The Washington herald., 1907-12-13

BelnscO-"Our American Cousin"
There was a world Of interest in the
revival last night at the Belasco Theater
Of Tom Taylor's old-fashioned fsrce-com-
edy. "Our American Cousin" interest in
the play itself. which comes 10 US with
a fragrance OF an elder day, and interest
in seeing Mr.. Z. H. sothern. who has
justly won a foremost reputation as al
exponent OF the serious drama. following
in the footsteps OF his father z. A
Sothern. who was one Of the best light
comedians Of his day.
And II is a curious coincidence that this.
revival should take place in the Belasco
Theater, which is erected on the spot
commemorated by a bronze tablet in
the wall where forty-two years ago an
attempt was made on the life Of Secre-
tary Seward on the same night that
President Lincoln was shot in Fords
Theater while witnessing a performance
OF the same play.
The play drew an audience that packed
the theater. A box had been reserved for
President Roosevelt, but ne was not
present, owing, it was said, to the illness
OF Mrs. Longworth; but all the boxes
were filled with representatives of Wash
ington's best society, and the play evil
IDENTIFY gave great delight from the begin
ming to the end
The play was given exactly as IL was
presented half a century ago when Laura
Keene and Joseph jefferson supported the
elder Sothern. Not a line has been
changed, nor once piece Of business al
tered. and the play is redolent Of memories
and furnishes a fine example Of the fact
that the taste Of our fathers in dramatic
matters was not so far wrong after ALL
Here is to be found the genesis Of many
OF the jokes that have done valiant duty
in one form or another during the last
fifty years, and though some have a
musty flavor. and the humor Of some OF
them is rather obvious to a generation
that has learned TO travel a bit faster
mental pace than the last. 1t is astOnish-
ing what vitality the old quips and
oddities and puns maintain; so that last
night the audience was several times
perfectly convulsed with laughter and the
action often had to halt in order not to
interrupt the dialogue; and the play
through the very enjoyment of the au-
dience-was strung out to rather unusual
length.
From the very beginning, the scene
showing the ladies in the dear old crino-
lines that many in the audience must
have recalled seeing their mothers or per-
hapS their gradmothers wearing. the
flavor OF the olden fashion began. and 1t
was maintained through to the end. We
were reminded. too. of that older age by
the fact that the ladies were alone. The
time is Just after dinner. and in those
days the men required some time TO bat
tie with the wine. And the costumes Of
the men-they were a bit Drawer in finery
in those days, with trousers strapped un-
der heel and shining buttons and shirts
with frilis. II was a delight TO see the
old costumes and TO note how graceful
they were. and how they seemed TO
breathe the spirit Of that quiet romance
that speaks to US still through the pages
OF Crawford" or "John Halifax. Gentle
man"
The acting Of this good old comedy
was sheer delight Every member OF
the large company semed keyed up TO the
very spirit OF the play. and though some
of the lines. especially the sentimental
ones, and those intended to be dramatic.
sounded highfalutin and stilted. they
were still spoken so as to carry convic-
ton, in spite of the touch OF artiheiality
about the whole production. All Of the
women were charming. Miss Helena
Head made delightful florence, and Miss
Virginia Hammond, as Mary Meredith.
was very piquant and graceful and dear
Clever Character work was that OF Mr..