The Washington herald., 1906-12-09

MacVicaTs, Jonh F'YoN' stem,
James E. Wilson, Douglas Fairbanks,
Harriet DHlenbaUgh Lillian kemb-e. and
Diva Marolda In the cast u was given
production by william a. BRADY and
Joseph Grismer that made It notable
among the events Of the season
The Mot deals with young mayor =
a large city. who does bis duty in spite
Of tremendous obstacles evolving from
nersonal interest in the girl with whom
he Is in love and the pressure OF p0-
IjticaI circumstances. II IS another pho
toeraphfc adumbration Of fcOntempOraneous
history. a dramatic brochure on graft
ing and financial chicanery-a pictur-
esoue example Of theatrical undertaking
that reused the applause Of a h0usefui
~ people who had just passed through
a campaign confirming the very c0ndi-
tions which were excoriated in The play.
II IS 50 very modern, so microscopic IN
/ it's treatment, that La Toilette. ~ Wis
/ consin Folk. Of Missouri. and President
Roosevelt are mentioned by name az cX-
amples Of political purists. Not one Il
/ the characters introduced Is ln any sense
ney. and nothing IS idealized. There was
/ more In the playing than IN the draw
/ ing Of the types to make matters inter-
esting. the barren realism Of modern
cirv poIitics was set forth with ruthless
candor. Judges are bought, cOuncilmen are
ccerced. and behind the scenes the pJlit-
ical boss and the financial mogul are
welding then brutal power with savage
mastery.
! But the play has the merit-frst. -
being extremely vel played, and second,
/ Of lively and incessant action The last
act in the committee rooms adjoining
! f.s.4- q
the street railway bill was exciting % -
/ degree. The dignifed Interpretation 0f
/ the role Of the mayor by Frederic Per
/ ~ was truthful and sympathetic. though
not snowy in a theatrical sense II was
too sincere for that and some critics
might prefer a more conventional juve-
nile In the part.
The love story is interesting. Alwyn
Bennett is IN love with Dallas VAIN
wright the niece Of the big hnancier.
Being a girl Of good, practical American
sense. she urges Alwyn TO make mark
in the world and be somebody on his own
account. Until he shows his mettle she
will hold her consent in allegiance
/ 1t happens that the political boss is
/ looking for a candidate for Mayors
/ young man. clean man. who has money
| and ability. Alwyn is just the man for
/ his purpose and is nominated, with ths
| expectation. Of course. that he viii Pr0vs
/ a cOmplacent instrument in his hands.
But Alwyn takes his oath Of Office
/ seriously. Wainwright. the fnancier and
custodian Of Dallas fortune is pushing
| a franchise through the council. It reeEs
| with graft. and the mayor vetoes IL. His
sweetheart's fortune is involved I'm ths
/ transaction. He tries 10 save her; his
/ motives are misinterpreted To her; she
/ promises 10 marry his rival. his own
fathers integrity is staked on the game;
total ruin stares him in the face-dis-
appointment defeat. disgrace-n0 matter.
/ He struggles with his conscience, but
keeps in the straight and narrow path
/ Circumstances come 10 his aid al the
critical juncture, the misunderstanding IS
| explained, and victory perches on his ban
ner, and Dallas gives him her whole
/ heart.
Several situations are well coutrived,
and the clever resources of a clever play
wright serve 10 give zest to points that
are intrinsically insipId and with the
fine acting the play seems assured OF
success.
Anna Held has again brought New York
to her market She is appearing at the
Broadway in one Of the liveIiest pieces Of
the season. The Partisan Model" It IS
a full-dress affair. the dressiest affair in
all particulars that New York has wit
messed. The comedy is written to iii ths
gowns. and would make Paris gasp. II is
proving one of the sensations of Broad
way. and the demand for seats is tre-
mendous.
Within a comparatively short distance
Frrr~4 nh ~r-.
dazzling the eye Of the metropolis with
the splendors Of the rainbow. Ibsen Is
celebrating a popular triumph in a way
with 'Hedda Gabler." and the announce
ment is made that The Dolls House"
has been put in rehearsal at the Princess
by Ala Nazimova. the Russian actress.
and is in turn to be followed by other Ib-
sen plays for four matiuees week
Blanche Stoddard. who was member u
the stock company at the Belasco Thsater
last summer, has been engaged for the
cast.
I am told that Rachel Crothers. who
wrote The Three Of Is for the Madison,
Square Theater. where CarIotta Nilsson
scored so Toundly in IL, has nearly com
pleted the play in which Manager Walter
n Lawrence viii star Laura Nelson Hall.
Wednesday morning Blanche Bates laid
the Stuyvesant. in the presence Of a large
concourse Of theatrical people. Miss
Bates was assisted in the ceremony bv
Belasco's new planetary discovery. Miss
Frances Starr. and his two daughters. II
was highly impressive Bronson Howard
read short and pithy address in which
he scored the modern drama and au1n-
Sized BelasCO. He referred 10 him as "fHa
Right Reverend Belasco.- Miss Rates
speech as she laid the cornerstone was
oIlei ana to the point May Mr. Belasco
suck to his friends and may his friends
SUCK 10 MIN, she said. "as this mortar
SUCKS TO the stone" Nearly every ona
connected with the Belasco theatrical
househoid deposited something I'm the COP
per DoX which was sealed up in the stone
ana az the close Of the ceremony three
/ cAeers Tor Belasco were given BY the en-
! IIe crowd. From window of the Lambs
Ciub opposite, the whole proceedings were
| witnessed by Mrs. Leslie Carter's hus-
band. Louis Payne.
Plans are afcot for a season Of per-
formance by the same excellent stock
company which has appeared at the Co
! lumbia Theater. for several years past.
Negotiations We're opened by the Shu-
berts with Guy Standing before he left
the city To place stock company in the
( Belasco Theater Washington. next May
/ or June, 70 run through the summer sea-
son. No conclusions have yet been
( reached. Standing says, If he decides to
I undertake It, he VIII bring practically the
same people to Washington that were