Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-06
THE THEATE Err.
Columbia Theater.

Thomas II. Dixon, r., who travels with
the company now producing The Clany-
man. at the Columbia Theater. il by far
the most interesting feature of the per-
Torrance. He has the oratorical instinct.
and his personality breathes the defiance of
the natural born debater. At the moment
when 1t is customary to call for the author
Of the play Mr. Dixon appeared before the
curtain. The audience had not asked for
him. but was glad to see him none the less.
The applause had been frequent and
vociferous and some curiosity on Mr.. Dix
ons part to come out and have q square
look at the crowd who was making the
noise was quite justifiable, Mr., Dixon
thanked the audience for its enthusiasm
with all the modesty and grace of a young
author, but in a few minutes his rhetoric
found Its natural militant swing and he
called attention to the very deserved roast
ings which his play had hitherto received.
He said 1t was a remarkable fact that his
critics were all on the press and not in
his audiences Heproceeded to congratulate
the assemblage before him upon its fair
ness and discrimination. when certain sib-
liant reminders reached him that he had
been mistaken in assuming unanimity in
his hearers approval, and he brought his
threatened lecture to close.
The subject of the play Is most unpleas-
ant and appeals to the morbid curiosity
which always draws crowd when 1t be-
comes noised abroad that something OBJ
jectionable is on exhibition. BY peculiar
paradox the utter crudfty of the work,
both in structure and performance, proves
in sense its salvation. People of intel
ligence are not likely to take it over
seriously, and those who find satisfaction
In noisy demonstration are given abundant
opportunity to express their personal
views by the very elementary method of
vigorous hand-clapping to signify indorse-
ment and kissing to indicate disapproval.
The play Is a dramatized stump speech
of a school long since departed The meth
Cd of portraying its characters and Incl
dents defeats its own intentions so far as
the enlistment OF sympathy is concerned,
for the logic of the story Is entirely on the
side of the characters against whom its
authors obvious purpose Is to incense the
spectators. And the denouement which
relieves the fearful situation to which its
logic has led up, is strained, conventional
and devoid of argumentative significance.
1t may be that the fires of passion and
hatred which this representation describes,
still smolder. Had this play possessed
sufficient quality to command thoughtful
consideration its effect would have been
none other than to fan them into danger
Gus activity.
Mr.. Dixon's books afforded material of
value to students of this country's history,
but the people before whom his play is
presented are not students, or If SUCH they
must assuredly resent the cheap trickery
and shameless effrontery by which an ap-
peal to the passions instead of to the rea-
son Is attempted. There Is absolutely no
topic which scientific discussion must not
touch, and yet many such topics are for
hidden In ordinary discourse As a writer
of books Mr.. Dixon claims something of
the consideration of man who is earnest
ly and honestly trying to convey fnfor-
nation. The play, however, descends
abruptly to the level of an appeal to mere
pruriency. People who enjoy being shock
ed will view it with satisfaction. The seem
cry is elaborate and the company on
par with those usually employed in melo-
dramatic production of the uhra-sensa-
tional sort.