Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-18

note IN the WoEh VI
Iackaye which redeems much
that ia commonplace in his play
THE Pit" This is one OF the
,roduc,,ons which reach Washington AFTER
the bloom of novelty has been shaken on
and the dust OF much railway travei mas
basv,,-7 IN settle This observation does io'
snnIv in any way to the scenic GIN
baI1ishment which is sufficient IN eV-
airy respect But the play comes a4tei
IT has been heard of so much Aioli'
afar that all curiosity concerning
has passed Its interest has long since
waned Other things Of more recent nov
city have interviewed since the dramauza-
tiou Of Mr. Norris highly Interesting Story
presented Mr.. Claiming Pollock 10 pupiic
notice as an efficient and practical play
wright. The fact that 1t had never Deeh
seen here before did not prevent a certain
impression that the production was 30 ID,
es vogue is concerned, bit shopworn. II
was no longer the sensation OF the hour'
and many of the theatergoers included IN
this city's rather cosmopolitan population
had seen Il elsewhere These reasons may
AFFORD some explanation of why perform
ence possessing so many features OF inter
est did not draw the uniformly large au-
diences expected for 1t.
y
Mr. LackAye, In one Of the little post
script performances which Washington au-
diences have become accustomed to de-
mAnd, under the guise of curtain speeches.
describes The Pit a problem play
combined with melodrama. The pFooiem -
a rather attenuated affair. These pusy
times find but little sympathy for the Old
fashioned story Of the neglected WIFE VINO
tustIaes herself In receiving the attentions
--n1r- hoo
band insists on attending close to his bust
ness In an effort to provide her with seal
skin coats and diamond dog collars The
tempter who prowls around a neglected
home is out of date. The modern woman
is a newspaper reading and a more or less
athletic parsonage, who can see through
the wiles of a fiatterer with half an eye.
This type of stage villain has become al
most pathetically absurd. The East
Lynne" element of the play is the least IN
value OF its qualities.
What does appeal is the fight for money
and power which Curtis Jadwin, the busi-
ness man. puts UP. The more Jadwtn, the
sentimental hero, is eliminated, the more
striking In interest the character becomes.
The effort to sentimentalize an alert. hard
headed tradesman is a difficult one II
is here done only at the enormous sacri-
quished and Inundated hero. The moral
intended is obviously, that love is greater
than riches the cottage where contentment
dwels is better than the palace in which
lonely footsteps awake the echoes, and
all that sort of thing. The theme was
favorite with the novelists OF the century
Just previous. Their books are abundantly
available to the readers who value these
assurances But this is an era of finance
The clash of millions of money against
stanch armors of credit was a few years
ago as fierce as the combating swords and
steel in the knight errantry Of old. Later
the game has been played more craftily.
Diplomacy has superseded actual trials of
strength, and will often happen in tests
of diplomatic skill, bad faith has asserted
itself. The young men and women of to-
day are being instructed by current liter
ature, not how to get married and live
happily ever after but how to get rich.
Success as measured by the attainment Of
wealth is the keynote of literary inspira-
ton. The man who sees no other way
OF turning fortunes current in his direction
writes a book showing other men how to
become prosperous. and so lays a founda-
ton for competency on his own account.
II is therefore Curtis Jadwin, the specu-
Iator and the plunger. IN whom the audi
ence ia most interested. That he should
love deeply and earnestly affords an in
teresting sidelight his character, but
the conflict OF nerve and brain, with mil
lions at stake. Is what commands interest
In him. Mr. Lackaye's simple humanity
is the strongest appeal that the piece con-
tains. His work Is OF the kind that Is
possible only where player has mastered
- nj r,y1la oil hot
he can be forgetful OF it without sacri-
hcing It.
In Its more exciting moments it hints
strongly OF the Old-tine meIodrama in
which heroism survived every physical
peril. and virtue every Temptation. Almost
every class OF entertainment has had its
inning since 'Romany Rye Lights of
London and The Black Flag were popu-
lar. Occasionally some stalwart survivor
Of this ancient race is welcomed with
. admirIng acclaim by popular-price audi
ences but the turn Of fortunes wheel
has not yet been made which will bring
that vigorous. full-b.ooded style of enter
tainment back into its old-time esteem
few more successful plays like The Pit"
might bring meIodrama back into the field
Of legitimate entertainment
The highest dramatic art, which the week
revealed. was witnessed by hand full of
spectators on Thursday and Friday after
moons, when Yvette Guilbert gave her
charming impersonations. They are de-
scribed on the program as songs, but Gull
bert's vocal talents are wholly subordinate
TO her personal magnetism and marvellous
histrionic skin. She is a rare actress. so
completely realizing within her own mind
the attributes of any character she as
sumes that the auditors subconscIoUsness
Immediately responds with sympathetic
understanding. Il is a sort OF telepathy.
The illusions she employs to assist the eye
IN comprebending her artistic purposes are
slight and inconsequental When she says
4 am the peasant hoyden, the superannu-
atei gr!sctte, or the grande dame, she en-
forces her assertions by sort of hypno-
tism 50 complete that tie audience forgcts
Guilbert and secs only the image which she
is mentally projecting. She Is not only
most charming entertainer but wonder
ful psychic study.
PHILANDER JOHNSON