Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-23


II ~ than is usual. The severely
classical was interpreted by Ben
Greet. pastoral comedy by Will NJ. Cres-
sy and the graceful frivolities of song by
FIRTH Scheff. Interest was enhanced by
the fact that new material was being in
troduced, THE Village Lawyer being a
recent product of the talent which has
enabled Mr. CresSv to contribute sc
many redeeming features to the average
vaudeville bill and Hawthorne wonder
plays by the Greet company having nc
record beyond a short season in Boston.
Judged by precedent. "The Village Law
yer" should have a career before it. for
the rural drama is a permanency in the
theatrical world and none too literally
represented. There may be a certain
sense of patriotic satisfaction in observ-
ing how rural character is interpreted by
American stage humorists. Despite the
eccent1icities of comedy. the touch Of
sentiment predominates. and the hay
seed hero is made lovable more than
grotesque. Appreciation of the sterling
qualities which go to make up American
citizenship overshadows the inclination to
indulge in sneers. and the stage country
man. with all his top boots. curious whis
kers and bygosh dialect survives as
staiwart and admirable figure. The CEN
trail character in 1.-The Village Lawyer is
one of the men whose humble surround
ings and obscure career do not suffice to
Quench elements of personal greatness
such as we are proud to attribute 10 our
average citizenship. This is one respect
in which the American drama-for there
are now enough plays Indigenous to the
western hemisphere to enable us to claim
an American drama-differs from the Eu-
ropean. Our rustic citizens are not de-
ricted as yokels. clowns. buffoons nor
vulgar uDstarts in society.
OF course. in thinking of play of coun-
try life the one that looms up as a pat
tern is The Old Homestead" 1t Is on
of the simplest. most unpretentious of
dramas. and yet perhaps the most con-
slant and powerful in it's appeal of any
play excepting Uncle Toms Cabin Its
origin, SO story goes. was something sim
liar to that of 1.-The Village Lawyer" be
int in it's first form merely a brief sketch
Intended to figure only as a portion of a
diversified bill-a bill designed for presen-
eation In thaaters much less pretentious
than the vaudeville palaces in which Cres-
appear 1t was enlarged. elaborated.
pruned and readjusted until it arrived at
the form in which it is today being given
no longer with Denman Thompson ac
tually on the stage. yet with the veteran
some where near the theater. at all times
Z safeguarding and inspiring influence.
+The Village Lawyer has not the con-
sistency of plot nor the vitality of motive
10 warrant it's being compared in merit
10 1.-The Old Homestead. however close
the resemblance may be as to its incep-
ton and general purpor. Yet there
shouldsbe room In the regard of -theater-
goers for SO lovable character as Squire
Tappan, even though insufficiently sur
rounded. And as time passes it may
pand and improve other plays now
successes have expanded and improved
after introductions far less promising.
A week of Ben Greet dramas is likely
to keep a playgoer with an Appreciation
Of the more studious side of the theater
quite busy. Personally Mr.. Greet elects
TO remain comparatively obscure. he is
name and an influence His appear
ances as an actor are but casual and
are made with lack of the famboyant
announcement that halls the usual star
Mr. Greet is a scholar and director
rather than a player. Yet his appearances
are always interesting and command a
more respectful attention because of his
evident desire to cast himself suitably
rather than pre-eminently. 1t is quite
possible to witness a performance in
which Mr.. Greet appears without realiz-
ing that he is himself participant. Even
were 1t not for his distinguished attain
Greet would deserve extraordinary notice
as our one and only truly modest actor.
OF all the plays in last weeks list the
one that afforded most genuine satisfac-
ton was Macbeth 1t was a relief TO
see the rapid succession of episodes en-
acted without the interruption of scene
shifting and the distracting influence OF
entr' acte music composed largely of rag
time melodies. A little familiarity w..
the Elizabethan method of performing
Macbeth makes the modern mode of pre-
sentation seem almost grotesque. Moth
ing could be more disillusioning than to
have one of the majestic and sonorous
speeches of the classic drama followed
by instructions. accidentally overheard.
to a stage hand to look out for
his sky border take another hitch
on the long line. Yet such things are
almost sure to occur in the average cum
bersome production of tragedy. The
success of Mr.. Greet's simplifed drama
does not entirely do away with the theory
that elaborate scenery was available in
Shakespeare day. Such plays the
Tempest" and midsummer Nights
Dream" for instance. suggest abundant
facilities for striking stage effects.
and it is known that the progresses of
the queen were attended by spectacular
display which might rival anything that
the Kiralfys of generation ago or the
Klaw & Erlangers Of today could pro-
duce. But the. influence of classic form
was strong In the drama and plays writ
ten with the design of scenic explolta-
ton were In the nature of departure. The
public was familiar with severity and any
experiment in the way of the introduc-
ton Of mere painted canvas must have
involved the risk of ridicule. Mr. Greet's
PRODUCTION of Macbeth is instinct with
verify. 1t speaks with the voice Of
truth which is recognizable by intuition
1t is like the portrait by a master which
OF itself carries conviction that the like
ness to the original is faithful. But
despite all this. the conviction Is not dis
turbed that If Shakespeare did not use
IN he %