Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-14


UAEH as independent an artistic guam
Il tlty as he was. 1t is true that
the glamor of personality
stru holds marvellous attraction, but little
nv little there has come q popular ten
6encv 10 20 TO sec plays rather than mere
" 70 aaze at rlayers At first the pubic
asked no more than that some actor should
be gifted with voice. presence and unoer-
standing The play was but an Instrument
which he welded entirely for MS own
gIorifcatiou The company, II medloere'
afforded a better background for the dis
play of his own luminous talents Inc
theater IS in full accord now, as 1t ever
is with the social conditions which sur
round it. Organization has taken the place
of Individual leadership. The demand icF
personal talent IS equaled by the de-
mand for general efficiency. The average
of ability in dramatic representation Is
now higher than it ever was before, even
though there are none 70 scale the heights
Of tragedy, where Booth and Forrest wrote
their names for all to read.
< y K
Sarah Bernhard came to us as one who
had stepped forth from pedestal in the
hall of revered memories. She stands for
the player. individual. supreme even tyran-
meal Excellent actors have appeared in
her companies. but they have been but
satellites Her plays have been written
for her. and not for the sake of carrying
out an authors Inspiration So it has
been with the great players of England and
America. ShakespcaIian students were
Obliged to be content with seeing q single
character splendidIy portrayed. around
which the other roles moved like mere
lay figures. 1t placed enormous RESPONSE
He was forced to carry the whole structure,
as Atlas was supposed to bear the world
upon his back.
It is to this honored but passing order
of dramatic genius that Mr.. r S Willard
whose appearance in this city is always
an event of Importance belongs He has
polished a series Of representations to the
utmost degree of refinement His studies
have the admirable accuracy which
only the greatest technical knowledge can
bestow, and are, at the same time, in
spired both by intellectual vigor and warm
human sympathy; yet the performance
Stands or falls entirely by the single role
"hlch Mr.. Willard poTtrays. His support
ing company conveys no distinct impress
slons. and the star towers among his asso-
GATES like an oak tree In the meadow
Many stars have presented such q contrast
ana sought II deliberately, with the belief
fhdt their own powers were thrust the moro
strlFdhgIv into relief. This was true ner
maps with a theater patronage less in
formed concerning the devices of the foot
4ights than present playgoers, such. for in
stance. as constitute an audience I'm this
Guy; an audience which may. doubtless,
De accepted as representing the tastes and
opinions Of the country in general
x X
IHere Is a tendency to demand very
2 N uch more than can be offered by any one
payer For some time it was sought to
appease this yearning for more and for
better by scenic Iuxuriance, and the actor
who could boast several carloads of cas-
ties and palaces, together with a varied
assortment of stage jewels and satins
might feel himself reasonably safe. Rut
musical comedy and extravaganza stepped
IN ana taught us what slight and SIM
pie thing was all this display Money. So
aII-important in most branches of bust
ness, occupies compare lively humble
though necessary place in a theatrical
entertainment. The mere heaping together
OF luminous effects no longer begufles. us.
Layishness of display has come to he a
mere perfunctory incident of modern
dramatic creation. The idea which ami
mates a performance and the manner of
its working out have come TO be the cru
clal considerations A dramatic star is
welcomed, but 1t must be a star whose
attachments are great that he need
Tear no comparison in the strongest pos
stble supporting cast There must be the
equipment that taste requires, be 1t mod
crate or lavish, but above all there rnus+
be something that appeals to the men
tality.
Ii is too great a compliment to Mr. Re
lasco TO say that the magnlfcent nro-
ductons which he has made, most of them
built under his personal direction from,
the time pen touched paper until the rise
OF the curtain, have created this demand
Tor an assemblaSe of potencies where once
an audience was content with eycen-
tional merit in some single direction. But
Mr.. Belasco has undoubtedly perceIved
this tendency. and in his work as y nro
Queer for the stage. has kept pace with
II and even little in advance. The pro
auctions in which Mrs. Carter has been
appearing as a star at the Belasco The
alter eXemplify the breadth and accuracy
with whiih he grasps every detail of dra-
matte erect The public demand for a star
he recognizes but he educates tho et,,.. 90,
cordtng 10 his own ideals, and enables bar
10 stand forth by right Of her own
achievement the Alpha of any consteIla-
ton' however numerous and Iustrous So
long as production is under Mr.. Relas-
cos personal guidance each character lie
distinct and eminent creation. This rule
has had but few exceptions. The scenery
and costuming are marvels of magntd-
cence, and yet inanimate display is never
allowed to oyerwhelm the real inspiration
For dictiOn he calls the ablest writer's thar
he can command to his assistance. and the
result Is an assemblage of elements
which complete a harmonious structure
and yet which may severalIy bear the
+ closest analysis.
This demand for harmonious and weII
rounded productions has possibly caused
some of the individual favorites whose
art is tndisputable and whose reputation
is firmly established from the highest
ground 10 feel more or less disappoint-
ment at the apparent ebb In popular appre-
citation OF their endeavors The scant sup
ply of good plays makes the situation the
more difficult, and II is not altogether sur
prising, however disappointing it may be