Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-29

IL
rightly be applied to any gift Which
90 informative and not creative, there Is
none whose powers more fully claim the
sdistinction But genius has It's misfortunes'
and 1.-THE Labyrinth" is one of them. MISS
&Notberso1e,s victorious combat concerning
.sapho' with the mentors of society bo'h
Enrtva.e and official-that is TO say, both
the clergy and the police-has evidently
blinded her Judgment. She proceeded
abruptIy to the conclusion that it was the
character which interested so many play
poers rather than it's artistic treatment
Rut even In her mistakes Miss Nethersoe
&c alone and beyond other actresses. she
committed the rarest Of faults known to the
theatric profession in giving the author
too much credit and taking too little her
self In casting about for worthy sue
lessor to "Sapho''-and she was so com
pllmentary as to say she would not return
10 America until she had found as goou
another play-Miss Nethersole did not con-
slider how much Daudets heroine owed to
the manner of its delineation. 1t was a
role which called forth all that an emo
-tional actress can bestow, from pathos TO
passion. The immortality of the idea was
obl1terated by the picture Of hapless
creatures desperate ambition to attain
something OF true womanliness. 1t was
struggle the more tragic and touching be-
cause or it's hopelessness. But this dull
witted woman of The Labyrinth, who re-
tolces in public proclamations of her varl-
able weaknesses. IS an outcast even from
the scarlet tribe of Camille" Carmen"
"Magda" and "sapho.'
During the week it was announced that
the Monday night presentation. This must
be the case. for the time of its performance
was cut down almost an hour, and no
elimination could result In anything but
benefit.
Belasco has landed in Washington, and
landed with splash The capital city,
accustomed to the celebrities of the world
allowed It's usually placid current of af-
fairs to be tempestuously ruffied by the
arrival of a manager and producers OF
plays The mere change OF a theaters
name had the effect of arousing this capital
city TO manifestations of enthusiasm wor-
thy of the advent of conquering hero. He
is a wizard, this quiet. cerical-looking little
man with the timorous mode of speech and
shrewd. piercing eye, He is one of the
people OF the world who are intensely and
untiringly in earnest, and whatever he
touches he makes interesting so long as
st reflects his own sincerity. In comedy he
lis lost He searches his own nature in vain
for an echo TO the boisterous laugh of utter
frivolity. When he essays humor he deals
It out with a lavish, indscriminate hand,
and is forced at last TO redeem 1t by some
stroke of sentiment.
~ X
s.rrh n cd
excellent entertainment. but measured by
the high dramatic standards which Belasco
himself has supplied. It can hardly be called
consistently good play. 1t affords strik
ink example of its skllful authors powers
and of his limitations The story of love
and devotion Is told with an impressive
fervor that carries conviction. But the
romping school scene Is foreign to the at
mosphere Of the play, In spite of all that
good stage management and exhaustive en-
deavor by the performers can contribute.
The Introduction OF this clumsy frolic
Is like entering a trick mule In a race of
thoroughbreds.
But The Girl From the Golden West
fulflls the essential requirement OF a play
1t holds the interest. Away back in the
long ago men who are now beginning to
hold their newspaper al arms length in or
der to see better, used to go to plays like
Kit the Arkansaw Traveller" and "Danl
Boone and Buffalo Bill" That was when
Col. William Cody had only handful of
Indians and a stage coach. How the rifles
cracked! And how every juvenile spinal
column thrilled! And Oliver Doud Byron,
in Across the Continent There was an
actor and there was play. In those days
intellectual appetites were even as keen as
the juvenile stomach. No plays satisfied as
those did. They were like the pies that
mother used to make. Many has been the
mature excursion into the haunt of the
melodramatic thriller in quest of something
that would thrill as did those crude col
loctions of clap-trap heroics. But all in
vain. Appreciation was dulled.
This Girl From the Golden West" has
brdged the chasm Served with Belasco
sauce, the old time border drama with its
injuns and cartridge belts RECEIVERS its
piquancy. II awakens the same old spinal
tremors and the audiences are duly grateful
After much experimental paving George
Bernard Shaw has succeeded in putting his
foot in II. His uncomplimentary estimate
of the late Henry Irving has brought upon
him condemnation so general and emphatic
self-esteem A poseur is interesting and
even at times admirable until his foot
slips. Then he is pathetic.
=
Washington has revealed in first nights to
its hearts content. After the series of fit
full and fleeing try-outs It has experienced
II Will be glad to welcome something that
has had the rough edges taken off it and
that is accompanied by letters of recon-
mendation.
x x y
In extending his operations Mr. Belasco
must necessarily form many alliances 1t is
doubtful whether some OF the cool practi-
cal men associated with him would hesitate
about forming a theatrical trust of their
own II conditions warranted. The drama
may as well go the full length and adapt
for its use the motto of commercialism
Competition is the life of art
PHILANDER JOHNSON.