The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-31
Walters Play "The Wolf
Not Without Possibilities
The Cast.


Jules Beaubien. a young Freneh-canadian
And.ew McTavish. Scotch settler......
Thomas Findlay
Ba' tiste lie Grand, u Hudson Bay Trader
and Northwestern Nomad. sheridan Block
William MacDonsld an American Engi n, !.
ncec .-...---- W AFTER itdle
George Huntley. his assistant Jack Devereaux
The lightning of dramatic success
failed to strike twice in the same place,
for The Wo,f." which was given its
premier performance at the Belasco
Iheater last r.,ght, did not score the
hit which tho arthor, Eugene walter.
flushed with the victory OF Paid IN
Full" is supposed TO have anticipated
Mr.. Walter recently had his first play.
the above mentioned Paid in Full,
produced in New York. where 1t im-
tely became one Of the most
talked Of productions OF the season
The young dramatist's well wisherS
hope that THE WOLF is a product OF
earlier days and has been kept in cod
storage. It would be a pity to think
OF retrogression so soon, for Mr. Wal
ter IS quite a young man. as the audi
ence saw when ne responded to cur
tain call at the end of the second act
last night.
The Wolf" deals with tie tragedy
Of betrayed women Of the Canadian
woods. The audience is told In the ~ 81
act that she herO's half sister has been
wronged by an American and left to
Gle with her child ia a blizzard. The
hero has sworn 70 devote his life ~
the wolf huns. The climax Of this act
is the discovery by Jules, the brother.
that his long sought enemy is Mac
Donald, q civil engineer. who at the
present time is endeavoring to repeat
his crime. the proposed victim being
Hiida. the girl whom Jules loves.
The second act marks the duel OF PER
sOnalities for the girl, jules winning
and fleeing with the girl for Mon
teral The third ac~ which is
supposed 10 be the pig thriller " OF
the drama, IS laid In deep
forest Hilda, Jules, and tw0 compan-
ions are almost ready u embark IN a
canoe for Montreal. Jules, 70 the dis
may OF the girl, at the last moment
return 20 her fathers house N order
10 XIII Macdonald or be killed b. him
de unmanfully lays great stress upon
The possibility Of the latter contingency.
moving the distressed HIda TO tor
rent OF tears Jules falls 20 live Up 10
our pathfinder ideal OF stanch wood
men, who 90 10 face death bravely with
smile on their lips and words OF en-
cOuragement and hope for those who are
left TO watch and wait Mr. Walter S
hero prefers TO see now much he VIII
be missed instead Of trying TO spare his
loved one all the unnecessary suffering
possible.
As the swish OF the paddles is heard
bearing the sObbing Hilda toward Mon
Teal d rifle shot rings out from the
wooded slope 10 the right. and then fell
lows fUsilade between Jules and Mac
Donald No explanation Is given for
MacDonald's decision 20 follow Jules,
Tor his feeling toward Hildd Is purely
a passing whim. and he knows thar he
is gOin.. into the woods 10 face three
desperate men. two Of whom have sworn
10 kill him But Macdonald is a very
obliging person. even II he IS a most
disrepu able character and a moral
degenerate II he had not decided 10
follow Jules il would have taken four
acts Instead OF three 10 round out the
9th Jules and Macdonald are unpar-
COnabiy poor --.-4 --.-4,A. Ior they eX-
change halt a dozen shots in the darlk-
ness. it is true, out at twelve or fifteen
PAGES. Guns proving useless the two
men resort 10 hunting knives.
For the final tableaE the victorious
duelist (the at1d'e-ce in spite OF the
gnized exigencies Of the popular de-
mand for happy ending. Is supposed
conquerer) leans over his fallen foe
and strikes a MAJ IN 70 see If his work
is well done Then Jules calmly lights
a cigarette and starts in the direction
taken BY the canoe.
The play is not without the merit OF
several unique situations The duel in
the dark can be made most effective
II the gun play is eliminated and the
second act climax Is not without its
appeal. but two OF the most interesting
moments in the play are marred by the
ineXcusabIe Interpolation Of the "dulcet
rOtes from the flute and VIOLIN
The author IN striving for realism has
made a most reprehensible mistake by
introducing several lines. which for
coarseness and vulgarity have not been
equaled in any play seen here this year.
This is particularly true IN the scene
between Macdonald and his assistant.
in which the latter speaks OF some OF
the tricks which Macdonald has turn
ed on Broadway"
William Courtenay and Ida Conquest
gave entirely satisfactory interpreta-
lions of the leading roles The other
members of the cast were acceptable.
with the exception of Jack Devereaux.
whose strident voice was most annoy
ing
The scenic investiture, while rather
too ford TO be realistic. was on the
whole picturesque and pleasing.