The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-07
EDESON IN CLASSMATES"
MAKES HIT AT NATIONAL.
The Cast.

whether the West Point cadets at the
National Theater conduct themselves
like those at the big Academy up the
Hudson, or whether a helhograph can
flash a message ten miles into a jungle,
are both matters which do not in the
least concern the layman, and so 1t was
that house filed with an audience
which went to be entertained and
amused thoroughly enjoyed every min
ute OF Classmates, which Robert
Edeson and a capable company dis
closed to Washington for the first time
last night. The performance was
benefit for Garfield Hospital, and the
occasion was consequently a double
event.
Mr.. Blossoms portrayal OF sturdy
young American manhood has found an
outlet ia many characters since he be-
came star, not the least notable OF
Wnlcn was his role in "StrOngheart,
which ne played several seasons. In
'CIassmates,' which IS the joint work
OF William G. DeMille and Margaret
IurnbuH, Mr.. EdeSon has another op-
portunity 10 show just how many good
qualities may be combined in one man,
and still permit him to mix a little
''cussedness" with his nature.
The play Is not one OF West Point life,
although the first act Is laid al the
Military Academy. and the principals
10 New York and then TO q Brazilian
Jungle But there could be no prettier
setting for the love story which runs
throughout the play than the little COM
paEy street, brilliantly lighted in honor
OF a dance at the Academy. with cadets
and officers hurrying here and there,
the bugle calls of in the distance and
the hazing incident, which concludes
the act The story is briefly that Of two
cadets. one a plebe and the other first
classman, who love the same girl The
plebe IS q cad, and gets himself licked
by the upper classman during the haz-
ing incident. both. with three other
cadets, are dismissed, and the pleDe
later is lost IN a Brazilian jungle, where
the first classman who raised the row
leads q rescue party 20 md him The
upper cIassman finally wins the girl. II
there Is weak spot In the play II
comes AT the very end, when the girl.
an army girl, and one with a Will Of her
own Capitulates all in an instant TO
the upper classman two minutes after
she has dismissed the former plGDe. to
whom sire had been engaged,
The sur riee OF the play Was given IN
the third act, Snoring the jungle. The
stage is IN darkness when the curtain
rises and for what seemed to be the
Gradually the dawn breaks and the
sun streams in through the trees. The
mana cement Of the lights was excel
lent, ard won round after round Of ap-
plause. II IS as pretty a scene as any
given in Washington in many years.
MI EdesOn has character 10 his own
heart IN that Of Duncan Irving. He Is
manly, full Of vigOr and full OF fight
II lie had been anything else than just
his own self there would have been a
lot Of disappointed people IN the Ma
tiOnaI Theater last night. AS II was,
everybody went away perfectly satisfied
that Mr.. EdesOn IS IN for as long run
and as great success as marked his
''Strougheart-"
Those who have watched Wallace Ed
diuger work In the past three or four
wears and have watched him grow in
his work were satisfied that their pre-
diCtiOns that he would one day do some
thing worth while had come true. Those
who saw Mr.. Eddinger for che first
time, as the plebe, saw q splendid bit
OF work, md must have wondered why
they had never noticed EddlngeT before.
Frank Mcintyre has the burden Of the
comedy IN Classmates and kept the
audience IN a roar the entire time ne
was on the stage.
Flora Juliet Bowley is Mr. Blossoms
leading woman this year, and is quite
attractive. Marjorie Wood, in the role
Of Phyllis Stafford, In love with "Bubby''
Dumble tMr. McIntyre), is charming
enough 10 have caught the eye ana
heart Of every cadet at West Point.
The other roles are capably played