The Washington times., 1903-11-01
Julia MarIoWe's Latest.
Appearance in Modern Society Play of
the Problem Kind.

Julia Marlowe made her debut as Il
fashionable woman Of the stage in Chi
cago a few nights ago, using as her
vehicle for the Interpretation OF such a
character Henry V. Esmond's new play
Fools Of Nature" OF play and actress
the Chronicle" has this 10 say:
Probably the piece was worth her use
for a time by way Of relief from the
moreusxacting types Of character she
has played, and as proof that she IS
equal to the portrayal OF the woman Of
today, but in any other view II is not
worth the effort Of an artist who has
proved her mettle in some OF the great
characters OF the drama. AS for the
dramatist, no one doubts his capacity to
write easy, flowing. natural. often
sparkling lines for stage use but once
more the auditor IS led to regret that he
does not let somebody better able 70 i'm
agine a really vital dramatic movement
construct the stories on which. TO eX-
pend his felicitous verbal treatment.
In this story he has another case of
the woman problem. not woman with
a past" but a woman about ready 70
plunge into a future of similar kind.
He sets out by making young widow
Of refinement and above reproach con-
has a wife he wants TO get rid OF,
though he doesn't know that she knows
Women Of that kind do not make such
confession. and so the story is given a
forced tone at the outset.
Plenty Society Talk.
There is little but talk-good. fluent,
clever talk of a certain society kind, but
only taIk-tin the third act, when the
heroine Is obviously ready TO wreck
herself by running away" with her
lover. and is only saved from 1t by the
lovers consideration and the appealing
interference Of another man, manly
fellow weak only in the drink habit, who
also loves ner but stands ready TO sacrt-
fee himself in any way for her good
and keep her ignorant of the real mo-
tive. his unseIfsh love for her.
There is a certain novelty in thus
leading two people TO the verge Of wreck
and then saving them through the rous-
ing OF the better nature OF both, largely
through the aid of another man who, ct
heart. would brave wrecks as boldly as
either. only for his manly regard for
the woman and his equally manly clear
sightedness in recognizing that she
would not brave II for him. But
II IS all too thin and meaEer for a
dramatic story and TO gain the artistic
ending OF leaving auditors to think that
the lovers will yet be brought honor
ably together involves making them do
many things which It taxes ones ca
pacity for believing to think that people
or their honest impulses would do at all.
Quiet, Yet Forceful.
Miss Marlowe has, for two acts, little
opportunity except for admirably clear
and intelligent speaking Of the flowing
lines This she accomplishes with rare
charm and insight and the declaration
Of a power 10 make audible and visible
ia expression curious changes Of thought
and feeling, not translated into action,
in which Miss Marlowe has few, If any.
superiors on the stage. Her real power
as a histrionic artist Is shown only IN
the third act, when she is apparently
bent on making the plunge which would
bring wreck
Here much difficult expression Of feel
ing is demanded OF her. alone and with
others, and she meets the demands with
fae distinction and quiet force The
difficult task of revealing the intensity
OF her feeling and Of the situation by
writing a glowing letter calling her
lover back-a letter which she never
sends-she accomplishes with apt and
admirable art. She fills the whole part
with lofty, womanly, gracious color