The Washington times., 1905-04-09
PoWerOf Personality
Secret of Interest in Sun
day. and Lady TeaZle." "
Another Comedy Made an
Opera Bills of the Week.

Personality is a great business pro-
ducer in theatricals. What else can
explain the audiences at the National
and Columbia this past week? Miss
Barrymore's play was remarkable neith-
er for its intrinsic interest nor for the
opportunities it affords the star Miss
Russelis new opera was possible, but
not more than possible. Yet both
houses held large audiences from Mon
day night to Saturday.
s.'Sund6y'' was manifestly accepted for
Miss Barrymore by her managers in
the hope that it might pave the way TO
more trying roles. II was to be another
link in the chain which connects the
ingenue with the emotionalist AS a
matter Of fact, almost any play will
serve this purpose If the actor be of
the right mettie and an attractive per-
sonality. So Sunday has been re-
ceived with mild favor and Miss Barry
more's acting In it followed with close
interest, notwithstanding that the play
comes dangerously being punk.
Talent and Mannerisms.
The Ethel Barrymore of today is
curious mixture of developed talent and
incipient mannerisms This compound
without the last adjective, was an exact
description Of the acting of her father.
Maurice Barrymore. If his role fitted
his mannerisms the impersonation was
highly admired. If it crossed his man
nerisms the impersonation was deenIv
deplored. Naturally his power as an
actor depended upon his ability either
to write plays conforming with his linn
itationS or to find them elsewhere Miss
barrymore comes naturally then. by
her disposition toward mannerisms
Yet 1t viii be q distinct loss to the
stage if this brilliant young woman
should circumscribe her abilities merely
because it is her impulse to walk with
droop. laugh with a swallow, and
swing her arms as though her elbows
were stin. These are faults too easily
corrected to contract the talents with
which she has been endowed A good
stage manager provided with authority
ought 10 clear them away IN a week.
The danger is that no stage manager
will ever be given the requisite au-
thority.
In the meantime Miss Barrvmore's
friends will hope for the best and en-
Joy such plays as Sunday as best
they may.
Adapting Classic Comedies.
Lillian Russell's continued bloom gave
color to the musical adaptation of "The
School for Scandal" Piayeoers have
generally thought well OF the opera. 9TH
erWise, but 1t is easy to understand no;y
why various critics have chosen tn crcss
that public opinion. The work lacks
ginger. All the cleverness with which
1t has been attacked has not sufficed 10
give 1t go" One reason for this NAV
be that Miss Russells voice. shows d.,
ctded signs of wear, and yet stands
higher than any other voice in the COM
pany. Another may be that there is only
good song in the whole score
This business of taking a classic com
edy and reyamping it into an opera is
generally to be commended But the
playwright must pe up to his task or
the whole enterprise is predetermined
failure. THE Two Roses was fulI Of
life. Its very air was that of She
Stoops to Conquer" But Lady TeazIe'
is stiff and stiIted. The explanation may
well be that In the one case the adapters
were equal to their task and in the
other they were not.
Fun for Everybody.
The Seminary Girl has been describ-
ed as the best musical play which has
been presented at the Lafayette this
season. That is high praise, for sew
eral of the musical comedies offered
from that stage since last fall would
bear comparison with most Of those ex-
plotted at higher prices. Kelcey and
Shannon proved a characteristic head
line offering at Chase's. Elsewhere the
same old story went on and on
Tomorrow night brings Edna May in