Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-23
T q E I'll E A T E R.
Columbia Theater.

A most daintily sugar-coated bit of cyni-
c1sm is "Old Heidelberg The play is half
or two-thirds over before the realization
sweeps across the mind that it is no mere
picture of joyous youth and happiness; that
the student songs and the clink of stems
are there only to echo in the distance as
things that might have been and by their
gentle contrast make more intense the
austere significance of the story. 1t is of
an orphaned prince doomed'to the repres-
sion of formal and unsympathetic court
that Meyer-Forster tells in his prose poem
By the most delicate and subtle suggestion
he makes a story of almost juvenile SIM
pEcity the means of expressing WONDER
full range cf sentiment and phliosophic
thought. Pathos supplants the customary
sheer with which the hollowness of regal
pomp is pictured and the author tacluy
confesses that his protest, however just is
unavailng. There are three characters es-
sentalIy and conspicuoCsly involved in the
plot-the prince himself. played by Mr..
Richard Mansfield with the youthful SYM
pathy and grace that is absolutely neces-
sary to an appreciation of the storys poetic
purport; his tutor, a dear old gentleman
contemptuous in his heart for the ponder
Gus vanities of court life and yearnlns lor
his university days, and valet, SNUG,
mathematicalIy precise in raiment elegant
in diction and deeply soHcltouS Tor MS
patrons dignities because his own depend
upon them. The role of the tutor is assumed
nv Mr. A. G. Andrews who gives a most
genial picture of gentleman, a Schoiar
ard a philosopher; man who knew now 10
take his own advice and avoid growing oid'
even if his pupil was powerless 10 prohl ny
his instruction. The valet is fine charac-
ter part and without the slightest ostenta-
ton of manner or straining OF method MI.
Leslie Kenyon made it role that deserves
to rank as one of the standard creations OF
the current drama. There is fine satire IN
the final vindicat ton of his SNUG and snoo-
i,ish protests which the denouement OF the
story affords.
Mr. Mansfield has fully respected the
plays right to be classified as a prose
poem in his manner of presenting IL.
fine sense of proportion and a denc3te re-
gard for harmony are consistently ana ui-
waveringly preserved The registering OF
the students the boyish love affair ana
the artiess enthusiasm of the prince are
like the sunshine and the perfume of flow
ers that find their way ieetingly into the
life of a prisoner. The character OF the
prince affords Mr.. Mansfield fine faculties
for the exercise of his marvellous fac1lty
for portraying extant types OF character
AS a youth he has all the buoyancy and
fascinating frankness of Prince Kari ana
as the man whose heart has been chilled by
worldly cares and who vainly strives to
kinde a fame amid the ashes, he is no
less impressive than the Baron CheVr1al
himself although totally lacking in his
sinister qualities. 1t is Richard Mansfield
of old that greets the auditor with irresisu-
bic and unaffected charm of manner. The
audience last night was unrestralned in
it's appreciation of the star, the play and
the production
A very large company is required to give
a proper representation of student life, and
the stage settings are very elaborate and
beautiful.