The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-22
Servant in the House
Dramatic Masterpiece
Foil of Mental Action

| TO many who saw il in Washington If
was more or less of a bore because they
jumped to the conclusion that anything
m the nature Of a sermon" must OF
necessity be prUsaic and leJhargic. The
mental attitude Of these persons was
hostile and the work of the dramatist
naturally failed TO appeal. This failure
10 accept Mr. Kennedy's didacticaI
methods, II is feared, win be the at
titude or the public as a whole. but
even IL such prove 10 be the case the
work nevertheless marks a distinctive
victory fO- the higher drama, the drama
that really means something, that en-
mobiles the stage and serves to make il
a force Cor the moral uplift.
In discussing the merits Of this new
production, the courage and managerial
ability of Henry Miller, the producer,
arc not to be overlooked. In the pres
ent day. when the serious drama seems
to be at the ebb tide Of popular favor
Il evinces no small degree Of aItrusm
in behalf OF the stage to finance a pro
duction OF such doubtful popular APP
peal Mr. Miller Is also to be congratu-
lated on the selection of a cast So admin
ably balanced and so distinguished as the
oI gauizatiou known as Henry Miller
Associate Players" The most impress
sive feature of the work of Miss Mat
thison, Miss Moore. Mr.. HamPden Mr.
Lewis, Mr.. Herbert Mr.. Power. and
Mt Dalton is the recognition OF the
limitations OF their respective roles
There vas no striving for effect nor an
attempt on the part of any individual
to emphasize the Importance Of his or
her role al the expense of the artistic
whole.
A notable feature OF Miss Matthisou's
performance was her admirable enuu-
cistlon and the purity of her English
II Is a kind Of education merely TO hear
! her reading.
The esprit de corps which seems to
exist among the Associate Players is
manifested in the fact that when three
| OF more members of the company are
/ on the stage at once and the interest
| for the time being centers in two, the
| others manage TO efface themselves
! completely. instead OF distractiug the
| attention from those through whom the
author is giving his message. What a
! difference between this digTIHed, Artistic
method and the policy which prevails in
! many companies in which the silent
/ members endeavor 10 force themselves
into the Iimelignt by absurd ''stage
! business"
| Elsewhere in this issue of The Times
/ will be found an interview with Mr.
! Kennedy. in which ne says that The
| Servant in the House" is only the ursJ
! of a series of seven plays which ne has
in mind. The fulhlImenJ of this promise
With be awaited with the keenest posi-
bic interest.
! John Drew was never given q heartier
! welcome in Washington than that which
he received al thu National last week.
| due probably To the fact that the
| Wife in the case was Miss Billie
! Burke. a leading lady of such engaging
charm and captivating stage presence
as 10 share equally al honors with the
star.
| Mr.. Drew's play this season mas the
unnistakabIe French qualities of clev-
| erness in plot construction, delightful
p!auancy Of dialogue, and the inevitable
Partisan adjunct Of several more or less
racy situations. II IS due chiefly 10
the methods which Miss Burke employs
in the Interpretation Of the role OF the
| child wife that the play does not at
any time degenerate into vulgar1ty, but
in less artistic hands it is easy To con-
ceive that the offering would fall into
the category of ''undesirahles. My
| Wife" like all French comedies, is
superficial. Its enevescent quality does
not permit of any especially noteworthy
/ character study. The appeal is made
| entirely upon semi-farcical situations
and its scintnlating lines. The role Of
| Gerald Eversleigh is admirably suited
10 Mr.. Drew.
| Ii is a high compliment 10 Miss
| Burke's art that Washington theater-
goers will cling to the impression THAI
she is personally just such delight
fuI. irresponsible, chHdIIke individual as
the Beatrice DupTe she impersonated,
until she returns to US In some other
role which, rumor says, will be Of stel-
lar proportions next season.
James Forbes has been unfortunate in
the selection of a theme for his latest
play, THE Travelling Salesman" which
was given its premiere at the Columbia
last Mono ay evening. The playwright
has handled mis- characters with the
same hdelity to nature that made his
earlier effort. The Chorus Lady" such
a tremendous success. The difference
between the two lies in the fact that
whereas in The Chorus Lady we had
a unique and interesting personality In
novel surroundings, in The Travelling
Salesman" we have Il man who would
not interest US at all in real life, 50
My should we be expected to enthuse
over his existence on the stage? Nj
Forbes character drawing is excellent
and his "drummers'' act and talk a.
though they had been transplanted from
some ''one-hOrse village" but these per.
sonages 90 not make a play,
The Travelling Salesman lacks origi.
nRiity Of conception and individuality in
construction In spite of its good dual
tiles it cannot hope to survive for an
length Of time RALPH GRAVES.
/ COON CTOPU TOT n