The Washington herald., 1907-12-11

Theater last night In those two first
scenes the play had developed such
human, such dramatic. ard such purely
sympathetic qualities that the large au-
dience gathered % see the first presenta-
ton OF this play by Miss Margaret Mayo
was eager IN its enthusiasm and insistent
In its applause
The play develops a story that is fresh,
original close 90 the soH. true to human
nature. and appealing TO the best in
stincts OF human nature. In its finely
sympathetic quality it reminds one strik-
ingly OF Charles Dickens. than whom
there was no closer student OF the human
heart. The people 81 deals with are sim
pie. clean-hear,ed souis-peopIe Of the
Middle West-types which every Amer
ican has known and which most Amer
leans associate with the days Of youth
the happicst and most joyous moments
of life
And the play has that quality which
means so much IN this day and age OF
productions staged carelessly and By
managers who seem to think that any
meretricious stage pictures are good
elough 10 satisfy the public Il Is staged
by Mr. Frederic Thompson. whose repu-
tation as producer OF marvellous stage
pictures and the creator Of effects that
are beautiful and striking IN their arts
nc realism IS certain 10 re enormously
enhanced by this. one Of the most beau
ufully staged dramatic productions that
has graced the stage for many years.
fnrT
son in his production. It must be said
that the acting-he is clever enough a
manager 10 have seen 20 that's up 10
IL IN every degree There is not part
IN the whole east (and it is a large onel
which is not most beautifully and artis-
tically played, from the star part. played
by Miss Mabel Taliaferro. 90 the hum
best member Of the company
And aside from the und0ubted success
~ the play as a whole. the production
last evening noted the high-wate- mark
in Mss Mabel Taiiaferro's career as an
actress. As Polly. she achieved a per
s0nal triumph. she reached that artistic
point in her career which those who have
followed her IN admiration since, as a
girl. she captivated her public as the fairy
child Ia The Land Of Hearts Desire. she
has gone on and on. ever surer and bet
ter, and more deserving OF praise, until Al
last she las come into her own IN a part
that enables her 70 play with the heart
strings of Eer audience as a skilled musi-
clan plays upon a harp. Her performance
was an artistic gem; sympathetic. won.
derful, beyond all need OF praise.
The story OF the play IS e. simple one
an original setting. and new telling OF a
story as old as the hills. and yet forever
young and beautiful The setting S. q
town in the Middle West, such litu,
town. made up OF homely, narroW-mindec
folk. but honest people, as most Of u.
have known and many OF Us have loved
A circus has come 20 town. AID Polly
the bareback rider. has been thrown and
hurt; and as there is no hospital I'm the
I town. she is carried 20 the house OF IN,
! parson. Here she is put % bed and tended
with care. and the second scene Of ths
first act shows her, a sveet-face,
I little glrl. propped up in bed. He1e comei
one OF the most delicate and dainty o,
/ scenes. in which the preacher comes q
[ find out how ignorant OF al that Is sup
( posed 10 be good Polly IS. and how
sophisticated she is in the ways Of TIT
world. The dialogue here is simply beauU
/ ful in its directness. in its quaint slang
I which sounds so curious. and with sOr
/ of finely pathetic humor. coming from
/ so innocent and dear girl
/ Here is a brief sample Of g.. the huuo
/ les in its fine contrast between the differ
I ent sorts ~ knowledge possessed by Poll!
4 and the preacher;
/ PoGr Kinda torsh. aia't its How long VIII !, be
j i r-Hf -
rory-Doctor, Bad as that. sa2 It's my wheel
I ant itt
/ Nandy-Yo whats
Pouy-,ly vheal-my ecoper-oh. Gory. that
sore. Is d, punct1rea.
Pouy-whats Great Barrum end Banc7, ST
/ sou ssC pilot. Well great snakes. nerc
I thought IA D. talking to ere Il SOC guys
4 JOHNNY church i ugat ou- thcrr. You cal
, see it from the window.
/ Polly-How long have you worked heref
Johu-I've cnly been here about six months
| Pcly-SN mtuths, Haint they GOT mishty tire,
% v1ur spiel.
Johu-I hope they haven't.
! Po.b-Gc, six months in a burg Ike This The
must he slck cf yo'l- or perhaps. you chang
/ your act. Do you Do The same s-uf. OF have y0
( got a re3
Iohn-Got a rrp'
/ Poily-SUre, Repitnr-diaercnt acts-ertre
some caH them. Why, Uncle Toby has got twenty
/ four entries Mako heap 4 difference Do th
/ hig cities. where y0u have q uIu.
Johu-I sec Wen. J Try 90 say soEcething ney
| every SUNDAY
I Polly-None of v0rr acts IS Ike circus acts. ar
I thcy Is they any laughs in y0Ur acts
/ JCLn-NCt many l-uEhs. I'm afraid. But MN
I listers try % teu ueir feople things which vi
! help them and make them forget their weck-da
/ iroubles for time.
/ Pony-Why. that's inst ike the circus business
| Only cTcuscs draw more people than churches.
/ The second act is eleven months later
Polly has recovered from her injury. bu
! has stayed on at the parsonage, and Ia.
/ grown from mere child into a younl
/ lady She has learned much. too. an,
/ never in her life has been so happy. Sh,
I teaches a class at Sunday school She il
| the pet and playmate Of all the villag,
| children. She has learned. too. although
she does not know it. TO love John Doug
/ lass. But the narrOw-minded busybodie
/ OF the village interfere. There is scanda
about Polly's staying on at the parsonage
and when il comes to John Douglass
ears he is ready 10 defy them all and q,
/ keep Polly on. But Polly hears il. TOO
and believing that her staying will hur
/ the preacher. she goes hack 20 the cir
/ Gus and leaves John Douglass alone.
The third act shows a, scene just bacl
/ of the circus. It has come back to IN
! town where Polly was hurt There is
| great crowd TO see her-the circus rider
] but she refuses 10 ride i'm the afternoon
/ ard the manager tells her that since sh
! came back from the parsonage her ac
/ has been rotten In spite OF all. Poll.
! determines TO ride that night but befOr
! she goes on. the preacher appears an,
| declares his love. and asks her 10 be hi
wife
The fourth act consists OF two tableaux
/ The first shows the interior Of the cir
/ Gus. with the show in fun operation. Z
/ horse IS galloping around the ring with
/ bareback rider doing her tricks: OF