Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-10
THE THE At Err.
Belasco.

A sharp distinction is drawn whenever
Mr.. Sothern appears between the drama
| as an art and the play as a mere diver
| sion. Mr.. Sothern has ass.duously culti-
waited the pale cast of thought, and there
| Is no question that it becomes him. The
task of making people think is more diff
hcult than to make them laugh or thrill,
and 1t is to the thoughtful aspect of the
stage that this indefatigable player ad-
| dresses himself in THE Fool Hath Said,''
etc.-the title is as unimportant as it is
cumbersome. The name Rodion the Stu
Dent, which was employed in the late
Rlchard Mansf1eld's version of the same
story, was more natural and quite as en-
tightening.
The performance is a fine and faithful
representation, quite free from the liter
airy quackery threatened by some of the
methods employed to bring it to popular
notlce That an actor of Mr.. Sothern's
scholarship and sincerity should devote
himself, as the billboards threaten. to
questions of THE Third Degree" THE
onWrltten Law and finally to a Dog
oerry-hke discussion of whether it is jus
tihaoie 10 XIII a man, who on the face of
1t 100 preposterouS to be seriously con-
sldered by any one who has been familiar
with MI. Sothern's methods, and with his
locals as exemplif1ed by them. If they
lured some of the uniformed in to see
theatrlc representation of current crime
only to confront them with art and social
Philosophy, perhaps they served a good
purpose
The play is ruggedly Russian, the dra-
matlzatlon by MIR. Laurence Irving being
successful In preserving intense sympa-
tiny without sacrificing any of the uncom-
promising harshness which is essential to
the story. 1T Is not pleasant play. The
one hint of comedy. that supplied by a
wholly and unconventional detective,
mi h fine
Lestlna, becomes as it develops an ele-
ment of grueSome ferocity. The Quaint
mild-mannered old gentleman becomes the
human incarnation of the bloodhound
the more terrible because he tracks his
victim, not because of any personal antip-
Apply, but by sheer instinct.
The play, like most dramas which dis
cuss extreme phases of nervous exalta-
ton, deals with morbid types. 1t is an
example of what would occur If the world
were people with fanatics and emotion
alists, instead of with average humanity.
The student, ROdion, is as exceptional in
his philanthropy as Sonia, the woman
whose sufferings move him to vengeance,
is in her piety. or as Grumoff, the land
lord, is in his brutality. 1t is another of
the cries Of suffering and horror that are
constantly going UP in Russian litera-
ture.
In its opening scenes the play moves
out slowly: The foundation is laid for
anna. And perhaps it is but natural
that when the work becomes highly
dramatic, as 1t does in the fourth act, 1t
shall cease to be logical. AS a stroke of
melodrama the scene is worthy of Sardou.
A detective has put the criminal student
through hideous ordeal, which skaters
his fortitude, only to be frustrated at the
moment when nerves are utterly democrat
lied and conscience is ready to speak by
the untruthful confession of an ignorant
workman, who desires to save his friend.
All this is startling and impressive. The
skill of acting and play construction COM
bine to call attention away from the fact
this police magistrate might in very few
minutes have exposed the falsity of the
workman's confession, and left the true
criminal deeper in the tolls than before.
The conclusion of the play constitutes
an impressive tableau. Rodion, finally
persuaded by the religious zeal of Sonia.
rejects the passport a friend has brought
curiosity of the audience as to his late
is voiced on the stage, and the assurance
is given that at the utmost the punish
ment will not be greater than three years
Imprisonment. This leaves Rodion neither
much of martyr nor much of hero.
The character is one of the studies in
high-strung temperamental gloom, to
tention of late. Rodion was finely played,
and the men of the company who had re-
sponsible roles gave them, almost without
exception. competent interpretations This
performance will be repeated Wednesday
night. The remainder of the week will be
devoted to plays in which, with the eXcep
ton of Our American Cousin" Mr..
Sothern is Familiarity known. Our Ameri-
can Cousin will be given Thursday and
Friday nights.