The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-11-22
EXTERNAL FEMININE"
IS POETIC COMEDY
Margaret Anglin's Debut as
Star Promises Success.

out of old Greece. by way OF modern
Germany, has come TO Washington a
picture of the strOng-minded woman
50 clearly drawn. SO scinullating with
satire. and Withal SO beautiful, despite
Its satire that all who look must mar
vel III mas the form of a comedy, and
takes its name, The Eternal Feminine,
from that phrase Of Goethes ''Das Ewig
WeiblIche"- everlasting WOmanly.
IL was admirably acted, and It had an
extra interest because il presented a
charming and resOurceful young actress,
Margaret Angiin, as "a star.
The author is Robert Misch, and his
play. written in German has been lifted
BY continental Europe TO rank with
4-ostands 'L'Aiglon," stephen Philips
Francesca" and Wilhelm Meyster's
old Heidelberg" The translation into
English is accredited 10 Austin Page
1T has been suggested that this name is
a nom de plume. but whether so or not.
il is the object or many compliments
Well earned
Greece i'm the year 100 b. c. still shone
with the glory of Pericles. II is an age
familiar TO every schOolboy who has
read The Retreat Of the Ten Thou
sand or knows the story OF the death
OF Socrates. one OF its chief figures was
Lysander. King of the SparJans, "a
who overthrow the Athenians IN the
naval battle of AegOspOtaml, an en-
gagement which most school boys study
and very few remember. The grand
father OF Alexander the Great was Just
coming 20 rule ia Macedonia. Already
the arm of Greece had encircled the
great sea. and its soldiers were eager 10
master the world.
Less Warriors Than Women.
There would bee nothing extraordinary
in writing "a play which dealt with this
age merely. This author has seized
upon il. however, as "A Tense 10 intensity
the comedy latent in the woman of un-
bridled will Away from Greece. per-
haps near Scythia on along the coast OF
Africa he discovers an Island, HAL
cyouce. populated by women only And
thlther. In the interval between the de-
feat Of the AmaZ0ns by Hercules and
the visit of their Queen ThalesJrls 70
the great Alexander, he sends the proud
Lysander in search OF conquest
These Halcyonccan AmazOns, as they
are drawn By Herr Misrh and imper-
sonated by Miss Anglin ana her assoc
ciates. are more like 10 co damage with
their eyes than with their javelins. Yet
they are fierce. besides and in the first
act take the great Greek leader and his
men captive by q sturdy show OF force.
out OF this circumstance, which seems
10 modern eyes somewhat like burlesQue
bar Is described, nevertheless IN strong
and Impressive phrases, develops love
story wherein each fierce Amazon first
woes and then is woed.
Where Greek Is Beaten.
I.ysander. like Theseus In 'Alidsum-
mer Nights Dream" yields tardly,
But under the spell of that Maza who
gave her name to these women and
sheds her more seductive light 10 nur-
ture their love, be yields like Theseus
with much the same speech:
wood thee with my sword
And won thy love doing thee injuries;
bur 4 win wed thee in another key,
v an Eo4aD. with triumph, ana with reVeling.
Comedy and satire though the play Is.
this WOoing, all topsy turvS. gives IL its
charm. II disclOses in Miss Anglin a
gentle sweetness. a poetry of voice and
motion. a grace OF speec3 and ringing
hOte OF deep feeling which would adOru
many "a more noteworthy character
than this Amazon queen. 1t is her first
real opportunity. After this she must
choose her roles with serious care
neither % defeat her progress with un-
worthy parts nor 10 permit this one
signal achievement 10 nix the limit Of
ker ambition This enactment spreads
before her Ihe whole field OF nOn-Iraglcal
female characters.
The Lysander Is Robert Drouet-a
~ ue paLrlclan and a Greek in bearing.
But tuc quality which dlsIfnguis hes
4tlss Ansllu.s impersOnatiOn m0st-the
ar u lhat early days never manifest
ln III. DIouets acting. Other men who
IAN victims 10 the uubarbed shafts of
Tee Amazons are Henry Y. Donnelly
ana ~. IL. fitzgerald. whose comedy Is
wei Within ele atmosphere of the play,
anu SnO IS the followers of the Queen
are Mrs- Eberle. Maude Granger and
Jean NeWcombe. The COMPANY i'm
ciuues also q score OF beautiful mafdens
ana corps de ballet All We're chosen
with evident care. and AN are beautf-
IuHy cost umed, and the play Is mount
60 win the utmost good taste
no satire ln the history. of our STAGE
4lla ever achieved popular favor be-
cause men ana women do not incline 10
Ituleute ana md no lasting pleasure la
II. but The Eternal Feminine" ceases
10 br flllcule when once its plot has
gathered movement and chen IL de1ends
upon a oisuihed and poetIcal text the
unfolding Ot beautiful love story ana
Iit disclosure OF lovely WoTnanh0od
win genuine art. These are the uuaIl-
Ties which make for success lIf,n 49,
stage and they augur well fGr M
E1fet Anglin and ''Tne Eternal FaT-
mime 'i