The Washington times., 1905-01-01
Plaus New and Old
What .Adrea' Needs-Crane
as a TraqedIan-'The O her
Girl Music in Prospect.

Three notable plays. three notable ac-
tors. and three notable productions
Mr.. Crane in Business is Business"
Mrs. Carter in ''Adrea.'' and Mr. Bar
rvrlour In THE Other Girl All three
entertaining in one sense or another; all
valuable for enc impairment or another;
all successful. 1t was d distinctive week
in the local theatrical season
.Adrea. as it unfolded itself Monday
night. was brilliant spectac,e-as was
to be expected from Mr.. Belasco-an ac-
ceptable medium for the exploitation of
Mrs. Carter's peculiar talents. an un-
even poem, and diffuse drama.
What it needed first of all was con-
densa ton Many of the stars speeches
were 800 or 800 words long A good
dramatist could have said as much-or
more-in 100 words. a single sentence, or
mere silent business What was
needed finally was an adjustment of
the text so that Mr. Longs poetry
might cover the essential speeches OF
the play and not the furbelows merely.
Much of this was accomplished in the
course of the week.
Popular Favor and Criticism.
But .Adrea," as performed Monday
night, manifestly gave much pleasure
ite. Quarrel with her acting as the
critic may, he cannot escape the con-
yiction that her methods prove them
selves in their results. If there is anger
1t is the anger of writhing over the
floor and chewing up the scenery; sor-
row. IL is the sorrow of shaking
shoulders and gasping breath: indigna-
ton, the indignation of convulsive shud-
ders and unspeakable- scorn. If Mrs
Carter paints, in other words. she
paints with broad brush.
.-Adrea" was awaited with special in
terest in the hope that this actress
might display in 1t more shading and
less raw force. Undoubtedly she did.
But her progress is not yet made into
the realm of nuance and delicacy. and
as long as she and her manager feel
the response from the public which they
have felt here that progress is not likely
to be made.
Mr. Belasco's art as a producer, like
his skill in Transforming Convention
Hail. was pre-erninent.
The outlook for "Adrea,' then. is this:
That it will develop into a play of the
same artistic caste as '-Du Barry THE
Darling of the Gods" and Sweet Kitty
BeIlairs" and, in ali likelihood, will at
tain to the same conspicuous success
Cranes Step Forward.
Mr.. Cranes venture is one of the mos
interesting events of many years. He ha,
been a comedian for a generation ant
three generations have laughed at him
Thousands of theatergoers all over tn
country wait his coming with faces
smiling in expecta ton
~ Yet Mr.. Crane forfeits all that ad
vantage for the sake of acting a grea
role. And the sacrifice does not en-,
here. Audiences which have followed
Crane still gather under his banner fl
the same cause and they are deeply dis
appointed when led in the opposite di
rection
All this Is braved for the sake of art
There are other rewards. but they ar.
incidental. No other force than ar
could have made Mr.. Crane lmperson
alton of Lechat truly successful II {.
the finest representation in this capabI,
actors whole career. and it has digni
fed the art Of creating new personaIi
ties for the dei.neation of a playwright
conception as much any in,persona
ton ever made by Mr.. Mansfield Mr.
Crane is to be congratulated.
OF the incidental advantages the chic
is this-that Cranes audiences Will here
after feel an honest doubt as to tn
character of his plays. He will n,
longer be always the same" His fu
ture smpersonations can be offered Il
security that they will be received a
they deserve-not as mere opportunitie
to laugh.
A Star and His Difficulties.
Lionel Barrymour and The Othe
Cir scored right off the bat" Mr.
Barrymour is now star, fuiI-born
There are theatergoers who think thi
achievement the end of his troubles. On
the contrary. he is just facing his great
est difficulties A certain novelist VIII,
ranked at the head of English men o