The Washington herald., 1908-05-17
THE WEEKS PLAYBILLS
COlumbia-..Joha Glayde's Honour

COIumbia-'sJOhn GIayde's Honour
Mr. James K. Hackett will tomorrow
open the third week OF his season at the
Columbia Theater with the presentation
Of a play Of compelling interest that has
never been seen In Washington, "John
Glayde's Honour by Alfred sutro. The
fact that It comes from the pen Of this
dramatist who has been coming -Fapidly
TO the front as rival Of Pinero would
alone arouse interest. Il is the only play
he has turned out since his Walls OF
1erichO." another strong society play.
seen here three years ago London was
strong IN its praise OF John Glayde' S
Honour" when it was originally produced
BY George Alexander at the St. James
Theater, in the spring OF 1907, and this
success was duplicated when the play
was given its first run in Chicago. last
1all Immediately after it's original Ameri-
can presentation in Milwaukee by Mr..
Hackett. who appeared in the title role,
which he is TO essay tomorrow evening.
The play revOlyes around the eternal
triangle of the wife. the husband and
the lover, but presents them from diff
4AGANtAA Et4lAN DA hACW anu % 0AtS u ouAEU =
strongest. ablest and most convincing
stage stories. one that is wonderfully
human; that is being diurnally enacted
in real life, and that points TO the Ameri-
ican multfbusiness man moral which
he may well pause 10 consider for a mo-
lment before. Ike John Glayde he finds
that 1t IS too late and the fruits for
(which he has struggled turn into ashes
IN his mouth. The master hand OF a great
dramatist discloses in this play a singu-
EIarly striking phase OF the modern race
FOR the goal OF CrOesus in this country.
where there are TO be found numerous
John Glaydes so immersed In their busi-
ness ambitions, in their desire TO pile up
riches and accumulate wealth, that they
have forgotten the other claims on their
.Sime and affections. and are wreeking
their own happiness and that OF their
wives for whom. all the time. they are
laboring. The story Of the play is that
of John Glayde, an American iron
king. who is so occupied with his finan-
lcial achievements that ne neglects his
beautiful young wife, Muriel Glayde,
whom he, however, loves very fondly. She
spends a large portion OF her time in
Paris, and there, in her loneliness, she Is
attracted by Traver Lerode, a young
U.s. A-r AAAEe Ate1s)AF AoAi0NSs anu hFltl
Giayde. warned by a cable message, ap-
pears Unexpectedly, he finds himself sup
planted. He realizes his fault. and sets
himself with all his strong will and pur-
pose that have made him a power in the
world Of finance to win her back. but in
vain The breech Is TOO wide, the in
1atuatiOn OF The woLls-Ti for the artist has
become too srong. Completely conscious
Of the superior worth Of her husband,
Muriel Glayde chooses her lover, and af-
ter a heart-wrenching scene the curtain
falls on John Glayde turning his back
upon the couple after surTendering his
wife. and going away-returning TO his
millions and the trusts that made them
conscious at last OF the utter futllity OF
ali that has engrossed his mind and his
heart for so many yeaTs-a lonely being.
From the standpoint of dramatic tech
niGue the play is said 80 be nearly flaw
less. There is a well-sustained interest
throughout, the dramatic action Is cumu-
lative, the situations are convincing and
natural the characters thoroughly well
drawn. and the whole is declared to move
with a cTispness and compelling power
thar carries actors and audience along
TO the last acts climax. The dialogue
IS as terse as any Sutro has vet produced.
and there are brilliant flashes Of wit in
The Idle Partisan social chatter with
which the story is introduced But there
IS little room for persiflage after the
Iron King appears for II Is then that
the characters become absorbed in a
drama that leaves no time for Jest. cpl
gram. or phrase making. Mr. Hackett's s
Interpretation Of the title role is one OF
the finest portrayals in his repertoire. In
II he achieves the feat Of getting well
within the difficult character OF Glayde.
The National-"HObin Hood"
That ever-weloome and picturesque ban
dit of comic opera, Robin Hood. with
bis iusty followers. al quantity. humor-
ously, and cleverly drawn characters. viii
doubtless be received as warmly as of
yore, when they return in the Aborn
Opera Company's revival Of this master
piece of mlrth and music. at the New Ma
tional Theater as this weeks Offering.
The signal feature Of the Robin
Hood week viii be the special en-
gagement Of Eugene Cowles. one Of the
foremost idols OF American comic opera.
for his original role OF VIII Scarlet. This
viii be Mr. C5WleS' first appearance in
this part since ne left the famous Old
Bostonians many years ago, since which
time he has won added fame as a eo-star
or featured member Of the casts with
Alice Nielsen, Lillian Blauvet. FRITZ
Scheh, Marie Cahill, and other bright
lights of the Gperatic stage. Additional
interest will also be lent in the engage
mcnt 81 numerous other B0stonians in
the Aborn array. George 3. FFothingham.
as Friar Tuck; Frank Rushworth, as
Robin; Ssbefy d'Orsell, as Anabel. and
Agnes Stone. as Dame burden, the roles
which they assumed formerly with that
organization. The rest of the cast is
made up Of equally prominent artists. in
Guiding Phil Branson, as the Sheriff Of
Nottingham; Forrest HUFF, as Idttlejohn.
Jessie Bradbury, as Alan-a- Dale; Charles
". Meyer. as Guy of Gisbourne. and
Magda Dahl. a prima donna OF the Glib
son Girl type. who met with success in
the cast OF "A Waltz Dream at the
Broadway Theater in New York. Rob
IN Hood was produced by the Aborn
Opera Company here last year, and
proved one Of the most auspicious offer
sngs Of their series, and IL will be given
this time with the same artistic and elab-
crate equipment OF scenery and costumes
II would be hard 60 md more popu-
lar opera than his, for the few who have
never seen il enacted have at least heard
its charming music, many numbers Of
which have become classics. No modern
opera, in fact, has 50 many gems of the
higher order, ike 20. Promise Me.
THE Brown October Ale" The Jet
Black Crow. THE Tinkers' Song. The
Armorer's Song" and many others.
Chase's-PoIfte Vaudeville.
Chase's this week viii be undoubtedly
gay. as the petite vaudeville bill will COM
prise several exceptionally popular COM
edy attraction, REINFORCED by others OF