The Washington herald., 1906-11-13
OPENING NIGHT AT THEATERS.

Ethel Barrymore in "AIice Sit-by-
thc-Fire" at New National.
To Washington has at last been dis
/ closed q view OF Ethel Barrymore's much
talked Of performance Of J. ". Parrle's
play. Alice Sit-by-the-F Fire" That grea;
Interest had preceded the appearance Of
the play IN this city was evidenced by the
large and fashionable audience 1T the
New National Theatcr last night
The play IS typical Barrie comedy,
and, therefore, q delight The whimsical
author-playwrigh has chosen fl his in-
Irritable way 90 slyly poke fun al tie so
called problem play. And everybody
knows what that means. Barrie's via is
50 elusive and mystifyiag his audience
Is kept In a constant state Of wonder. He
fairly revels in theatrical practical jokes.
and toments you with viyld pictures of
just what YOU are like Alice Sit-by-the-
Fire. however. Is by no means all satire
Beneath the fanciful, imaginative gossa-
mer IS the deep. tender seatimen. 81 d
mothers love and self-sac~i9ce; o mother
striving, after years Of separation from
her children. 10 Teunlte with them ana
win their love The means by which she
gains their championship IS wrought in
the delicious. Impossible scenes. which
oniy Barrie can make probable.
The surprise Of the whole performance
is the mother-heroine. as played by the
star. The public has always been proud
of Ethel Barrymore Her youth and tai
ents have been reasons fer satisfaction
to these who take a vital interest in the
continued upward progress OF our stage.
There is always praise due the actress
who dares depart from her accepted line
10 prove her originality and resourceful-
Ress.
For Ethel Barrymore. however 70 ig-
nore her own radiant youth By assum-
Ing character in middle age is noc
daring-it is confidence. BY believing in
herself she showed she believed in the
public, and won its admiration and sup
port. Heretofore only associated with
portraits Of striisb ingenuousncss, she has
made rapid progress IN her art.
No better proof Of this can be needed
than her broad and finished acting last
night. and her sympathetic and c0nyinc-
Ina grasp upon the NEST important and
exacting role sne Eas yet attempted. She
SHOWS that she has ful insight and ap-
probation Of the delicate hurlor OF the
Barrie situations. and though the author
keeps her half laughing half crying all
through the piece. she neve. for an in
staEt yielded 10 the obvious tempta ton
To OVeract She makes no attempt 10
make up old, other than by the fashion Of
her coiffure and the aid 90 ear orna-
men.s, but the result Is the embodiment &C
attractive femininity.
The supporting company leaves little 20
be desired. The peculiar role of Amy
Grey. the highly imaginative daughter
who knows more than she hopes her
mother VIII ever know. presents the
difficulty Of finding an actress 30 look
sixteen and possess the talent that comes
only with years. Miss Beatrice Agnew
acted exceedingly well. bul was rot
physically suited to the part. Lillian
Reed. a. Richardson. furnished an ex-
ouisite bit Of character work Bruce bio
Rae. disguised by white hair ara
mOustache. was excellent as Col! Grey.
as Was Thomas Keily-a Juvenile who has
real taient-as Cosmo Grey. Jack Barry
more. n youthful replica OF his distiu-
guished uncle John Drew. made the most
OF the awkward part Of STEPHEN ROllo.
Alice Sit-by-the-Fire is an unqualified
artistic success.