The Washington herald., 1907-05-14
The BeIascO-The Edwin Arden Com
pany in "The Importance of BE-
ing Earnest"

ing Earnest"
An audience that filled every part OF
the theater greeted the opening. last
night. of the Edwin Arden Company at
the Belasco Theater. II was night OF
enthusiastic greeting for the return OF
Mr.. Arden and his support, and on Mr.
Arden's first appearance In the character
Of John Worthing he received an ovation
Of applause that lasted several minutes
and halted the action OF the play.
Each member of this excellent summer
company has been greeted with enthusi-
asm. and from admirers in the audience
all of the feminine members of tho cast
received, at the end of the second act
handsome bouquets Of flowers. Anotherun-
usual incident was the taking Of a fash.
light picture Of the audience after the
first act Everybody present had a card
which entitled them to a reproduction OF
the photograph as a souvenir OF the occa,
sion.
The play chosen for the opening was
Mr.. Oscar Wilde's clever comedy for seri-
Gus people, THE Importance of Being
Earnest" The title itself is a play on
words, as the plot hinges on the fact that
two up-to-date girls have resolved to love
no man whose name is not Ernest. The
two men in the case are John Worthing
and Algernon Moncrieff both of whom as
sumo the name and resolve 10 be re-
christened when opportunity offers, for
the sake Of winning the girl.
The plot Of the piece, while markedly
clever and bright, Is simple in the ex-
treme, and there is not a great deal OF
action in the comedy; but from the time
the curtain rises on the first act until it
falls on John Workings ardent state
ment that he now realizes the Importance
of being Ernest, its dialogue is so smart
and brilliant, so sparkling with epigram,
aphorism. absurd paradox, and wonder
ful wit that the audience is kept in a roar
Of laughter.
1t is so good a play that the question
must have ocCarred to many last night.
Why has it been allowed 10 lie idle So
long while so many stupid comedies have
held the stage? OF course. the answer Is
to be found IN the reputation Of its author
his sins and his punishment-but he 3.
dead, and the brilliant plays, his poems
and the literature in which he expressed
the best side Of himself still live, and
probably will live when many things that
have been written I'm dispralse of their
author have been forgotten. At any rate
THE Importance OF Being Earnest" 4.
one Of the cleyerest smartest. and most
amusing comedies that has graced the
English-speaking stage for many years
and one who fails to see il misses an in.
telectual treat.
The Edwin Arden Company is a thor.
Oughly competent one. and does most ex-
.cellent work. II shows, throughout. tho
effect Of careful drill. ripe experience. and
clear understanding OF the work cut out
Each member Of the cast distinguished
himself last night; each Is entitled "a
praise as an individual and the team
work-to use a baseball term-was fine.
Mr.. Arden as John Worthing did g1me
very fine work. He has some difficult sit
uations which he handles with grace and
skill, notably the situation where, In ths
second act, he enters. in mourning for the
dead brother who never existed. He
showed his mastery OF staRecraft. also
in the last act In the scene with Miss
Prism. the lady who lost him IN a hand
bag. Throughout he lent full value to the
clever lines and made the most Of every
situation 50 that his performance was
.strikingiy clever and satisfactory.
The Algern0n Of Mr.. Charles Moncriefr
was very well played. too, though Mr
MoncrieG was not quite as sure Of his
lines as he Will be at later performances
But he did excellent work nOtwithstand-
ing. Very clever characters We're tine
Rev. Canon ChausIble Of Mr.. Edward
Ellis and the Lane Of Mr.. Edwin Fowler.
The women Of the company il would
be hard, indeed, 20 better There has sell