Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-22
T q E T Il E A E B.
Columbia Thea:ter.

To the constant playgoer ''The Eternal
Feminine" which was presented at the
Columbia Theater last night. Is curious
but refreshing experience. Forbidding at
the outset with all its suggestions Of classic
severity, 1t becomes warm, human and
sympathetic. and ioong before the curtain
finally descends has made the auditor feel
that the Greeks were next door neighbors
and that mythology is a simple everyday
matter. A description Of the play Is GER
tain to do it injustice. It Is like a chemical
combination Of familiar elements which
produce an entirely new substance. Comic
opera has often and again taken us to the
luxuriant island where strange laws ana
costumes prevail, and to which voyagers
accidentally come. 1t is remarkable now
comedy dfsdains the mainland. The IDEA
of feminine supremacy and its embarrass-
ments and humiliations for the men has
but usually with unhappy effect. And love
and moonlight are as old as humanity and
the moon. Yet these things are blended
together in 1.-The Eternal Feminine with
such delicate fancy and well chosen speech
that the result is play which seems apso-
lutely daring in its novelty. -,
OF course 1.-The Eternal Feminine" will
be referred to as Gilbertian, and in its
though it does not reach that master OF
satire. But w. s. Gilbert could not write
the love scenes which prevail and give its
character to this distant and charming
echo of the pipes of Pan.
Miss Margaret Anglin portrays the ANA
zon Queen who laughs at Mars, but caplt-
ulates to Cupid. A woman of splendid car
rage, and possessed of a speaking voice,
which makes music of every sentence she
utters she proves competent to maintain
the role on plane of womanly dignity
without moments sacrifice OF FEMININE
appeal Mr.. Robert Drouet, the leaolne
tho c1,o ooto yNht
him in a creditable and effective manner.
He is in some slight danger of making
more individual effort than is needful IN
certain passages where the lines speak for
themselves but on the whole his perform
ance is discreet and well modulated;
wholesome assurance that the younger
generation of actors are still capable OF
deporting themselves with seemliness In
Feminine is as broad the satire and
sentiment are fine. 1t depends mainly on
H. v. Donnelly, who supplies unlimited
junction., and Mrs. E. A. Eberle, who Is
the advantage of beautiful scenery and
company of exceptional individual and nu-
merical strength.
The incidental music arranged by Prof.
H. N. Parker Of Yale College REQUIRES a
ncdern orchestra to betake itself back to
400 B. c., and the auditor who is but cas-
ually informed on musical matters must
be content to take Prof Parker's word as
to its accuracy and Its merits. Inc erect
in accompanying certain scenes of the play
was highly agreeable and artistic, but as
a diversion for entr actes its efficiency is
doubtful.
There may be some risk in commencing
1.-THE Eternal Feminine" to an indiscrimi-
nate patronage, for there are many thea
tergoers who look upon refined satire as
mere mystifcation. But this assurance
may be freely given: It Is an exquisite bit
of fancy, delightfully."- portrayed, and, des-
pite it's classic atmosphere, free from the
slightest trace Of pedantry.