The Washington times., 1907-12-13
SOTHERN TRIUNPHS
IN FATHERS ROLE
Lord Dundreary" Seen at
Belasco Last Night Not
able Revival.

Z. H Sothern made HIS first appear
ance in the role of Lord Dundreary.
made famous by the elder Sothern half
a century ago, at the Belasco Theater
last night. For the son, there was
triumph. He made OF the event one OF
the most remarkable pieces of acting
In the history of the modern stage. 1t
was> remarkable because he received
from the lips of the older generation
the words:
Hes just as good as his father. II
not better"
There were in the audience scores Of
people who had come to see the per-
formancs because Of the pleasure they
had derived from the elder Sothern's
work iD the role. There will be hun
dreds there tonight because they will
know that Dundreary. the silly lord,
the suffering fellow. the man with the
peculiar walk. will appear before them
in as delightful fashion as they ever
knew IN ne old days.
"Our American Cousin" as seen here
last night was the same play, with the
same stage business and the same lines.
as SoLheTn, the father, produced it.
Throughout, there was not the slightest
change. The son had learned his part
and produced his play according to the
directions in the fathers prompt book
The lessons which Z. H SOthern has
garnered from years Of experience in
tragedy and comedy were put TO use in
his determination TO wear worthily the
shoes Of his father. His laugh was a
work OF art, his gait a delightful study
His eyes spoke volumes. and his slut
ter was fascinating. His stage presence
added the finishing touch Of comicality
70 an impersopation that conyulsed the
audience with laughter.
Mr.. Sothern was carried along on
an unending stream OF laughter. The
applause he received at the END OF the
third act lasted four or hve minutes
Evidently the only thing the audience
resented was that SOthern could not De
on the stage all the time
In a performance Of such merit n
the praise Of a piece OF comedy sucn
as the younger generation has seldom.
II ever. seen, II is vain TO specify. But
Mr. Sotherns work In the third act
when he knows "a T-f-felloWs making
an ass Of h-h-himself." and when ne
proposes to the girl and IN the last
act, when he argues Il all out about
birds OF a feather flock together" nc
reached the height OF his comedy pow
ers. Men and women laughed until the
tears rolled down their cheeks.
Thus. il is hardly praise enough 20
say that the son nlled the fatner 3
shoes.
other members Of the company ap-
peared to advantage, but nobody thought
much OF them. They were merely there
TO give Dundreary a rest, and the au-
dience was glad when they left the
stage and only welcomed their return
when they brought Dundreary along.
Frank Reicher did excellent work as
Richard Coyle. Adolph Lestinar who
PLAYED the part Of Asa Trenchard. Jo-
seph Jefferson's role, fell below the
high standard he set for himself in the
Of The Fool Hath Said.
But. all this aside, the English-speak-
ing public and the modern stage should
feel richer because the son has brought
back to 1t Lord Dundreary, has taken
the memories Of the past and made them
g!ittering realities OF the present, and
has brought to life once more one OF
the most famous stage characters seen
in two generations