The Washington times., 1907-01-13
English Actor Scores Tri-
umph at End of Fare
well Production.
Thanks Audience That Has
Grown More Enthusiastic
Each Night.
"Tom Pinch" Best Work
Star and Company Did
During Engagement

The enthusiasm of Washington play
goers which has been growing and
gathering strength at each appearance
OF +. 3 Willard burst like monster
waves crash against rocks at the end
of the performance last night IL was
an ovation that seldom is rendered any
actor that comes 10 the Capital. and
never has been known IN the New Ma
tionaIs conservative audiences.
But last night. when Willard had
gone through with his TON Pinch
the audience arose and demanded a few
words from the noted Englishman.
As he has done before, when IL came
time to say good-by he yielded. He
thanked the audieuce-the city, I'm fact
for the welcome IL had given him, ana
explained why Il was 10 be rather a
longer farewell than usual this time.
His Best Characterization.
1t has seemed with each successive
one OF Mr.. Wizards characterizations
that this one-this time-it really was
the best. The audience that gathered
for his final performance last night was
sure that he had done nothing that
touched Tom Pinch II Is hard TO
say. Certainly the company, as whole,
has done nothing better.
Many plays have been constructed on
the Dickens story o. Martha ChuZzlewit.
the hrst one being produced ~ 1874, the
year the book was first Issued. Several
have been one-act farces, based on
Sairey Camp. Several complete plays
have retained the original title OF the
book. The present version OF Mr.. VII
lard rightly makes the character OF Tom
Pinch the central interest OF the ac-
ton and character development. Tom
Pinch is a whimsical. eccentric charac-
ter. in which the late Sol Smith Russell
would have reveIed. Still more was TO
be expected Of r. S Willard. with his
list OF original creations. no living
actor is more peculiarly rtted to the
artistic Interpretation of good. simple
Tom than the sterling English comedian
who presented him with his associated
scenes and characters at tho National
last evening. Wisely the absurd Dick
ems caricatures OF American customs,
the incidents of the murder by Jonas
Chuzzlewit and the farcicaI delineation
of Sairey Camp and her friends are ig-
uored in Mr.. Wizards play. and a we'll
rounded love comedy OF the most agree
able characters and situations, is the
outcome The Tom Pinch Of Mr. Willard
is a m5tured and intellectual one. rather
more sophisticl than the original vet
full Of the ingenuousness. the pathos.
and unconscious humor OF the ideal Tom
an Dickens lovers cherish.
Other Good Work.
Tile Pecksnins. father and daughters.
Charity and Mercy. personated respec-
lively by r. Cane. Miss Joan Blair.
and Miss Ruth Barry. are those char
acters TO the life, verify. as II they had
stepped out of the book TO the stage.
Especial praise must be given to the
Old Martin ChuZZleWit Of Ivan
j.. Simpson. whose conception and make
mp of the willy hut just Old grandfather
was most artistic. Especially was the
sudden assumption OF the mask in the
last act marvellous bit al work, which
elected the deserved tribute of an ire
pressible burst of applause, The
Mary Graham Of Miss Alice Lon
non was quite lively. yet not fully up
10 the modest charm Of the character.
The handsome, good-hearted Mrs.
I.upir had a fair representative in Miss
! Nellie Angel. while the Mark Tapley
3 Of Walter Edmunds, the Martin
ChuZzleWit of A. 5 HomeWoOd.
and the John wesuock OF William
Santer, were true and in some degree
convincing. The Ruth Pinch Of Miss
Gladys Granger held somewhat of ths
sweetness and purity of the original,
The scenic inyestiture and appoint
ments were charming. On the whole,
Mr. Wizards Tom Pinch" viii remain
"a pleasing memory.