The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-25
LAST NIGHT AT THE THEATERS
A Massive and Effective Production
of s.Tbe Prince ~ sudio.p

4 Massive and Effective Production
Of ''The Prince % india"
THE Prince Of India. a decentralization
+ from Lew NaIlace's historical romance,
/ as presented at the National Theater last
night. affords abundant opportunity for
elective acting as well as hefvy and
f spectacular scenic environment 1t can
not truthfulIy be said that in the latter
/ feature there is more appeal. for the dra-
matte quality of the play, Interpreted by
/ a irst-clasS company, rs I'm the present
instance would engage the ordinary in
/ terest without resort 20 lavish investi-
+ ture. Essentially a more dramatic story
I than "Ben-Hur." it works up well from
4 the scenic standpoint
The story turns on the capture of Con
! stantinople by the Turks. The scene is
+ laid at the Byzantine capital and be-
side the historic characters introduced. we
/ have one of legendary character intro
duced by Gen. Wallace. 1t is "the Prince
/ or India. who rmbodieS the authors con-
/ ception Of the Wandering jew" that un-
/ happy creature who was commanded by
/ the suffering Nazarene 20 tarry until his
/ return. His offer Of the means of victory
! to Constantine. its rejection. his bestowaI
+ Of the sword and power=of Solomon upon
/ Mahommed, thereby invoking upon him
I self another century Of misery. are an
striking episodes. hut the chief interest
/ centers in the beautiful love story Of
Mahommed and the Princess Irene.
/ The production is extremely massive in
scenic detail, consisting CT n prologue
and five acts. the latter embracing ten
effective scenes and while none Of them.
perhaps, equals the chariot race, several
are very powerful. The Empress Ircne's
palace, the audience hall of the imperial
palace, and the Church of St Sophia are
especially noteworthy, while the scene
depicting the fan Of the battlements and
the thrush of the Saracens is a vivid
picture Of battle.
The four principal characters the EN-
peror Constantine, Prince Mahommed. the
Wanderer. and Princess Irene. are all
impersonated by capable actors Mr..
Emmett Corrigan essays the title role.
and gives "a striking deiineation of the
cursed Hebrew. His euunciation is pc
N+Aletl ~ NAAhNliNNr anu l4t rs dult 10 ct ratt
picture which lives in the mind after
the curtains fall Mr. William Farnum.
as Mahommed, gives all the advantages
derived from a fine presence, good el0-
cUtion. and correct conception. His work
In the second act. when disguised as the
Singing Sheik, is especially pleasing Mr.
Boyd Putnam appears as Constantine.
and gives a thoroughly convincing por-
rayal, with fine declamatory power as
its leading constituent a good impress
sion was created by Julius NIcVickers as
the Emir Mira.
The important role Of Irene is under
taken by Miss Adelaide Keim. and she
presents a delineation thoroughly in keep
ing with the strength of the character.
and takes fair advantage of an Of its
opportunities. She has a clear. Well
modUlated voice. and is especially pleas
ing in the love episodes. while she ex-
presses the dramatic passages with more
than passing power.
The supporting company is unusually
large the programme displaying a long
list of minor peTsonaEes who figure iu the
dialogue. and the performance shows
several hundred who figure only in the
action. The mob and battle scenes are
worked Up to approximate realism. and
as a whole the production is entirely
suitable as a holiday diversion.