The Washington times., 1905-05-16
ELLIS JEFFREYS
At THE NATIONAL
English Actress Makes Hit
in London Assurance" F."

The audience that gathered at the
New National Theater last night was
treated to an absolutely perfect per-
formaEce. London Assurance" may be
regarded by some hypercritical persons
as somewhat stilted, both In action and
text. IS compared with modern come
dies OF the Clyde Fitch type, but it re-
mains today as thoroughly enjoyable
as when it came from the pen of the
youthful Boucicault nearly a half CEN
tury ago. It is not difficult to accept
the personalities set before one by the
author as representative of a rather
artificial period. and when their actions
and speech flow as spontaneously as
was the case last night one is perfect
ly willing TO make friends with them.
There is nothing uncertain in the
delineation Of the different characters,
Sir Harcourt CourtleY is as eIean-cut a
type of the '.passe" man of fashion as
ever has been outlined in the pa ges Of
Dickens or Thackeray Everybody
recognizes at a glance in Max Harka-
way the bluff country squire who
under rough speech and manner hides
the kindliest heart. Charles Courtley
is the happy young roysterer whom we
all know, and unscrupuious Dazzle is
no unfamiliar figure. Lady Gay
Spanker and her Dolly have been pa
raded before our eyes on innumerable
pages, and so also sweet Grace Hark-
away is ne stranger to us. Ali these
types, 1t is true, are clothed in man
ner and speech somewhat strange to
modern eyes and ears, but they are
none the less pleasing TO both.
Miss Ellis Jeffreys. who made her first
bow to a Washington audience last
night, was heralded as one of England s
best actresses. For once the trump of
fame sounded no false note. Miss JEFF
freys is unqualifiedly charming, both In
her personality and in her impersona-
tion. Her entrance upon the scene
seemed to bring with 1t the breeze and
vigor of field and forest. With bright
eyes, mobile features, well nlodulated
and ringing voice. her apostrorhe to the
delight of the chase fairly electrified
her hearers and brought out an entau-
siasticalIy spontaneous outburst of ap-
plause. At the conclusion Of the act
Miss Jeffreys was called before the cur
tain several times Parenthetieally, 1t
IS 10 be regretted that Miss Jeffreys
will appear only in this one role. It
would be delightful TO see her, for in
stance, as Beatrice, in Much Ado
About Nothing. :"
Eben 4iympton was the very essence
OF the old beau in makeup. speech. and
action, and it can be said. without de-
tracing III the least from The other
members OF the cast, that next to the
star his was the most interesting figure
ia the play. Kitty Cheatham was alto
gether attractive as Grace Harkaway
and if there is any lack OF convincing
ness in her impersonation. it is the fault
of the playwright and not hers. Will
lam H THOMPSON made an adu1ira BILE
Max Harkawayi Ben Webster Is as roll
licking Charles Harcourt as one would
wish to see, and James Neil gives as
true likeness of the scapegrace Dazzle.
Joseph Wheelock. jr., was unsurpass-
ably ludicrous as Dolly Spanker, and
the hearty reception accorded him
should give him assurance that he is
still a favorite with the Washington
public.
All the minor parts were in most com
petent bands, and among these are TO
be mentioned Mrs Felix Morris, as
Pert: Herbert Sheath. as Cool. and Muir
ray Carson, as Meddle.