The Washington times., 1907-10-01
Cast of Characters.


Mrs; Marsh h..--.,.........-....--P Phoooe Coyne
Ruth Feliowes- Eileen Anslin
Nina Marsh ..-.-...-....... Lolita koperLson
Miss Wood gate. Suzanne kusholIoe
Cook. Janet harrington
Maid .Mar.on Barthyte
Mr. d Esterre. ............-....-.. Fred Tyler
Mr.. Marsh..............-...Art Arthur r. Lawrence
Or. Chrystal ..'..,...................'B Ben tteia
Elerre -------------- -neo hehrWaiu
Colonel Trevanion. n.-......--..-..W .Wilfred North
surgeon sparling Hubert Harden
Lieut.. Ainsley -.........-.- -Bertram Harrison
Lieut. Bgrroughs. 49,. Rex >, sSoyell
Utterly illogical, yet altoge.he de-
ightful, The Lancers," with Cecilia
Lcftus and Lawrance D'Crsay in stellar
roles. will be one OF the genuine sue
cesses Of the new season. viewed IA
the light Of the entertainment it
afforded the audience at The Belasco
last night. 1t is a d amstic iallegro
banishing all care. and the impersona-
tions of both Miss LOTUS and Mr..
D'Orsay are exhilarating.
The Lancers." adapted from the Ger
man for Augustin Daily many years ago.
and refurbished by J. Hartley Manners,
Is Il novelty. The suspense is sustained
admirably until the fnal moment Of the
last curtain. The denCuement is a de-
nghtful surprise, mainly because II is
not in the realm Of developed prob
aoIllty. No explanation Is given for the
sudden change in tho attitude Of the un-
synpsthetic young lieutenant who has
unw'llingly captured the heart of Sonia
Ivanoh. The fact that the conclusion
is unsuspected and unwarranted gives
ample food for speculation as 20 how IL
Right have happened. The author does
hot help you.
The evolution OF the play is thor
uuEnly artistic and intensely interest
los ,,p 10 the last few moments, then
in rrtier to make all end happily, the
gir ard the man are brought face TO
fscs, and he proclaims n love which no
one has had reason to suspect up to
that moment The audience goes away
thoroughly pleased for its fear rhat the
author would allow the woman 10 be
defeated in her heart-hunt having been
snayed-
The comedy tells tine story Of visit
OF The LGncers'' to Quebec. They are
quartered IN the homes Of the aristoc-
racy Of the Canadian city. In one OF
these homes lives Sonia Ivanoff, Rus
sian girl Among the Lancers Is Lieut.
Gordon Nvilloughby, whom she hau net
in Paris the year before. but who mas
fore often her. This fact wounds the
pride Of Sonia, who determines 10
humble MIN. In her efforts 10 do so
she rAkes use Of Capt. Cecil Fitz Her
bert OaWTance D-Orsay) who smmedi-
atcly falls deeply IN love with her. The
lzttef cables 10 St. Petersburg Tor the
This consent to the young man VINO
wins the girls love- is received just IN
time TO be OF use % WilloughOy, VINO,
after having escaped the wiles OF Sonia
surrprlarg inst the troops
are ready 10 march away
The Lancers" provides both MISS
LOTUS and Mr.. D,Orsay Wit, 9dmiTaole am I1o.
roles. The part Of Capt. Cecil Eltz Her
bert Is as well suited 20 Mr.. DOrsay
limitations and Qualifications as thougn
Il had been written by the dulhOI OF
THE Earl OF Pawtucket' and Inc
F,rr, a bssy Ball" II would be restricting
Miss Lotus capabilities &C say mat tne
role OF Sonia was peculiarly suited 70
her. for young woman } I,,cb SnS SlvsTslfed
roles as Juliet, Peter pan IN Nauue-
willie. and of I Were king Is GER
tainly not a one-part actress HeI osVel- N,s,.-
orment OF the character OF sonia; now
ever was as artistic as j. ~ nad Deeh
written especially for ner; He5 Si.SL Si..Sl,1
acteriZation was marked Dy utus l.tlus ts
! noise and grace, a wOmanhness that
Was auuealing and coquetry and sense
of huu1or that won her audience COM
picteIy after she had been on the stage
d AmonE An l.o't the most enjoyable features
~ fbe performance were the iBterPolated
scnRs and Miss Lotus dance Inc dN
dtence was enthusiastic ana II vas WI, NJ
re gret that the story OF the play We
resumed not that the play was iht
icss hut that the singing was IKE
more. Iawrapce D'Orsay as soiois
VS. ssyeraI 9 al OF the situations IN The
Iaucers" are candidly tarciCai, noSaDlS
fha close Of the second act Nheh CdPl-
TSitz Herbert is discovered ny NUM- nun
aI 10 ~ g,,ests in the clothes OF his host.
UJtich are some ten sizes too small LOT
him in a vertical direction anG sollie
twelve sizes too large noI4zOlltiSlly- .,,s
r~be manner in which ne auInoI sus
+ains the Interest in the long third sSS
Is reunarkab BILE, and the nli unef IN NIiICL, t
he solves a difficult sltl ASloh ~ tHe E0e
ScIvIng il at ali but meEeiS DrlnSlhB tIl tIlS
~, yO,Ing people together ana ulahlls
tGe ,;Jounq man say that he loves SONIA
doos not in any sense lessen the ENJOY
Ine9' zen Course o5 sIe We all know how it must
end INT everyone is at loss 70 kno"
how the final tableau Is 70 De D0OusLt
about The fact that II Is oroughl aOOul
list co. Is a novelty which makes
hit tbia time, but II would be poor
Dolicv for this TO become habit with
5lavyrights The public staIGs Tor tne
-. ~ art on this occasion. because II
ii Is a daring departure from traoltlona-
Rut newness wears on ana 7epeutiohs
OF such an artistic blunder Would mean
second only to Miss LOTUS and Mr.
D'Orsav IS the capital work of Ben Field
as T)r. Chrystal. He plays farcical role
With admirable discretion and a keen
sense OF humor. His nervous manner
and dazed expression are reminiscent
OF the clever English comedian Dallas
Wexford.
I,awrance D'Orsay has his same drawl
his same nonplussed air. his same easy
conceit and awkwardness which has
made his stage picture lasting. His new
play affords him some clever lines. and
he makes the most OF his situations.
But the real star OF the performance
Is Cecilia LOTUS It las been some time
since she has been seen in Washington.
and her former admirers will have am
pie reason 70 congratulate her upon her
return to the legitimate stage in a char
acterization which Is girlish and alto
gether pleasing.
Henry Miller has mounted The Ian
GERS handsomely. The costumes ars
rich and tasteful
"a FOOL AND A GIRL"
STRONG WESTERN DRAMA
Get Of Cbarac4rr