The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-05-03
Comedy of Washington Dip
lomatic Life at New Ma
tional - Hermann the
Great at the Columbia.
Annie Abbott at Chase.
Miss Blair Plays East
Lynne at the Lafayette.
The Academy Bill.

George Fawcett's prize play. 20 kiku
San four-act comedy by Albert Ro-
land Haven. had its first Washington
presentation at the New National
Theater last evening. Miss Percy Has
wen appearing in the title part, sup
ported by Mr.. Fawcett's Baltimore stock
company
At least. it may be said that Mr..
Fawcett's annual competition for aspir-
ing dramatists, managerially unrecoS-
nized and consequently public IN
sung. has the merit Of bringing forth
novelties. Last year. If we remember
rightly. ii discovered that Just retribu-
ton, dramatizatiOn Of William Shake
speare. whose life was devoted to the
unblushingly dramatization of other
folk
This year the competition has I'M
earthed a play of Washington diplo-
matte life fully Japanned weird, and
wonderful in many Of its phases, rather
interesting in several others.
Regarding the Han-Kari.
That the ambitious Mr.. Haven is a
man Of its ideas we are willing TO be-
heve. That he is as yet an accomplished
playwright We are by no means assured.
20 IGiku San" embodies an idea. but
good idea requires all the better work
manship.
David Belasco exploited Japan with an
injection OF the United States in Mad
anne Butterfly" and Japan all by itself
IN The Darling OF the Gods" In
variety sketch, called His Japanese
Wife and played this season by Val
erie Bergere. Miss Grace Griswold turn
ed the tables by exploiting the United
States with an injection Of Japan Nj
Haven. however. is the first TO balanc,
Japan and the United States equally and
introduce the genial hari kari as a fac
tor in American life.
Now the idea of suicide as q positive
preserver of individual honor is dis
unctly Oriental We practical West
eTners are not convinced at the first
blush thar a father must or necessity
Kill himself in a distinctly repulsive
manner because his daughter has re-
fused to marry the man 10 whom the
father has betrOthed her as q child
YET in order TO make effective a third
act climax. Of which a man about TO do
this dreadful deed is the central figure
the American audience must see hari-
Kari through the japanese eyes. Hari-
Kari must be felt as the one inevitable
resource.
Mr.. Ravens Chief Trouble.
Right there. in a word. was where Mr..
Haven fell down. II was only with Ian
guild interest that anybody watched the
japanese minister toying with an awk-
ward looking sword. the venerable 'sa-
Der of his sire" II was only with Lam
guild interest one noticed that the threat
ened catastrophe was averted just before
the curtain dropped.
Whether this primal fault IN the com
edy was fundamental-that is, one OF
conception, or incidental-that is, one
Of construction, Is, of course i'm
possible 10 say. We can imagine
thar dramatic master might have
started in plugging this motive in
the early stages OF the game. and by
adroit means and subtle methods have
brought into being a distinct japanese
atmosphere that would have carried the
situation triumphantly. But the main
point at issue IS that Mr.. Haven did
not do this, and consequently the effect
iveness OF work of much potential
merit is greatly weakened.
Pleasanter Points.
The story as told-how o KilIu San
CAliss Chrysanthemum) the daughter Of
the japanese minister, fell in love with
an American navy lieutenant and finally
eloped with him in order to avoid a
marriage with her betrothed; how she
Joajoled this betrothed into giving her
up or his own free will, thus preserving
her fathers hOnor-reached two effective
climaxes in the first and second acts
the first the dismissal OF the lieutenant
after he has asked for the daughters
hand, the second the Neutenant's
discontinue when circumstantial evil
dence pointed TO a breach or honor on
his part The failure OF the third act
climax 10 convince we have already in
dicated. The fourth act had some fairly
effective comedy.
AS is usually the case with the work
OF an inexperienced playwright and too
often with the work Of playwrights who
should be experienced, there were
number Of conversational excuses and
constructive crudities. These could be
remedied easily enough II the prospects
OF the play scoring at all heavily really
made such revision worth while. We
doubt II they do, however.
Regarding the Acting.
Miss Haswen made a pleasing i'm
preston in the title part, though her
work somewhat lacked variety. There
were many neat touches in her love
scenes, much dainty suggestiyeness in
her attitude toward the lieutenant at
the end Of the first act, and an effective
note Of pathOs is her farewell Of him at
the close Of the second act. The comedy
Of the fourth act was also well done.
The support did not average more
than fair, Dewitt Jennings, who played
the japanese minister, standing forth
in the limelight or excellence. His work
was very good, especially during the
first two acts. Mr.. FaWcett acted the
Secretary Of the Navy characteristically
Rehan HughSton was the lieutenant,
Frank CraveD the japanese minister's
secretary, and Miss Evelyn Vaughan
the daughter Of the Secretary Of the
Navy.