The Washington herald., 1908-03-29
The Belasco-..The Wolf"


BeIasco tomorrow night for the first
time on any stage a melodrama, in three
acts, called The Wolf" by Eugene Wal
ter. This young man first came into
prominence with a political play called
THE Undertow," and next he gave play
goers his remarkable drama Of New York
life. Paid in Full" which is one of the
conspicuous successes of the metropoli-
tan season.
The Wolf,'' by which Mr.. Walter may
be safely judged, is called by him "a
melodrama of the Canadian Hudson Bay
country" ard certainly Is virile and
fraught with intense human interest
whatever may be its dramatic poossibii-
ties. II anything. it is more daring in
theme and outspoken in dialogue than
Paid in Full" which New York has so
cordially indorsed The love story is
there, and the passion Of men vlyidly
portrayed The locale itself begets
the sterner side Of life. being placed
on the banks OF the Wind River in far
north Canada where men are what they
are. and not what they seem The story,
briefly told. revOlves about the Illicit love
OF an American engineer for the daughter
Of a Scotch trader I'm the Canadian
wilds This engineer, years before, had
betrayed the mother Of this girl who was
the half sister OF Jules Beaubien, a rich
young French Canadian. who had prom
ised his father TO avenge the wrongs done
the dead half-sister, Annette. 1t is the
working out of this story, with the intro
duction OF strong and novel characters,
that probably Will commend THE WOLF
to the serious consideration OF lovers of
the drama.
There are but six characters in the play,
which is written in three acts. Jules
Beaubien is played by William Courtenay,
one Of the most finished of our younger
players. Mr.. Walter describes Beaubien as
beiEg "a young French Canadian, born IN
Montreal, educated at a Jesuit college,
and the son of a man who had traded in
opposition 10 the Hudson Bay Company.
and had grown rich. The son inherited
the love Of the wilderness from his Gather.
As the father was dying. he called his
son 10 him, and told him that somewhere
in the Nipissing country there had been
another wife and another child. He had
been mated 10 a tall, slender Oiibway
girl. and he said that while he loved the
white mother Of Jules. gone so many
years before, he also loved the dark
mother OF his half-breed daughter. AN
nette. Annette's mother had died later
than Jules, but II was the fathers wish
that Jules should find this half sister and
care for her. And when Jules went into
The far-north country II was to learn that
Annette had met one Macdonald. an
American engineer and prospector. who
had betrayed her, and left her and her
infant child 10 perish IN a storm. Jules
determined 70 avenge this crime, and fate
brought him and Macdonald together at
the home Of McTavish, the Scotch trader.
who was living alone with his daughter
Hilda.
The role OF Hllda which will be played
by Miss Ida Conquest. for several sea-
sons leading woman at the Empire The
ater, New York. is unique and interest
ing. Mr. Walter. in his scenario. says:
The character of Hilda is best explained
by the story of her persecution from
babyhood by her father, who hates her
FOR her mothers faults She inherits all
the beauty Of her Scandi lavian mother.
without a trace Of the h:4rshness Of her
Scotch father. Her hair hangs in two
long braids down her pack. and she wears
the dainty beaded moccasins. handiwork
Of the Chippewas."
The role Of Macdonald will be played
by Walter Hale Macdonald is describ-
ed as "a man OF wealth and genius as a
with one vicious weakness-his love for
women.
The character of McTavish. played by
Thomas Findlay, already has been briefly
outlined. George Huntley. played By
that most convincing Of stage juveniles.
Jack DevereauX, is the assistant OF Mac
Donald, but a lght-hearted American
youth. whose instincts are upright. and
who aids in foiling the unholy plots OF
his employer Nor must the character
OF Batiste le Grand. "a Hudson Bay
trader and nomad. be overlooked. This
silent man, with ever-ready knife and
rife. had loved the betrayed Annette.
and as played by that sterling actor.
Sheridan block, Will stand out as one of
the strongest characters in the drama.
The Messrs. Shubert pror.ise for THE
Woif' one Of the most complete produc-
tions they yet have offered the public.
The effects are said to be novel and thrill
ing. The stage direction has been in
trusted to ]. c. Huffman, which is a
guarantee that it will be realistic in all
its details.