The Washington times., 1907-02-19
Consumption Dramatized
In Gillette's "Clarice;'
Marie Doro Delightful
So-CaIled Comedy Dra-
ma, Farce and Melo-
drama Mixed.
Some Fine Character
Acting by Lucille La
Verne.

William Gillette and particularly
good company opened al the National
last night in "Clarice" Mr.. Gmette's
new comedy drama. Comedy drama
forsooth. A dramatization Of tubercu-
losis and suicide and-"cOmedy DRAMA
As matter OF fact. the first act is q
complete and absolutely delightful COM
edy all 10 itself But Il serves as a
sort OF curtain raiser 10 a combination
or farce and melOdrama, which certainly
does Mr. Gillette no great credit as a
piaywright-nOr even as an actor. For
While he has made his greatest success
as a writer and player OF melOdram8
II Is melOdrama with a difference For
ne has always played II - quietly. with
such restraint as made IL convincing.
Restraint has been tire -irst article OF
MS creed as an actor. but in "CIarice"
lhere are moments when he departs
from IL entirely.
The play tells the love story OF a
mature man. physician, whom failing
health has obliged to give up his city
practice and take refuge In a South
Sarohna village; and his young ward,
Clarice- He does not realize his in
tatuatiOH until another man. also "A doc
tor, comes a-wOOing. Then believing
II is for her own good. he IS prepared
10 urge his rivals suit. Clarice, how
ever, knows her own heart, and finds
the other suitOr. WhereupOn he and
the lady villainess-in-chief. who has
once been In love with and has been
scOrned by Darlington. hatcl'up a lovely
plot to persuade the latter that ne is
dying of consumption and that Clarice
is in danger Of infection IL she remains
IN his house. So he sends her 70 Wash
ington with the lady villainess. her
aunt. and. since he can't live without
her. prepares To commit suicide
NIIT1tts declines She and
Denbeigh, the other doctor. return TO
gCtheT. ind everything locked Up, break
in. and md Darlington dying. Where
upon Denbeigh repents his evil way
and saves his hated rival
BE n said al once that no one out
Mr. Gillette could do 10 and make any
uptown audience swallow II for a mo-
ment But playing T. as ne does-mOst
ner, he makes T. plausible. and bring
ing 20 The part his oWn Magnetic per
sOnaltIy, with all OF its appealing man
illness. he makes Darlington attractive
In spite OF Cne's judgment He gets in
10 an uncOnVincingly meiOdramatic mood
as he works up 70 the suicide, how
ever.
As FOR Miss Do-o. she Is a delightful
Clarice, sweet and girlish, pretty as a
picture with delicious little something
OF depreciation in neT manner that Is in
finitely winning. II il had been the
comedy drama IL calls itself Miss DOrQ
loses her way a bit in the emouonai
climax OF the third act. For the rest.
she Is entirely charming. and a far bet
ter actress than was 20 have been EX-
pectcd from her youth and comparative
~ bTief career.
Lucille Ia Verne. as n old negro NAM
my who tyrannizeS over Clarice and
Darlington, fairly divides the honors
with the two principals IL Is a splendid
bit OF character work, and deserves an
the applause IL gets. Francis Carlyle
after being a rather colorless Denbeigt
through the first act redeems himself
by his really splendid work In the final
scene. Adelaide Prince does the lady
villainess, and does IL we'll Frank
Burt~ck rather overdoes the id5$cy q
her husband who. with Judith Clancy
the old negro nanny, supplies what IS
known I'm melOdrama as comic RELIEF.
The stage settings are perfect, absO-
luteIy perfect The atmosphere Of Inc
South Carolina village Is wonderfully
realized, both in the living room at DR.
Carringtons, and in the hotel parlor
Taken as whole while enc cannot
but be disappointed in "ClaTiCe,' as a
play. IL is a good evenings entertain
ment. And II IS mighty well played.
NJ. Med.