The Washington times., 1907-09-08
New Dramatic Season
Shows Doubtful Success
For Many Productions
The Dairymaids" Most Unpromising of Premiers,
While Augustus Thomas New Play, "The
Ranger, ArouSes Much Discussion.

continues: The piece reveals originality
Of thought and technical adroitness."
The Sun says; The so-called primitive
passions and strong scenes have been
the fashion IN fiction OF late. But to
find them realized on the stage, plaus-
IDLY and even poignantly realized. and
in a play with the almost fatally IA
tuous title of Classmates was almost
too much for last nights audience. They
forgave the play its shortcomings. they
even fOrgaye IL it's leading woman
The World says: IAN audience very
friendly to Robert Edeson at the open
ing OF the Hudson received his new play
Classmates with more rapturous ap-
plause than at least three-Quarters OF
the work seemed TO merit, but as much
OF the goodwill as was bestowed upon
the acting OF the star and his male as
sociates was honestly won"
One Discordant Note.
The one discordant note in this gen
eraI praise OF Classmates is sounded
by the Evening Telegram, which says:
Between one and a half acts OF child
drama and two and a half acts OF
melOdrama. the listener Is left IN a de-
cldedly perpleXed frame OF mind at the
end Of the play. The story IS loosely
and disjointedly pushed over the foot
lights"
Those who have followed the career
Of Jameson Lee F1nney Will be glad 10
learn Of the success of The Man on the
Case" In which he opened the Madison
Square Theater in the title role. The
new farce is by Grace Livingston Fur
Miss. and It seems TO have caught the
fancy OF New Workers The Sun says:
1T is OF much the same caliber and
pleasant romantic charm Of The Man
on the Box" The Times SAYS: at is
a jolly good farce so nicely acted that
Il Is reasonably sure OF filing out a
short, but pleasant, evening" The
Press says: There was a certain Dreezi-
ness and farclcaI cleverness about It
which promised popularity" The World
and the Herald do not take too kindly
to the Furniss farce however. The for
mer declares that the new ''rollickinE
comedy rollicked only internationally,
while the Herald finds no fault with the
first two acts. but thinks the third act
IS overloaded with talk and complica-
tons.
Virginia Harned's Play in Doubt
cast. including John Mason. opened her
season Monday in Anna Karenina-"
The Herald says that although It is
pretty well agreed that Anna Rare- |
nina was the greatest novel Of the
nineteenth century no one viii be ike
ly TO cali its dramatization as present
ed by Miss Harmed the greatest drama |
Of the present day, not even II the
word day is restricted to its precise
meaning as a period OF
twenty-fOur hours. The Sun declares !
that Edmond Guiraud, who is RESPONSE |
bic for the drnmatization OF the Toll |
story book. has emasculated q realistic
novel and turned It into A conventional |
drama. The World thinks that there is
plenty OF action IN the play, and that
It is well acted throughout
The Other House. Richard Golden's !
new vehicle. is constantly and Renu-
inely funny. without being boisterous !
or arousing any gales Of merriment." -.
says the Mirror. While the Evening
Telegram gives the faint praise of |
amusing"
"The Movers" a Near-Play.
Martha Morton's new play THE Nov
ers'' has just missed being a big success.
according to the chrcniclers. The Her |
aid declares that pToIlxity has marred |
the chances for a great hit, while the |
Times thinks that there is the shadow,
but not the substance. OF q play in It. |
An interesting background has been pro-
vided. IT is said, but there has been III |
Judgment in the selection of material |
Intended to sustain the interest. An |
other critic declares that there are two