The Washington times., 1906-03-27
AT THE LOCAL PLAYHOUES
NATIONAL.
Robert Edeson Admirably Presents
Strong Play.

No young actor who has visited Wash
ington this season has been given a
heartier welcome or more generous ap-
plause than was accorded Robert Ede-
son in ''Strongheart" at the National
Theater last evening. The play. the
players. and the audience seemed thor
oushiy in sympathy. and the result was
most happy.
Strongheart' is essentially American.
more SO than any other play that has
been presented in years The author,
William G. De Mile. has blended with
keen artistic perception and discretion
three .distinctively American subJects-
the American Indian, American foot
ball, and American college life The
atmosphere Of the play is collegiate. III
holds the mirror up TO a phase OF ma
ture not often portrayed, but one which
is a component part of our national Ife.
1t is a faithful picture OF the real char-
acter-building period in the llNes OF 1he
men of tomorrow. The leaulnS nBureS
in the Dlay are young college men, inn
bued with all the freshness or youth
and freedom from care The lines teen
with a buoyancy that recalls time
when high hopes and ambitions had not
been dashed by a first failure The
scenes are more tnan incidental; they
are constructive
The theme of the play is unique. It
concerns an Indian college student who
falls in love with the sister OF his chum,
a white man. After he has won her
love, IN spite of the barrier of Anglo
Saxon race pride. he is forced 10 re-
nounce her and go back to his people
in response to She call of his tribe.
The play might have degenerated into
crude melodrama depending for its
hold upon the public on a fatuous ap-
peal 10 race prejudice In this instance,
fnf re.I
ject with skill and finesse. AS a result.
the syHnathies of the audience are
aroused. not the passions.
The play is more than a mere enter
tainment. l. opens a long vista of spec
ulation, and those who care to analyze
motives, prejudices. and innate feelings
OF racial distinction Will have their
minds quickened and led into new ave-
nues Of thought after seeing Strong
heart Its appeal is universal The
audience recognizes the contending
forces Cf a superficial justice and u
deep-seated. primitive. and uncon1ue--
able instinct which demands the preser-
v0tion o. race entity
IL is h I'd to differentiate between tie
merits of the lines and the work of
Mr. Edeson as Strongheart- Great dis
erection was evinced in celebrating the
character of the Indian. Mr. EdeSon' s
accent and makeup no less than his
careful reading are worthy Of commen-
datiol.
In the second act Strongheart follows
the movements OF his team in a foot
ball game from which he has been de-
barred. Mr.. Blossoms elocution was in
tensely dramatic and realistic in this
scene, evincing great magnetic emo
tional power. His work evoked a storm
of applause as the tense strain Of sus-
pense vas relaxed by the announcement
OF victory for his team.
IN the third act the question OF racial
distinction is outlined. Mr.. EdeSon was
No. az 1INT .aCf l. Te .l1E-
tribe against his alleged white friends
Fortunately for the pleasure of the
theater patrons, Mr.. Blossoms manager
does not seem to think that his star has
reached the enlinence where he can dis
pense with a really clever supporting
company
Every role is in capable hands The
work of Frank ]. Mcintyre as Billy
Saunders was particularly effective and
the heartiness of his reception was sec
ono only TO that of the star II. David
Todd as Reade. grind. gave faith
ful portrayal of a type to be found in
pathetic Interpretation OF the role OF
Dorothy Nelson. but her voice was per-
haps too tense throughout the greater
pa of the play. Louise Drew as Molly
Livingston was satisfactorily placed op-
posite BILLY" Lucille Stamford as Maud
Weston. had only few lines, but she
made them distinctive.
''Stronghcart is admirably staged.
and. taken all in all, we shall not often
see its like.
A large and well-dressed audience at
tended the performance. which was given
for the benefit of the Hebrew Charities
Among those present were DR.. and
Mrs. Milton Rosenau. Mrs. FRANKIE, Mr.
and Mrs. Joel Hillmann. Mr.. and Mrs.
Stillmann, Mr.. and Mrs. StiebeI. Mr.. and
Mrs. Sam Fellheimer, Mr.. and Mrs.
Henry Goodman. Mr.. and Mrs Held
Nathan Frank. Mr.. and Mrs. Kahn. Mr.
and Mrs L. Callisher. Mr.. and Mrs. S.
Richards. Mr.. and Mrs. s. Benzeler, Mr.
and Mrs. s Solomon. Mr.. and Mrs. II
Wittgenstein, Mr.. and Mrs. a. Sanders
Mr.. and Mrs c.. Goldheim. Mr.. and Mrs
lansburgh. Miss I-eona Young, Mr. and
Mrs. =. Posner. G. Bensinger Mr. and
Mrs. Goldsmith. H. Kaufman, Milton
Kaufman. Mr.. and Mrs b. Rich, Mr.
and Mrs. 5. Kaufman. Mr. and Mrs
Sol Myers. Miss Myers, Frank Myers.
Mr.. and Mrs. Max Fischer. Mr.. and Mrs
Isaac Cans. Mr.. and Mrs. Joe King
Alfred Mayer, Mr.. and Mrs. Ernest
Mayer. Mrs A NJ. Baer. Miss Baer Mr.
and Mrs. Shiffnanp. Mr.. and Mrs. NJ
Marks. Mr.. and Mrs. A. Minister. Mr.
and Mrs. A. NJ. Fishel. the Misses
Hirsh. Hon. and Mrs. Simon Wolf, Mr..
and Mrs OppenheimeT, Mr.. and Mrs
Harry King, and Mr.. and Mrs. IsidOr
Grosner-