The Washington herald., 1907-07-23
LAST NIGHT AT THE
LOCAL PLAYHOUSES
"a Bunch of vioIets" at the BeIasco
Theater.

At the BelascO Theater last night the
stock company presented Sydney Grun-
dy's strong play. a Bunch Of Yiolets.
with Mr.. Edward Ellis in the role OF
Sir Philip Marchant and Miss Charlotte
Walker as Mrs. Murgauoyd; the enact
ment being Of such an interesting nature
as to closely hold the attention and elicit
the heartlest commentator from the
large audience present.
The chief interest of the drama. which
is. as a matter Of fact a tragedy. IS
chant. a character closely resembling. in
many Of IT'S elements. that Of Davenport
Dunn. one Of Charles Levers most strik-
ing character studies. II is 3 study Of
man endowed with the most brilliant
intellectual attainments, who. rising from
the lowest strata OF society. makes him
self one OF the most potent forces Of
his time. He controls finances, leads in
all political and BENEVOLENT movements.
and his friendship is courted by the
highest in the land. This is the mask
exposed to the scrutiny OF the world, but
behind It is the fact Of hypocrisy and
double dealing. With all his intellect and
courage. his is essentially crooked but
even when at last the mask falls, his
courage does not forsake him and he
ends il an without a tremor. Commingled
with these baser elements is the pure love
between him and MS daughter. typifed
by d bunch Of violets. and hence the
title Of the play.
In the hands of Mr.. Ellis. no portion Of
the many-sided makeup Of this remark
able character is lost He is completely
successful IN depicting his comprehensive,
yet INSCRIPTIONS, grasp upon matters OF
business. and shows the rising TO the sur
face III intervals Of the better instincts of
his nature, and above all, succeeds IN
bringing out that which without The man
would be simply a common villain; that
Is, the certain sympathy which Is ex-
tended TO his peers OF mind at first and
10 his utter desolatiOn at the end Alto
gether the portrayal is a striking one, and
the interest is maintained throughout.
Miss Charlotte Walker again signally
scores as Mrs. Murgatroyd. the adven-
turess, who was the cause Of Marchants
first misdemeanor. and was the final force
which contributed 10 his overthrow. In
the lighter moods she was highly enter
tanning. and displayed great evidences of
dramatic power in the intenser moments.
Especially was this latter effective in the
climax of the third act when she de-
mands the bunch of violets just received
from his daughter as the price Of her
silence. and Is refused. Judging from this
and previous efforts. there is no question
that she possesses powerful emotional re-
sources, which need only practice for the
creation Of a high reputation along these
lines
The Lady Marchant Of Miss Alice But
Ter is also highly commendable, being by
great odds the best work of her present
engagement, and Mr.. Samuel Klawans
made a creditable impression as Jacob
Schwartz, the labor agitator. Others Civ
ing capable assistance were Miss Rosetta
Brice. as Violet; Mr.. n. G. Judels, as
Murgatr0yd. and Mr. Edwin Fowler, as
Harker, the secretary. The balance Of the
cast was well rounded out. and the piece
was adequately staged.