Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-20
serious offering of the week

written drama CompetenLiy peTlolIieu aii
opportunity of which the public awaited
Itself but sparsely. The Merry-Go-
Round served notice that musical COM
edy is to be as much in request this sea-
son as before For years the uplifters
o; tire drama have been sounding the
dealt knel of musical comedy. but 1t
comes serenely forth each autumn and
laughs at is obituarsts.
Father and Son" introduced as a star
William Norris Mr. Norris is always be-
ing introduced "A star Every season
discovers him anew 1t is evident that
he has a sort of art wanderlust which
prevents him from staying long enough in
one place for the public to associate nm
with any habitual environment. One sea-
sons photographs portray him In an IN
tensely realistic character role in The
Children of the Ghetto Another SHOWS
him, dagger in hand, a true tragedan.
Another finds him in fantastic garb romp-
ing TO Victor Herbert's frolicsome meas
ures and yet again he appears as the
comedian of a comic opera. Now We have
him as countryman, soft-spoken, Dig
hearted man. as unlucky as the poor rela-
tive that Sol Smith Russell used to por-
tray, yet keen of perception as David
Harum.
1t was practically an unknown
quantity that the play landed on the
boards of the Belasco last Monday night.
The general public could not be expected
to share the critical interest that is felt
In Mr. Norris limitless versatility. Mr..
SeIwyn has written successful plays, but
has not been personally celebrated In con-
nection with them beyond the ordinary
program credit-line in small type. No
elittering spectacular promises were I'M
Piled by the producers name. The per-
Torrance was compelled TO work out Its
salvation on its own exclusive merits.
None OF the glamour OF past achievement
hung about ii. And in the performance
itselt there was a dignified restraint from
start to finish which prevented any scene
from rising to those sensational heights
which warrant the box office in jublantly
declaring ii knockout"
If Father and Son makes its way 1t
Will have to do so gradually, for its appeal
is too artistically cautious to permit the
expectation that it Will take popular taste
by storm. a vein of current interest is
suggested by the labor troubles in which
the principal characters become involved.
These troubles are purely local and are
settled without testing any economic
principle whatever. MIR. Selwyn lodges
the issue with all the skill of an old cam
paigner. The production, too. is lacking
in tue spectacular effect which is rather
strongly limited at III the discussions OF
riot and arson. But the play is d Wei
handled BIT of work, the defects being
those which have TO do with promotlns
popular curiosity outside the lheateE
raIHer than with the legitimate aInuse-
ment OF these assembled before the actual
performance. II lacks the distinctive and
novel feature which will enable the press
agent TO make d fuss about 1t. Com
incubation must be necessarily EXPIRE sSed
III Judic.ou phrase, and III these days OF
unrestraincd super.at4ves nytning snort
OF ny sterIcal delight over q representation
READS Ike implied ccnsure.
OF The Merry-Go-Round" there is not
much 10 DC said. Raymond Hitchcock is
d Splendid man Tor the show, although it
IL AoJ Iaucn vi u SHOW for Raymond
hIttAco.h. Miss Palmer, co4nical gIri oI
TIE piece. tgl4Ies tne spirit that ami
mates u Production uf this school. 1t Is
WON, hand mUEA, SUI harder work and
then more Wor4. There Is never d no
meut > uepeHuenCe Oh WORDS on music. She
dances on her toes, apparently ulsloca les
Lel spine, DeHus uUuDIe. makes S.In4aI
1aues dL lie a-lici4cc Ul,lIlusiy AID IN
CessaLtIy. -4uC she Is ar 100 clever IL
IL t-4c o44oIt become apparent the auul-
e4.Ce accepts II Oh as Spontaneous tDuI4i-
ZION ..lu enjoy - immensely. Mal4aee!
4ta"ty L4Io-ey Uet-,.IIs tA4t Le .AauNeEt-
t--i-. .c-i t.c p.o, u the s..uT n New
LII a.. oOt o.4 % Wen aI,..uuI II Ina
4 doesn't o-.lt,t ~ use II all season.
rnel- - :. growing tendency 10 combine
4oI,t-I,.l and theatrical activity. This ap.
L-.ez hos Oniy 10 the enormous extent &c
Wan taealo.s are row capitalized by
I.eu Ut power in The Counsels OF yariou.
Coura4lu.t.rs. Dat TO tie actual contriDu
to- 70 st4zc performances. Mr. Bryan
VINO Has play writer talent in his owl
Iam.y, Is an especial center OF interes
8 aus respect. Augustus Thomas stand.
I,I-. - MAKE = speech for the NebraskaT
81 any Ho8r OF ghc day aand niGh1 and. j
there is ANY vIr'uc III teiepathy as tx
tIup..Iea Il AZ lal-s, play, The Witchine
Hour should ue apc 10 bring all oppo-
sltion into line by M, ans OF mental con
ccrtratiou.
Mr. Bryan is the subject Of Il drama en-
titled The Curse of Gold" by Whitman
oSG"od ot this city. IL is said to be an
excellent drama, but the campaign com
mIttee III one Of the summers in which
Its nero met defeat made the author
promise that it would not be performed:
at least not while Mr.. Bryan was RIM
nlnG Tor tie presidency, which made the
agreement. 10 all intenIs and PURPOSES
perpetual.
Another accidental relationship between
MIR. Bryan and the stage lies In the mar
Vicious resemblance TO Charles T. Ham
ford ot-tH.s city. Much OF Mr. Ha, ford :
tour IS usually booked through territory
III which Bryan Is enormously popular
and on several occasions the Shakesuear-
can star has narrowly escaped being com
peeled To accompany an enthusiastic re-
ception committee to the rostrum and
@lucidate the platform.
Mr.. Hanford'S manager, F. Lawrence
Walker. has been busy with arrange
ments for the season OF his star, which
opens at Norfolk, Va, the 3Uth of this
month. Mr.. Walker has been associated
with Mr.. Hanford for many years. and
has conducted the tours with uniform anC
conspicuous success. Mr.. Walkers per
sonaI popularity is universal.