The Washington times., 1908-02-04
GRIPPING PLAY AT COLUMBIA
WITH STANDING AND ROBERTS
The Cast in "The Right of Way"

A strong, pulsing play, which has lost
nothing in the dramatization from Sir
Gilbert Parker's stirring novel, pre-
scented by a most capable company.
headed by Guy Standing and Theodore
Roberts, Is the offering at the COlum-
bia Theater this week, under the title
OF THE Right Of Way" and Il merits
all the good things one can say about
It. II is divided into five scenes, all
intensely dramatic Its theme ard
rapidly developed plot is decidedly dif-
feTent from the usual gamut Of theatri-
cal offerings, and therein is a portion
Of the secret Of its appeal The re-
mainder lies with Standing. Roberts.
and Miss May Buckley, all three Of
whom are well known 20 Washington
theaterg0eFs.
Standing has been seen here in many
productions. but he has never surpassed
his Charley Steele, in The Right OF
Way" especially in the first act. His
conception Of the brilliant French-Ca-
madam lawyer in the clutches Of the
flowing bowI-With his contempt for
modern conventions and pitless condem-
nation Of those he had dragged down
10 ruin, is graphic and convincing.
The part does not call for much after
the first scene until the fourth where,
after reason has been restored TO him,
he is called upon TO defend the girl
he loves from the aoDe and enraged
villagers. 1t sayors strongly OF melc-
drama, but Standing. by his clever
work. saves the situation from the
sOrdidHess Of blood ard thunder.
The Joe POrtugais Of Theodore Rob
erts is one Of the mOsl delightful pOr-
trayaIs he has done His inJerpreta-
ton shows deep study Of the character
and his every appearance on the stage
IS followed by gripping OF the heart
strings. From aversion for COWardiy
murderer, the audience Is gradually
lifted into a sort OF reverence Tor a
TcsuTTeCted man.
Mr.. Roberts makes the most OF the
numerous opportunities Tor character
work and emotional acting His con-
IeSsiOu Of gHe fortunes OF conscience
told TO Steele IN the taird scene when
tie two are alone in their mountain
hut. is a superb Bit - acting,
May Buckley is another 70 whom IS
due q portion Of the credit Tor TIE
/ success OF the play, It Is only 70 be
regretted that her role is not as large
! and as prominent as those Of Standing
! and Roberts. She IS a. char ming Rosa
/ lie. the mountain sW aetheart OF Steele
The simplicity she gives the character
( IS delightful.
I Alice Lennon. as Kathleen. the wife
/ Of Steele. and Joseph Tuohy as BIZ
/ Vantage. her brother, are two others
7 who make the most OF small parts
/ Both are decidedly clever and IT IS un-
! fortunate that the Ilay does not admit
/ OF a larger field f. the display OF
their ability. The remainder Of the cas-
| The plot Of the play deals with IN,
/ disappearance Of Steele from irksomt
/ surroundings iu MONTREAL, rom an uu
( loving wife and her lover de souBn'
/ death ia q river bank saloon, but Is
/ saved by .PCrtuEais, whom ne laa Jus
/ saved from the gaIlows by a brilliant
! rIea al the bar of justice He Is IN
4 iJred in a saloon brawl and he aWake'
/ in a village. 200 miles from Montreal
! with no recollection OF the past BOrtu
+ gals is his companion and they live II
p Teece for three years. Resale comes
] into StecIe's life and all IS well unit
/ an unforeseen incident causes steele q
/ submit to an operation which restores
/ memory He finally plans 10 lose him
J self because he cannot marry ROsaIC
} although his wife had long since mar
! Tied. He learns later that his wife d
/ degd and then all ends well with hI
I TrDioD with Resale ana conversion IRON
J fvEEaT5ryr through her.