The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-10-28


modern times.
Mr.. and Mrs Forbes Robertson had
Just arrived FROM England when 1 called
upon them at the Woodstock. Their
apartment was scented throughout with
The delicious perfume Of the American
Beauty roses, a fitting tribute TO Miss
Elliott, for. while she has not the resu-
larity of features that her celebrated sis
Ter possesses, still snc has beauty which
IS enhanced by q continual play Of ex-
oression iu her large hazel eyes and about
her mobile mouth. She is intellectual,
TOO. and is always ready 10 take up
discussion OF . play or dramatist when
called upon TO do so.
Miss ElEotts Opheiia is well remem-
A-red. and the public Is patiently waitln5
g. return ensag ement Of Hamlet
What Of Hamlet?' I asked as soon
as we had exchanged greeting. shall
#e see him this season.
~ hone not answered Mr. Robertson.
Really! You are joking, said T.
Please, please don't misunderstand,"
said Mr.. Robertson, with that beautiful
smile which so iluWines his features 1T
Is not that Hamlet Is less dear To me.
but if I play him this year &C. viii mean
that cur new play. Caesar and Cleopatra,
has proved a failure when We are so de-
Sirous Of scoring "a success.
Yes added Miss Elliott. good plays
are so difficult 10 find now, somehow. and
We nave both worked nard in our study
of these two famous characters. We
have faith ia the play; but one is never
certain Of The public, although Bernard
shaw Is a gTeat favoTite IN America He
Is a wonderful writer OF original plays.
u is SO delightful TO ind drama which
does not follow the usual methods en-
ployed by other writer's Mr Shaw does
as he pleases, but. in my opinion, he does
what Is right Some say Jnat his ch8Vac-
irr5 are at times unnatural The COM
mOnplace person beneath the influence OF
bis pen UnderSOes Il certain influence
which is unavoidable, that is all His
characters are never dull and stupid.
Ills own brilljaucy in some manner So
envelOps them that even the waiter in
'Gou Never Can Tell Is clever. To me
his men and women are quite as they
should be. Men and women do say bril-
liant things, you know, although perhaps
at times Mr.. shaw invests them with "a
tride more clevcrness than is their just
due
In the new play. both Caesar and
Cleopatra are the essence OF naturaIness.
Shaw has conceived them. The story
IF the play takes place al an earl CT
period IN the history Of their two ] YES
han We have been accustomed % s-cirg
un the stage They are the caesar and
Cleopatra of true history. The latter Is
Just sixteen at the time, according to
writer's. when Caesar first saw her Til is
was before Antony had made his con
quest Of her heart. Shaws Cleopatra is
delicious. She Is Il little terror. and a
very attractive one She is "a kitten. If
I may so describe her playful and full of
COquettiSh moods. She speaks of bay-
ing seen Antony when she was twelve
years OF age, bat Antony t. another
chapter. for Caesar rules In this one and
his reign was not one of love. This Is
he strange and interesting part Of ths
play that there is 10 love interest an
element which is generally considered in
dspensable. MI Shaw cares nothing fo~
traditional construction. however. He
does not need H. Wait until you meet
his interesting historic pair, and YOU
will agree with me Robert Louis Ste
VenSOn wrote DIT. Jckyil and Nj Hyde
in order to prove q theory of his that
a book might be Il success without sin
-lC woman character il il. Mr.. Shaw VIII
show that love is rot q greater ucces-
stay. The play Is rather the develop
ment OF two characters. especially thar
of Cleopatra, through the influence of
Caesar Caesar tries 10 make Egypt as
nc wants IT, His character IS almost per
fcct. He is so nOble-humanity isclf"
Then Cleopatra does not attempt 10
cnsnare Caesar"
THAT Is best answered by the expIana-
ton that Caesar is the perfection OF man.
hood. He IS something better and higher
in type than Egypts queen has ever
dreamed about. They ask her II she
loves him. and she replies, Can one
love God?' shaw's Caess~ is nawiess.
lie Is almost too perfect"
When questioned about London. Miss
Elliott said: 'Why should anyone eN-
press surprise that L. who am an Ameri-