The Washington herald., 1907-11-12
The CoIumbia-4.1n Mlrnoura.-


1t was like going back a decade in
American theatricals TO see Augustus
Thomas comedy, In Mizzoura." played
once more by Nat c. Goodwin 1t has
been over ten years since Mr. Goodwin
was last seen in this play, and az that
period he was at the height Of a deserved
popularity and occupied a place OF honor
as-with the possible exception Of Mr.
Joseph Jefferson-the leading American
comedian.
Since then he has tried much won a
little commentator at times. and has
failed much. and now. at last. has turned
TO repertoire of the plays in which he
made undoubted successes with the the
ater-goers of a yesterday on which the
Nat Goodwin sun shone with glory.
Alas. are we all growing old. as un-
GOubtedly Mr.. Goodwin is2 Somehow the
flavor OF this Thomas comedy is not the
same as It was. Stage artihces and tricks
that were hailed with delight in In Miz-
zoura' when it was a new play have
been repeated and bettered in more mod
ern plays and somehow, now. there is an
old-fashioned taste about IL all; even the
flashes Of brilliant dialogue here and
there can't quite rob us of the suspicion
that the play is musty; that the dust Of
tho garnet is upon IL When was It, one
wonders, when we ceased 10 like the old
fashioned quartet who. singing off stage
or on, We're supposed to lend "atmos-
phere" to play? 1t has been some time
since, but here. in In Mizzoura,' they are
again, and somehow the people seem TO
like them. At any rate. the audience last
night applauded the quartet as much as
it applauded anything.
In Mizzoura" is a comedy made after
popular recipe. II is the old English
comedy drama transposed into the new
setting Of Western State Except for
the title Of the play, the characters that
run through 1t are precisely the same eX-
aggerated types that we have learned
10 know in Way Down East" in
Home Folks" in Shore Acres" or even
in The County Chairman" Jim Rad
bern. the county sheriff, is of course, the
hero Of the piece He is in love with
Kate Vernon. daughter OF the village
wheelwright. and IL is his money which
sends her East TO school, 30 that she
returns dissatisfied with the simple life.
She falls in love with the gentlemanly
villain, a train robbcr. and when the
thief is discovered. just about as he is to
run away with Kate, il is Jim Radbern
who gives him his horse and helps him
10 get away. Then, Of course. Jim is re-
elected sheriff; il is all right with Kate.
and everything ends happily. As a side
light there is "a pair OF low-comedy
lovers, and a young fellow wrongfmly
accused Of the robbery, who is in love
with Jim's sister. and these love affairs
are all carried 10 a successful issue In .he
three days covered by. the action OF the
play. X is all very idyllic and quite
unnatural. though there is an evident
striving after realism in the practicable
forge and other properties"
Interest In the play centers In the play
ing Of Mr.. Nat G. Goodwin as Jim Rad
bern. Mr.. Goodwin is "A clever actor. he
j. "a master OF every little trick Of stage
technique. and If his work is not quite as
convincing as Il was once II is still force
ful. well repressed, and praiscworthy. Tine
hghtness Of touch that WAS once Mr..
Goodwins chief charm is noticeable by its
absence. and one feels inclined not 10
blame Kate Vernon for her reluctance 10
accept a sweetheart so evidently elderly
and blase.
The cleverest low comedy I'm the play
is that furnished By Oza Waldrop as
Liz beth Vernon. and her eccentric
sweetheart. Bill SaruaT. admirably played
by Walter Turner. Miss Edna Goodrich
is Mr.. Gooodwins leading woman. and If
she can act she gave little evidence Of il
in the part OF Kate Vernon. Her speeches
are delivered in a dull monotone; her
voice has little expression, and her face
is as devoid Of emotion as "A mask. The
rest of the company was adequate, but
not startingly good. The audience mildly
liked the play. There was little applause
and somehow the revival seemed a sad
sort Of business.
In Mizzoura" will be repeated Thurs
day matinee and evening Tonight the
bill will be An American Citizen"
HECTOR FULLER