The Washington times., 1907-06-04
EDWIN ARDEN AT HIS BEST
IN GUNTER'S PRINCE KARL

Edwin Arden struck a happy chord
when he selected Prince Karl for the
third Offering Of his summer engage
ment In the Belasco Theater. Its pres
entation several years ago by Mr.. Ar
den Is remembered by the majority OF
his friends who rather liked his work
at that time, but who last night had an
opportunity to see new and greater de-
yelopments IN his characterization. The
house was filed. the performance went
with a cheering snap, and the occasion
was altogether most suspicious for the
Belasco company.
Archibald Clavering Gunter Is re-
spOnsible for the delightful character
drawing and story OF Prince Karl" II
Is a comedy drama OF unusual interest,
full OF bright lines, nearly all Of which,
however fall to the lot Of the honor
loving. pOet-souled prince. II Is one OF
the old four-act style Of play which con-
sumes nearly two acts IN disclosing the
story proper. but this is made so in
terestlng In the telling that one scarcely
realizes this defect.
Prince Karl tells the story Of a poor
nobleman who is about 70 sell his title
70 a fearful looking old woman who he
believes is wealthy, and in whom he
sees release from his debts and the re-
demption of his ancestral properties
He Is, however, In love with an Ameri-
can girl whose name he does not know
The story reveals that's she. too, Is in
love with him. unconscious Of the fact
that he is a prince. They have not met
for some time, and when they do he IS
on the eve Of marrying The old woman.
He balks at the last minute. his love
for the girl predominating. and the
story Of mis- escape from his aged fiancee.
his strange method of devotion TO the
woman of his heart, and the ultimate
union Of the young people form the plot
of the story.
Mr. Arden plays Karl with the most
delightful sense Of the authors pen pic
ture. He makes him a youthful honor
loving, dreamer-whose dreams come
true-a man with keen sense of humor
unskilled in american ways and un-
tutored as TO its people His English
is what he has manifestly mastered.
absorption, with the result that he gives
one a German English dialect that never
ceases to be intensely amusing. He never
lets the character drop into farcical
lines although Il primarily bangles on
the brink and IN less skilled hands would
undoubtedly resolve itself into such an
element 1t is thu best work Mr.. Arden
has done this season
Miss Horne is refreshing in the role
OF Mrs. Florence Arhmien Lowell. a
young American widow, and the object
of the princes attachment. Miss Alice
Butler gave another of her rather in
teresting though grotesque character
drawings. and Miss Jessie Glendenning.
who always looks so attractive and
girlish had the role of a Boston girl
which, either through nervousness or
unfamiliarity with her lines, she failed
/ 10 make Impressive.
Charles Hammond was extremely good
in the role OF an innkeeper, and Charles
Arthur came well TO the fore IN char
acter part Edward Ellis. who is really
an excellent actor. wolnS contribute
1 largely to maintaining tina idea II he
I would consent to cast asi ie his very
pronounced mannerisms. , lap dog BY
I Himself. insisted on having a speaking
/ part when Mr.. Arden carelessly lifted
/ him by the back of his neck. 1.-THE
Forest Of Arden" will open tonight.