Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-08
T HE T H EAT E R.
New National.

The new play, 1.-The step-Sister," which
was produced for the first time at the
New National Theater last night, was
we'll in line with the studies Of everyday
American life, for which the author, Mr..
Charles Klein, has already become so
favorably known. Applause, call for
| curtain speech, and the other compliment
tary demonstrations which customarily
attend a successful first night, were
heartily and abundantly in evidence.
Mr.. klein's work is distinguished by the
frank directness with which he attalns
his effects. He seeks for characters
rather than for incidents. His situations
are allowed to develop along the lines OF
common occurrence instead Of striving 10
present human events in a novel aspect.
Yet there is no greater task that writer
can set himself than the idealiza ton OF
the ordinary. Where the element of the
unexpected is necessarily scant, the EFFORT
to avoid the commonplace makes 1t al
most impossible to prevent sheer arti-
ficiality.
AS an assemblage Of men and women
following out their modes of existence IN
accordance with the natural instincts OF
their various kinds. the play Is beauti-
full work. a study of human nature al
most scientific in its accuracy. AS
logical series of events, it is less COM
mendable. neither the demands Of human
probability nor poetic justice being con-
'sistent.y satisfied. But so highly polished
is the performance that the considerations
of plot detail are likely to escape atten-
ton excepting perhaps as after-thoughts.
The assumption that the boyish, impul-
slve chap who, by acting as the salaried
clerk of skinflint, has attained repu-
tation as the richest and meapest man In
America, has had no opportunities for
money making on his own account is not
strictly plausible. His methods of con-
Quoting business are emotional In the ex-
IRENE. The scene in which the mortgages
and bonds are tossed about like so much
wastepaper borders on the farcical, and
the carelessness with which the not In
considera BILE sum of $4,000 is banded
about quite explains the ease with which
Frederic de Belleville. in the role of a viii
famous but elegant Frenchman, makes
away with It,. This Is most unfortunate
occurrence, as it leaves the handsome
hero, who started out rich and single,
broke and married. The Titanic struggles
of the money market are expected in
vain. and a story of domestic pickering
and strife, something after the manner
of Jacob Gordin's remarkable East Side
dramas takes precedence. The two ele-
ments require extremely deft handling to
prevent them from being abruptly discor-
dant. The struggle for supremacy in a.
quarrelsome household is scarcely of suffi-
Gent magnitude to call for the arbitra-
ton Of kings Of finance. But the people
are real people, flesh and blood beings IL
Illustrating the bigness and the littleness
of human nature with a fidelity that
makes them personal acquaintance. Mr..
Klein knows how to make them talk and
act as If they were moving along life's
simple routine. They are not studious and
insincere opponents of the art of epigram.
Each role. considered Independently Is a
fine and faithful piece Of character draw
ing.
The acting of Mathilde Cottrelly as the
brow beaten but sweetly generous old
lady was excellent, and the same must be
said of the work done by the other men,
bers of the organization, which is Of a
uniform merit seldom seen in the most
pretentious productions.