The Washington times., 1905-09-19
BRILLIANT PLAY
At NEW NATIONAL
Hackett and Mannering in
"The Walls of Jericho"
ITS AMERICAN PREMIERE
Large Audience Gives Enthusiastic Re
cepJion to Stars and Company.
Elegant Production.
ITS AMERICAN PREMIERE

The first presentation in America of
Alfred Sutros The Walls of Jericho"
which took place at the New National
Theater last night was a dramatic
event of more than ordinary interest
The joint appearance Of two such stars
as Mary Mannering and James x.
Hackett would of itself have sufiiced to
invest the occasion with unusual at
tractiveness, but this was augmented
by remarkably strong play. a cast
OF extraordinary strength, and scenic
equipment and costuming of great Law
ishness. The large audience-the larg-
est thus far IN the season-fully ap-
preciated all these points of excellence
and fairly showered applause on the
two pricipals who. however. Were gen.
erous enough to permit their associates
10 share in the numerous curtain calls
with which they We're honored
Story of the Play.
THE Walls OF Jericho presents a
picture of the rottenness of the so-called
smart set Of London society The
author has no. hesitated TO present to
the view of his public In all their naked
ness the follies. the wickedness, and
the looseness of morals that character
ize the daily life of these idlers He has
drawn all his pictures in broad lines and
high lights; he calls a spade a spade.
and there is no mistaklng his purpose
at any stage of the play. At the same
time there is q total absence of that
catering to low tastes which has mark
cal a number Of so-called society PLAYS
Briefly told, the action presents Jack
FrobiSher, a man who has amassed
wealth by hard work in Australia, and
upon his return to London falls in love
with and weds the daughter of an i'm
poYerished and unprincipled nObleman-
For three years he permits himself 10
be dragged along In the inane fashion,
able existence, in which his wife and
her companions, both male and female.
delight. but when he discovers that his
wife has come close TO being compro-
missed by one of her admirers, he de-
clares his intention to return to Aus
traiia, and although his wife at first
violently objects. her love for him
final curtain descends upon a scene of
complete domestic rehabilitation.
Hackett in New Form.
Mr. Hackett, as Jack Frobisher. pre-
sents himself in a new light Hitherto
we have been accustomed to see him
come upon the stage arrayed in armor
and as belted knight, breathing forth
defiance and staying innumerable adj
versaries in his virtpous pursuit of jus
tice. 1t would seem as II with the
coffing of the accoutrements of prince
and warrior and the retirement into
conventional garments, Mr.. Hackett
had also laid off heroics in language
and gesture. Persons inclined TO be
hypercritical might say, perhaps. that
for fear of letting himself fall into the
more accustomed methods OF his former
roles he is practicing too much self-re-
preston. but the refutation Of such
criticism Is brought in the third. where
Jack blaZes out his scorn for the con-
ditions and people that have surrounded
him and astOunds his wife by the as
sertion of his authority.
Mr.. Hackett gives an entirely con-
sistent pOrtraiture Of the man whom
love for his wife and indulgence of her
whims and fancies has caused TO hide
the disgust and WEAKNESS that over
come him in the life to which her frivOl
ity condemns him. and with equal