The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-10-08
The Cas-. Of aThe step-sister.n

Acolphe de Barget. Frederick de Belieyille
David Chaplin .-.....------.---- John Findlay
Mr.. CorDles. ...-.-............W William Sampson
JACOB ogden. Ralph Delmore
Dots Sseorss ~Tignt
Janet ...-............ Grace Fifkfns
Mrs. Chapin..................M athllde CottreIly
Mrs. Hampton. -...................D Dorothy Dorr
Miss Gable. -....-.-.-.-..-.-..- Helen Graham
Miss Perry. Anna Johnston
KITTY. Gertrude Doremus
Charles Kein's new play. "rhe Step
Sister" will prove pleas1Iebie to those
persons who like sugs. IN heirs-three
Jumps please. The latest work u this
successful dramatist was presented for
the first time on any stage at the Ma
tlona. Theater last night by a company
whose equal has not been seen in Wash
ingtor since Mrs. Flske and her Man
haitian Theater company visited the Cap
itaL large audience. composed Of
playgoers who had seen "The Music
Master" and the Lion and the Mouse"
was on hand 20 acclaim the production.
which they expected would complete
trinity Of successes stamping Mr.. Klein
as the greatest of American playwrights
in this. respect the audience was griev-
ously disappointed, for however many
good words may he said for the new
piece, II must be admitted that Il has
neither the dynamic force OF 1.-The Lion
and the Mouse" nor the encompassing
appeal. pathos. or individuality Of The
Music Master"
The Step-sister'' tells OF homeIy SER
timents ia an entertaining manner The
atmosphere Of the play Is pleasing and
the moral Is wholesome. But there ia
no big gripping theme. 10 central idea
that lifts you out OF your seat and
causes you 10 cry. Bravo The Joys and
the sorrows depicted are OF the kind
that generation has enjoyed in such
plays as The Old Homestead" As
such play II is apt 10 have generous
support from that class OF theatergoers.
which relisles an unpretentious drama.
devoid Of women with pasts and young
men with indiscretions bobblng up at
the wrong moment There is no murder,
no knavery, no theft. no immortality.
The theme is commonplace. but in the
telling the author has exercised much
art
The first net OF The Step Sister was
promising, and at the conclusion OF the
second act many tried 20 convince them
selves that IL was a genuine hit, but not
a hit OF Klein proportions. The third
act Was bitterly disappointing In It's de-
cided conventionality The author man
iDulated his finale IN stereotyped man
Ter, the one bit 81 high light in the act
being the battle Of personalities of the
two sisters.
The shortcomings Of the play are
many. but no exception can be taken
to tie cast, which, as Mr.. Klein char
acterized u IN a brief curtain speech
at tie end OF the second act, was truly
excellent" bruce McRae. as J. Madi-
son Tate. the rnesnest American million
sire, gave a forccful. manly. and syn
pathetic Interpretation OF a cOnEenjaI
role. He played the part Of the lover
with fervcr and romantic courtliness.
one of the cleverest touches of the en-
tire play was the last half OF The first
act. where he finds the girl who lad
occupied his dreams for seven wears He
repeats time ana again that this Is
really Doris. the DOris who wore q
cloak trimmed IN chinchiIla on one oc-
easlon, and whose carriage door he used
20 olen Wnen she was little girl wear
ing her hair down her back. "Ry, 100
u seems strange" he exclafrng Chat
/ shouid be sitting near you nDgy nhen
YOU ,o. were SO far above me in those DAYS
that thought you we're an angel o.
Frederic De BelHvfIIe's rssrfo,--,.r,.
az APT Adosphe DE- Barget, the cynical Z
tyrannical French husband was nrob,
aaeiy the most artistic OF the EVENING.
His chief tenet In life Is dolce far 5fcrfe
a man whose 6nces+ ors yer,, eenfIerns,,'
our VINO has succeeded IN smotferire
ne inherited instiacts under boorisR
Mathilde Cottrelll Is always a DELIGHT
As the mother who remains rzseiv,e
ana FEARFUL unoer the tyranny OF her
older daughter, she gives a portrayal
that VIII be Remembered Some Of tbese
DAYS wise drama list will write a NAV
Tor Nine Cottrelly, and she will make
ny suSn as Few romantic stars have
tFat Is really art from alpha TO omega
and this can be said OF Nine. Cot
tI6llys work.
CEspin, Miss Herne has a synpa ti1etic
role, and she would make nucb
more pleasing impression II she could
outgroW an unfortunate nannerism Of
straintng her breath between her Inns
and then letting out occasional Misses
between her teeth when an audible
oh or an al" would answer the
purpose. The part could be played more
effectively IL greater repression were
exercised.
Grace FiIkins as Janet had greater
possibilities than she utilized. Her last
act particularly, was palPabiy played
according to Instructions and not with
any great amount Of feeling. Miss Fill
kins relied almost entirely upon her ex-
pre- ssive eyes fer all her effects. Her
first act was handled with great skill.
Two capital minor Characterization
were Potter and Corples. played by
George Wright and William SAMPSON
respectively, the former a clerk who
celebrates A wedding OF q cousin one
week and a christening the next and
the latter an aged buttons" no weeps
when he is happy and smiles when ne
Is sad or afraid.
Anna Johnston, a Washington stock
company f,ivorite, has minor role.