Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-15
THE THEATER
Belasco Thsster.

The performance ct the BelaEco Theauo
last night was one OF especial interest IN
that Miss odstte Tyler was presented for
the frst time In the role OF q playwright
THE Red Carnation.' IL the title Of the
piece with which Miss Tyler makes her
initial bid Or favor as an author. It Is Q
tale Of the exciting days OF the French
revolution. dealing with the efforts Of the
loyal followers of the unfortunate Queen
Marie Antoinette to rescue her from prison.
In presenting the Stage picture Of that crit
ical period in the history OF the French
nation the audience Is taken through
series OF incidents In which melodramatic
action plays no small part. In fact.
throughout the performance the nerves Of
the auditors are kept tingling with thrilling
scenes, periious situations and daring es-
capades.
In the role Of Elizabeth, the sister Of
Jacques du Bots Jack of the Woods, Miss
Tyler has an interesting part, in which
there u some comedy, but which particu-
larry gives her an opportunity to display
her ability as an emotional actress TO ex-
cellent advantage Mr.. r. ID. MacLean ap-
pears as Jacques. a nobleman in disguise
TOR whom the republican forces OF Paris
are searching with great yigor Through
the part assigned to this character the au-
thor has undertaken to show some OF the
extreme measures adopted by the French
arfStocrats for upholding the monarchy.
Mr. MacLean was admirable as the man
Of mystery and carried off his dramatic
scenes with distinction. Wilson Melrose is
seen as Andree Cfavieres, lieutenant OF
the national guard of France, an able SOL
der with an undying love for the republic.
He saves Elizabeth from the fury of the
republican soldiery while she is alone in
the street at night disguised as boy.
The instant that she comes face to face
sold Of no nor
OF France she falls In love with him. In
an ecstasy OF gratitude over the great help
he has rendered her. Elizabeth kisses him.
From that moment when her identity is
revealed she leads this love-stricken soldier
through many tests of his love for her
tests that seemingly always draw taut the
cord that binds his allegiance to the repub-
lie, but each time he rises to the emergency
and obeys the whims of woman, as well as
the commands of the national forces OF
France
Fuller Mellish plays the part of Simon,
the queens jailer, representative of the
ignorant mass, whose whole bent Is that
OF cruelty toward the royalist. His charac-
terization Is a strong piece of work. Es-
pecially is this true in the scene where he
discovers his daughters implication in the
plot to hberate the queen. In the role OF
Marie Antoinette Miss Blanch Stoddard
gave creditable performance, and George
Parker, as the captain of police and bibu-
lous friend of Andree gives a good imper-
sonation. Miss Inez Plummer as the
daughter of Simon the jailer plays the part
with the vivacity Of the French maid of the
day. Mr.. Tooker, as Gen. Sauterre; Guy
Combs. as Dixmer, villain. as we'll as
Mrs West, in the minor role of Nine. Plum
miere and John Kline, as the Marquis Du-
rathian. gave good delineations. Little
Imogene Fairchiid as the dauphin of France
was particularly pleasing.
During the play bouquets of red carna-
lions were passed over the footlights Judg-
ing from the enthusiasm of the audience,
1.-The Red Carnation" contains strong ap-
peal to popular favor, and its first presenta-
ton augurs we'll for its success