The Washington herald., 1906-10-28


There was uo loophole for excuse on the
ground OF a disregard Of art if the play
did not score Signally. There was APP
plaUse enough. and after the third act the
auth0rcss responded 10 the demand for
her appearance by making d bow before
the curtain, much as Rachel Crothers had
done "a few nights before during the pre-
miere Of The Three OF Us" But these
things happen on Broadway and yet may
Dc meaningless withal. This latest blend
ing OF love and finance which aims TO
scOurge the modern spirit Of adventure.
conquest and power, has a story that vas
spoiled In the telling It is poorly aTticu-
+ lated IN construction. lacking in simple
directness OF narrative. with the subsidi-
AIRY characters little more than partial
developed, and rs q whole suggesting an
I immature treatment OF a subject OF other
wise vital potential elements by "a lady
who has obviously studied the realities of
+ life only IN the pages OF the popular mag
azines.
Tho four leading characters did the best
they could 10 impdTU the dignity OF con-
sentative realism 20 the unreal lines. but
the scent of the literary blue stocking
cluug 10 them st.ll. Percy Haswel was
charming. Holland was graphic. Drouet
was inCisive. and the sweet face OF Mary
/ Hail lent a peculiar interest 10 the in
! triCue OF the woman who enters matri-
monty as 4 matter or convenience.
How much of her own experience did
I the lustTous Mary throw into the fiction ,
Just eleven years ago last month she was
married in Kansas City 60 Smith b Hall.
who was employed on one of the Kansas
I CITY papers as q dramatic critic. She was
/ then pretty Mary White the daughter
/ OF the late Judge Henry =. White, OF that
I city. She WAS stage struck. As soon as
+ she and Hall We're married he began 10
make efforts TO realize her ambition Her
mother and other relatives objected; he
J encouraged IL They had a child. but
/ that did no. divert her from her object
They came TO New York. and she sue
/ ceeded in getting al engag cement. with
/ the understanding that she would not
/ play outside of New York But by and by
I there were no engagements 10 be had In
/ New York, and then she accepted engage
( mentS on the road.
The result vas a suit for divorce
/ brought by her husband in MINNEAPOLIS. in
+ February. 1904, at which Hall testified
/ that her ambition had overcome her love
/ for home, and she had practically aban-
dcned him and their child. The decree was
{ =
/ Charles Tabb Pearcc- She won distinction
/ as leading woman Of the Pike stock COM
pany Of Cincinnati, with /. II. SOthern
/ IN The Proud Prince, as leading woman
/ 81 the Murray Hill stock company of
/ New York and of the Boston stock COM
pany. She is now an admirable actress
and one of the most beautiful women ap-
pearing at any Broadway theater
The House Of Mirth." by Edith whar-
/ ton and Clyde Fitch. serving as a starring
vehicle FOR Fay Davis, had its premiere
Monday evening at the Savoy, and scored
la success destime, nothing more The
play Is from the novel of that name. The
cooperation of Mr.. Fitch was not able to
redeem the performance from inspiring
a benumbing sense of Ianguor which the
excellent actress in the stellar role did
/ little 70 relieve. The critics give high
praise 10 Albert Bruening for the por-
( trayal of Simon Rosendale. the money
loving jew. but faithful friend of Lily
/ Bart.
Viola Allen on the other hand. scored
an artistic and what at the same time
/ looks Ike "A popular success in Shakes
peare's "Cymbelinc' AZ the Astor Thea
ter, on the same night She followed
I Annie Russell IN Midsummer Nights
/ Dream at the same pls yhouse, and was
( greeted by a large and representative
audience. After The Toast of the
/ Town" Miss Aliens splendid work in
this splendid production inspires refresh
ing interest. Ii is evident that she Is
at her best In Shakespearean roles. and
her IHogen. which is a vast improve
meut on the last Imogen, that of Mar
garet Mather will be recorded among he's
most substantial successes. She Is thor
oughly sympathetic and POLITICALLY charm
ing. The whole characterization has the
transiuccEce OF Carpra marble she
reads The lines with lne infection, aud
her acting is subtle and persuasive in
every mood Of temperament that the role
possesses. Distinction was won By sid