Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-10


have not yet been able to see
Faversham pull that gun.
The subjugation OF that unconventional
purring bad man, Cash Hawkins" is ac-
complished with such lighting swiftness
that an intimate knowledge of the play and
its stage directions is necessary to enable
an auditor TO see just when the hero places
the muzze of that significant and persua-
sive revolver. 1t is splendid touch of
melodrama. Cash Hawkins misses being
the conventional stage villain by narrow
margin but for stage purposes miss is as
good as a mile. Ii is the purr that does IT.
1t is the more striking because of the con-
slant vociferation which surrounds it. This
Stage desperate din not come off as easily
In he earlier history of the play as he
now does. In fact. he was black and blue
from having the shooting iron showed into
his wais; band He now wears a bit of
padding.
The piece is remarkably well adjusted to
Mr. Fave. sham's needs. 1t is combina-
ton of society play and melodrama. Its
most genuine significance is not superficial
" apparent in the hury-burly of incident
that the author f. NJ. Royle, has so liber-
ally and at times little mechanically, in
troduced The figure of a man accustomed
lish society exiled to the outposts of civil
zation is one whose tragedy is strong and
dignifed one whose intrinsic interest Is
greater than that which attaches to any
of the adventures in which he participates
with such dashng quietude. And his In
dian wife is Il type so inspired by heart ana
affcCto so complete in self-sacrihce that
human nature recognizes it, and takes IL
into sympathy. notwithstanding the com
paratively subordinate pace 1t holds in the
cast
Personally, Mr.. Faversham does not care
for the melodrama. good melodrama though
II is He SAYS so himself with becoming
frankness He likes the portions or the
play which deal with the hero a social
type rather than as the mere exponent OF
physica! prowess In the face of his pres
ent success, which is enormous, even
though Washington accorded the play
patronage that sCant compared to
the attendance in other cities, his attention
turns most fondly to the future. He has
gone stra !sht to the classics, for his ma
teral for the play Eel Gran Galeoto,' the
Spanish drama now being adapted for his
use is n classic. The Faversham version
is being made by c. F. Nirdlinger, and Is
by star and management. The title means
the great galley slave, and its central
idea as in the case of all problem dramas.
has to do with the artificial restrictions of
society 1t was done IN this city some
years ago of series of special
matinee performances by John Blair.
II was courteous thing for Mr.. Miller to
bring The Great Divide back TO Wash
ington reinspection. It's original perform
ance in this city was an unpromislng oc-
Casion. The protest against certain por-
lions OF it was universal and emphatic
that it could not have failed to offer prac-
cal suggestions to the mind of the con-
scientious producer. The fact that criticism
discerned strength in the central idea and
great acting opportunities for Mr. Miller
and Miss Anglin may have lent some en-
couragement to the determined effort which
has resulted in the extraordinary success
witnessed by the brilliant audience at the
Belasco on Monday night 1t happens all
too seldom that Washington is permitted
70 view as a perfected product the ma
terial submitted as first productions. Even
some OF the Belasco plays whose first per-
formances here were events of the season
We're materially elaborated in New York
When Sweet Kitty Belairs" was produced
the management offered TO give rain checks
TO the patrons who desired TO go to New
York and see the shower at the finale
which had 10 be omitted here.
Beiasco has given his first and only
interview on Mrs. Carter At a luncheon
recently he was questioned concerning his
FORMER star The playwright's Immediate
rejoinder was:
why spoil a pleasant afternoon"
W" iork mas not responded with enthu-
s'"sm 10 Peer Gynt.' so far as the reviews
"eie concerned. Some of them were down
ISM ioaSts IN the most caloric sense of the
WORD. New York every now and then do
lights to fly in the face of another ci,,,s
'eroic'- When that delightful song success
me Burgomaster." wended its wav fror,
the shores OF Lake Michigan flush with ax
PecIauohs OF new triumph II received bucL
ets OF cold water. The Christian >, TO-
was torn 10 tatters but both became record
successes. And if Pixley and I.uders ora
Hail Game weathered the storm nephew.
the combined efforts OF Ibsen and Manson,d
will manage to survive
As rule governmental genius bas No.
taken much interest in tie arts ~ the
stage This aloofness has been the desn.ir
OF people who believe that the rescue of the
drama from commercialism depends on the
es'aohshment OF theater under national
auspices. Ihere are some slight symptoms
OF nhutuai interest. member of Congress
who desires to suppress the tipping evil
cites one OF the popular theaters as a mod
ell institution from his point of view. He
Is moved to admiration by the amount he
a fnala
does not go into a technical analysis OF the
merits of the performance. but he does like
the way the boys distribute programs and
pass the water. On the other hand, Rich
ard Mansfield. when asked for an opinion
on the ACCESSIBILITY of a third term for
President Roosevelt, abruptly voiced the
natural sentiment OF a stage manager and
declared for an absolute monarchy. 1t isn't
much of understanding to be sure, but
there is at least the assurance that politics
and the drama are beginning to take no.
NJ each