Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-07
T Il E T H E A T E R.
New National Theater.

1t is pleasant to witness demonstration
of fine old fashioned, self-contained ana
discreet theatric art, such as was onereo
at the New National Theater last night
Although titles do not come trfppingly 10
the American tongue, there is satisfaction
in saluting Sir Charles Wyndham he
stands for the responsibility of the drama,
and is relief from the superlative smart
ness which the stage is ordinarily supposed
to reflect. Even genius, were it available
for continuous explorations would pail and
one would turn to plain responsibility with
gray trousers and heavy gold cum buttons
for relief. Sir Charles is a substantial
looking gentleman with a somewhat cleri-
cal though strongly animated manner HIS
reading is effective although his handling
of lines was not distinguished last night
by the certainty that might be expected of
veteran player.
The play Mrs Gorringe's Necklace" is
difficult of classification. Polonius must
have had something like it in mind when
he coined the term. "tragical- comical-his-
torical- pastoral" for it is a little of every
thing. 1t has to do largely with the mutual
antipathy of two very silly women, one of
whom, Mrs. Gorrnge. has her necklace
stolen while visiting at the house of the
other, Mrs. JaTdin. Miss Mary Moore, who
is accorded especial distinction in the types
on the playbil, has the role of Mrs Cor
ringe, and she invests it with a delicate
humorous charm that is most alluringly
human. A DIT OF a pore 10 nef IrlenQS III
the dramatis perSOnae is Mrs. Gorrlnge,
and Miss Moore succeeds in conveying this
idea without moments sacrifice of the
AUDIENCES interest. 1t is a peculiar and
difficult impersonation. and Miss Moore
carries it off with unaffected piquancy that
is irresistible. Miss Fane Featherstone por-
trays Mrs. Jardin, who is finally irritated
into forgetting her obligations hostess
realistically and without undue emphasis
of its acerbty. The cast is notably eff
ficient one. 1t is seldom that a perform
ance is seen which depends so completely
and securely on the manner of its In
depreciation. Mr.. Alfred Bishop contributed
some fine comedy as Colonel Jardin. and
r. w. Rawson inpersonates a matter-of-
fact detective, not a bit like our beloved
Sherlock Holmes, in a straightforward way
that appeals gratefully to the rational
sense. The real thief, David Cairn, has
secretly married Isabel Kirk, who is be-
loved by Captain Mowbray. The captain,
being portrayed by the star, is. of course,
wrongly suspected and constrained to he
roic silence out of regard for the woman
prit can leave the lady free to marry the
man who is worthy of her. and this the
dramatist obligingly arranges the Gull
mination Of what up to that point has been
a very good-natured, not to say merry,
play. Charles Quartermain, as David Cairn.
and Miss Lilas Waldegrave, as Isabel Kirk,
both give thorough and finished perform
ances. The unmistakable interest and
pleasure manifested in the performance last
night constituted actors triumph in
which the dramatist shares but slightly
and the scenic artist not at all. Tomorrow
night David Garrick will be played.