The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-27
Kennedy Play Teaches Chief
Lesson of Holiday Theat-
rical Review.
MINISTRIES SUCCEED;
YOSEMITE" DOESN'T
But Miss Taylor Proves Title TO
Leading Role at Belasco by
Personal Charm.
BY ALLEN D. ALBERT, j.

need be alarmed. For II such a product
dramatically, artistically, polemically-
can live amongst US Of the New World
these Srst years Of the new century,
then are our understanding, our tastes,
our religion all justified.
Monday night saw a hundred clergy
mer in the New National Theater. Tues
day, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and
Saturday nights, with holiday matinees,
saw their congregations there. So it
was with Ben Hur''-bUt with this
noteworthy difference: Those who
sought out Mr.. Rennedy's deep and
sOuI-tOuching play did so to hear an APP
peal to the heart; while those who
sought out the brilliant spectacle made
from General Waliace's great book did
so TO view as appeal to the eyes.
This appeal to the heart, what is it2
Well, when "The Servant was being
acted its second week cat the BeIascO|
last March) someone asked Henry Mil
Ter If he thought it would succeed. Sue
ceed?'' queried the man who had risked
his money, his time. and his spirit on
the production. Succeed? 7 should
hate to think for the sake Of the Amer
lean people that they would permit II
10 fail It IS too full an expression Of
the worlds religion 10 fail with a peo-
pie have religion in their hearts" There
is the answer. This play is full OF re-
Hgion, ano it IS a religion TO whose
creed everyone sUbSCribes-the religion
OF faith in an Almighty and love for
ones brothers.
The religion would not get more Of q
hearing than some sermons, however, If
il were not attractiyely set forth Here
in lies the skill of Charles Ram Ken
nedy. He did not attempt what is
called a strong drama; he left that
for such as write yosemite He ul-
dertOOk TO write a drama whose
strength should lie in thoughts and sit
uations, not in raised weapons and loud
tones.
The shoals ahead were many. The
dramatic chart is dotted with the
wrecks Of 'tal1y plays" and not Il few
of them Strong in the best sense. But
Mr.. Kennedy averted- the fate Of those
sunken craft or shCrt-lived deleIicts by
making his talk the interesting express
sion by finely drawn characters Of
thought wondrousIy absorbing. The
tribute IS dOubly his.
The Associate Players.
Yet not all the credit belongs to Mr..
Kennedy. The Henry Miller Associa e
Players have title to some Of 1t. too
for their general technical skill and
their broad artistic understanding
They are to keep together until they
shall have produced a play in which
each Of them (as Tar as practicable)
Shall have had opportunity to star.
The Servant in the House" was the
first "WInterfeast" is the second. In
the one Mr.. Hampden was thought TO
have the leading character: IN the other.
Miss MatUhison (AIrs- Kennedy. Ac-
tuaIIy Mr.. Power has quite as much
dominion over The Servant IL the
House as Mr. Hampden and the critics
who have seen "Winterfeast' think no
role of IL so far above certain Others in
opportunity as 10 warrant any assump-
ton Of staTdom-
These seven persons who have been
acting at the National this past week.
with the exception Of Mr. Mills and the
page boy Che former an excellent sub
6utuuon). were the seven chosen for this
cooperation. Mr.. Charles Dalton v-as
the original vicar. and. according to an
Times desk, Mr. Galway Herbert was tht.
original page. Together they essaved to
give tangible and appropriate express
sion TO Mr.. Kennedy's ideal Of religion
Difficult The task was positively
awe-inspiring. That they succeeded is
written In letters large and clear in the
such d1Scernment, such power. such ar
tistiC hneness as theirs, Mr. Kcnnedvrs
brilliant and reverent study Of religion
which has held us all so nearly spell
bound could never have had a hearing.
How Miss Taylor Shone Through a
Mist.
Yosemite Is an Illustration Of the
Policeman In Punch" acting MY Lord
Mayor" Charles A Taylor made his
dent IN the dramatic shield with a play
called something like The Queen of the
Opium Ring" It revealed a sense Of
dramatic values as represented in s1ls-
pense. 50 when he aimed at something
higher he found managers willing 10
give him a chance. Yosemite was the
result-a curious and not very hopeful
mixture Of Suspense, good scenery, and
IN one role excellent acting, all clouded
In a fog Of bombast
In melOdrama as is melOdrama, It may
do to put lines like Hope springs
eternal in the human breast In the
mouth Of q Bluebeard Of the pre-gold-
fever period. but it will not do in the
BclascO. So the audiences there, which
were not altogether so numerous as
those at the two other leading theaters
found it hard to enjoy the suspense, the
scenery, and the excellent acting Prob
ably the play can be rewritten. A
dozen men to do it suggest themselves.
But If 1t is not then Yosemite" is like
TO get lost in its own mist
But Miss Laurette TaylOr-for her
coming much thanks She is not an
other Duse, or Maude Adams or Maude
Allen. Just yet she IS not so powerful
as the one so engaging as the next,
so nymph-lilIe as the last OF these three.
But she promises 10 be a nightly good
actress as her experience widCns and
she already gives that substantial plea
sure that lies in intelligent intuftive.
imaginative acting by a woman Of low
able personality. And IL ever again she
must costume for a role which ends its
Garb at the knees, she need not be
afraid
Vaudeville-In MinStrels and Out.
All minstrels are good. Of course, but
some are better than others. Those at
the Columbia this past week were the
best Of n dramatic experience which
goes back to Barlow Brothers and VIII
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