vas aged. miserly. hard. grnsping. and
impenefrabls The other is young. hand
some. given to the material JOY OF life
but so imbued with a love of self. so
-
TEEN. that all his good qualities are over
weighed Scrooge needed regeneration.
Parker needs merely readjustment OF his
point Of view. But the teaching in both
cases is the same. and the effect on sub
ject, teacher. and spectator is also the
same "A Christmas Carol makes an
old man young; - Message from Mars"
makes a young man young. and both
awaken to the sight of the spectator a
new vision Of ;he beauty usefulness. and
10Y always 10 be found in service for
Others and -forgetfulness OF self. Horace
Parker extends no promise Of ever be-
coming 20 the stage what old Serooge is
10 Christmas literature. but he is surely
CT tire same class, and with the creation
CT such character Mr.. Ganthony ought
to be. as no doubt he is. content end
pleased.
Mr. Hawtrey's secure position on the
English stage. the run OF this play 500
nights in London and 200 nights IN New
York. and many commendatory criti-
cisms republished in America from Lon
don newspapers combined TO arouse in
teresf in the star He proved TO be in
comedy much what Herbert Kelley is in
the characteristic parIor play OF the
period. He has a pleasing presence. his
humor Is refined and cuiet his bust
ness" is ingenious: bur his art goes no
further. From his appearance last night
the thoughtful thea:ergoer OF America
must almost surely accrcdit his posi-
ton abroad to a pleasing personality and
marked Intelligence instead OF sound
artistic training and conspicuous ability.
His company is manifestly English.
r. IS hard 20 believe. however. hat with
such support, AR Hawtrey was able
to play "A Message From Mars 500
night IN London. Excep, for Fred
Thorne. who appears as . tramp. and II.
Stephenson. who IS the stentorian mes
sense- from our neighboring planet
here arc nc actors OF much ability in
the cast
So IL is that. as has already been in
dioated. "A Message From Mars" de-
Ponds chiefly upon the message itself.
message which IS often expressed but
seldom heard The world OF today. Ike
the world or every earlier day. needs TO
hear IL badly. and Mr.. Ganthony and
Mr.. Hawtrey are thus entitled 10 thanks
from US all for pronouncing It with such
distiDctness. eloquence. and force
A. ID. A.