The Washington herald., 1907-03-17
.nI 70 The washipgton Herald.


New York, March 16.-Mrs. Leslie Car
ter has executed another quick flank
movement to disconcert the curious about
her future After breaking with Dililng-
ham, It was announced that she had been
secured hv William Harris, and that this
manager would direct her affairs over
route to be supplied by Klaw & Erianger-
The latest news. as most readers already
know, is that Mrs. Carter has not only
decided 10 be her own manager, but has
made an arrangement with David Belasco
by which the latter transfers to her his
interest in his play. "Du Barry. This
arrangement was made through Edward
Lauterbach, Mrs. Carter's attorney. Ac-
.cordingly she will doubtless open her sea
son april at Norfolk and play over the
Southern circuit
Because Mr. Belasco has transferred
'Du Barry to his former star, Il was
aid during the week that this was pre-.
lminary to reconciliation, and that Mrs
Carter would IN due time return 10 the
Belasco fold. There is nothing tangible
however, 10 warrant such conclusion. It
is well known that her former manager
has openly expressed himself TO the effect
that he wished Mrs. Carter well. and that
he would put no obstacle in her way u
make Il success. When first approached
last fall, about the use OF some Of the
plays in which she scored her greatest
triumphs, ne consented at once, and it
was rumored for a time that she would
appear In her old BelascO successes under
Dillingham; management. Then Cleo
was secured. and plans regarding the
production OF the BelascO plays were
abandoned.
Then came the quarrel with Edwin Mil
ton Royle over Cleo, Mrs. Carter's suit
against Dillingham; for breach Of contract.
and now the announcement that the first
plan is 10 BEE revived and Mrs. Carter
Will be- her own manager, though nomi-
nally William Gray will have the title.
In the meantime II is announced that
Dillingham; will produce Cleo" with
Nance O'Nein in the role which was in
tended for Mrs. Carter All this keeps
the Rialt0 on a keen edge of suspense and
adds its own seasoning to the relish Of
life
Two Of George Bernard Shaws plays
are on view here at present The revival
Of Mrs. WarreD's Profession" at the
Manhattan failed 10 make the sensational
effect that was evidently expected after
its suppression by police authority a year
ago. OF course. there is nothing objec-
tionable in the play itself. whatever may
be thought OF a woman Ike Mrs Warren:
but she is one only Of thousands Of queer
characters that move unchalienged in So
ciety. and as a dramatic figure pure and
simple she is not half as suggestive as
Camille or FTou-FrOu, who are matinee
idols. After all the noise that was made
about II, people got the book and read
the play and those who expected prurient
entertainment were disappointed and the
sensational interest in the piece has died
out. Those who go 10 see il now do so
for the intrinsic interest which il in
spires, and its fate will be decided by that
standard.
At the Herald Square a select company
is playing "Widowers' Houses by Ber-
nard Shaw. on four afternoons in the
week, and ] have not this season seen a
more entertaining performance anywhere
In town. With Herbert Kelcey. Effie
shannon. William F. Hawtrey. Henry
Kolker. and Ferdinand Gottschalk in the
cast. Mr. ShHw's earliest play is receiving
an arustic handling which would delight
the authors heart If he could be present.
The sociaIistie question is well kept in
the background. and is deIicately
preached through the medium Of charac-
tiers that are Well drawn and impressively
interesting Il is one of the most eugag-
ing plays Shaw has ever written. judged
by the performance Of it b. this COM
pany, and IL is wholesome in tone at that
Hawtreys work as Sartorius is superb,
and Miss Shannon has never done any
thing better than Blanche. The philOso-
ply is enchanting and in Shaw's best
vein
II you have not read it you must know
that DIT Henry Trench. a young man OF
high family. falls in love with Blanche
SartOrius during a trip OF the Continent
in the company Of his friend. COk8ne. an
/ eccentric Engiishman. Sartorius is an
intelligent and well-to-do Londoner. He
is not averse to the attentions which
Trench is bestOWing on his daughter. but
| he exacts OF the young man positive as
surances from his high-born relatives that
Blanche shall be welcomed into their
circle and not treated With reserved dis
dain. He has ample means and Is willing
90 see mis- daughter well lowered.
The family's consent is easily obtained.
and every thing moves along smoothly
until Trench discovers that Sartorius'
revenues are derived from renting cut TO
the poorest class of London the poorest
kind Of tenements. The young man 5
sense Of honor revolts at the idea OF
having his income eked out by money de-
rived from such a source, money squeezed
out OF the miseTably poor to the last
farthing by a hesrtless system of land
/ iordism. He insists that Blanche and he
must live within his income; the girls
pride is touched, there is a quarrel, and
they part.
But it turns out that his own means are
derived from money lent to Sartorius on
1 these same miserable tenements. Mutual
interests throw them together. again after
several months: Sartorius calmly explains
that they both live on tainted money and
that the chronic poor cannot be helped
by an altruistic policy, and through the
pretty coquetry of Blanche, Trench is rec
onoIled to his fate, and they decide to
get married without regard to the money
question.
1t was Hawtrey's wonderfully effective
characterization of SartOriUs, in which
there was a charming blending of humor
and rigidity of character. that lifted the
performance out OF the ordinary. coupled
with which Miss Shannon's delightful in
/ depreciation of the variable moods OF
Blanche. Koiker's excellent playing of
Dr. Trench. Kelcey's highly colored char
acterization of Cokane. and Gottschalck's $
drollery as Lickscheese. the collector and
afterward promoter. signalized this as
one Of the best entertainments on Broad
way
NazimOva the brilliant Russian actress.
is again Installed at the Bijou, following