The Washington herald., 1908-05-05
AT LOCAL PLAYHOUSES
The COIumbia-ssThe Prisoner
Xenda"

The COIumbia-"The Prisoner Of
Zenda."
Since the days when :neatergoers took
pure and sheer delight in the fairy tales
Of romance as evidenced in such romantic
plays as The Prisoner Of Zenda.' We
have Travelled far upon a weary-and
would-be intellectual-road strewn with
the dry bones of Ibsenisn, watered Maeter-
linck, and others OF the problem writer's.
1t is then. with something akin to the
old enthusiasm. that people fiocked last
night to the Columbia TheateF, where a
most excellent company. headed by that
prince Of romantic actors, James X
Hackett. revived ''The Prisoner of Zenda, -
Well might Kipling sing OF the True
Romance:
Throagh wantonness If men profess
Them weary 0f thy parts
Zen let them die az blsphemy
And perish with their ars:
But that love, but We that prove
Thine excellsnce august
While we adore discover more
Thee perfect wise and Just.
It is a great treat to be taken lack as
We were last night to the days of the old
romance, Of high adventure. brave daTlng.
the knightly word Of gallant gentlemen.
ladies for whose favors men would lay
down their lives; back TO the ready sword
and the techy honor-back to the land
Of Already. where in the blest castles in
the air anything may happen. for every
thing is possible.
afrT'bs Dfsfganar - V-rIeff l. hr,+ f,f
tale, full of gross improbabillties. and. as
a play Git was done into a play from An
thOny Hopes novel by Mr. Edward Rose).
making no attempt at Characterization:
but it is a fairy tale that appeals with
force to that spirit latent in all Of us. old
and imagined wise though We be; the
spirit OF romance, the delightful voice IN
which day-dTeams are told
II Is In such plays as this that Mr.
James K. HaCkett. one OF Americas most
forceful and popular actors. is at his best
and his appearance last night in the dual
roles Of Prince Rudolf. the Elphherg. and
Rudolf Rassendyil the young Englishman,
was JOY 10 all his admirers. For he can
take such a part and lend il the qualities
of his own humanity. By the force OF
genius that is IN him, he can make
II real; he has a magic Of personality that
makes the illusion so strong that one
forgets Hackettt. the actor, and becomes
absorbed In the fortunes-parlous though
they are-of the red-haired adventurer.
fighting for a lady's honor and love and
TO save a tOtteTing throne
It Is not necessary to recall the story
of THE Prisoner Of Zenda" one Of the
most popular novels of a time when the
six best sellers" were unknown. It is
probable that every one knows it; knows
how young RasseadyH. the double of the
drunken King Of Ruritania. takes that
monarch's place and saves his crown
from his enemies how he wins the love
Of the Princess -Flavia. and at the end
rides away for honor's sake II is an
old story now. And yet it has all the
flavor of youth-fOr it's youths fine
dreams personihed. the very spirit OF true
romance.
II was good 10 see Mr.. Hackett once
more in such a part. He does q character
like this strikingly well, and Il was good
once more 10 see him, as in the pro
logue, fighting a desperate duel with the
sword which he can handle SO deftly
But in bringing this company 10 Wash
ingt0n re has not been content to rely
upon his own popularity, or his own
marked ability. He has surrounded him
self with a most excellent cast. Here
it is: