The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-03-10
The PlaU's The Thing a SADLY
OveEWoTked Axiom The
PLAYERS a Factor Not 10 Be
Overlooked - The Chicago
Critics and the Late Lament
ed New TheateT.

II there is one quotation that the
average dramatic rcvie wer regards more
than another with almost hlial rever-
ence and tenderness, and applies IN
an entirely different sense from that in
which il was written. II is THE plays
the thing" That is regarded as the cor
nerstone, the one foundation. Of all
dramatic criticism.
THE plays the thing
Well so it is, but it's not the whole
thing-not by a long shot. There's the
player too-a contributing circumstance
not to be overlooked.
For instance, last Monday night
"Othello" was played by a Brooklyn
stock company. II is generally ClasSed
among the tragedies 81 the immortal
William. But il proved uproariously
funny. The audience laughed till IL
cried. II was fairly enEulfed in a tidal
wave Of hilaTity. The manager of the
house moved 20 wrath by the urseemly
mlrth, told the audience that If il could
not control itself il could take its money
and go IL didn't; IT was having too
good a time.
For instance again-the TWO most i'm
portant offerings Of the last two weeks.
The New York Idea" at the BeluScO
anG The Squaw Man. at the Nation
al. Langdon Mitchell says he did not
mean TO write funny play Perhaps
not. As played it is concentrated clever
ness-a satire and a sermOn-whicn is
probably what Langdon Mitchell did
mean But in hands just a trifle less
def II would have degenerated into a
roaring farce
On the other hand take "The Squaw
Man" / do not remember that Mr..
Royle has said what ne meant 20 write
what he has written is melOdrama
That is nothing against it; quite the
contrary. Melodrama. rightly treated,
is one Of the finest. most eloquent forms
of dramatic art But it remains to the
player 70 treat it rightly. The Squaw
Man could have been the "howlingcst'
sort OF a melodrama-the couIdn' t-see-
tEe-staEe-for- the-smOIe sort. Done that
way, with almost no change in the lines.
II would have packed the late lamented
Academy TO the doors. Done as Mr.
Faversham does il, il remains melo-
drama, of course; but Mr.. Faversham
plays his melodrama with dlEer-
ence"-a difference all compact Of re-
serve and quiet suggestion. It would not
it certainly made the play at the Ma
tional
THE plays the thing" or course. il
is. But as to what thing-weu. that de
ponds entirely on the player.
Il was matter for regret to many
that Mr.. Faversham aid not play here
THE World-aud His Wife" adapted by
Nirdlinger from the Spanish "EI Gran
GaleOto" OF Echegaray. He has been
wanting to do il for a long time. and
realized his ambition i'm the single mat
inee, for a charity, given during his re-
cent Boston engagement. The Boston
papers were a unit IN their praise OF the
performance The New York papers.
many Of them. realized it's Importance
as n dramatic event and sent their
critics up to 1t. and reviewed It at as
great length as il il had been produced
on Broadway. But Mr.. Favcrsham's
contracts do not allow him to give any
further performances tuis season Next
season, though he is still to play
THE Squaw Man" he is also 10
give performances Of THE World-and
His Wife" in all the large cities. II is
10 be hoped that Washington is 10 be
accounted in that class.
1t is 10 be hoped. too. that before very
long Mr. Faversham viii get out from
under the managerial wing. and pre-
sentjnC himself. as Mansfield. for in
stance. does present some OF the things
he really wants to present-more serious
things, such as his Echegary play, such