The Washington times., 1908-09-20
William Norris
Vehicle Needs
BOlstering Up
Coming Attractions Interest
ing on Paper-The Week
at Other TheaterS.

William Norris is a good actor. Any
one who remembers his Pinchss in THE
Children Of the Ghetto" his Fool in
Francesca Da Rimini." and his Allan
In "'Toyland'' will not doubt H. But
actors, like the rest OF us, can't row
boats without water, no matter how
skilled they may be as oarsrnen. So
our capable young friend at the Belasco
this past week has been having a hard
time indeed.
Father and Son. needs a running
start a dash Of ginger. about a hundred
small bolts. and some rebuilding Any
one of these things viii help it and all
put together might put II on a fair
read to moderate success. As II stands
now, however the performance Of It re-
calls those matinee presentations OF soul
drama In which John Blair took part
several years ago. 1t is one Of those
plays that leave the current of the SPEC
tator's thoughts peacefully undisturbcd.
Yet Father and Son was built by MIR.
Selwyn on the two excellent foundations
OF great impulse and distinctive per
sonality. The love that arises out OF
the constant association Of child and
enough 10 sustain the interest through
four acts! The deIineation of tvpes or
character like that Of "Or Doc FiIkins
Is surely color enough for any stage
picture! Yet it is Mr.. Selwyn who fails.
not Mr. Norris. Theme and color are NOT
enough TO make play and through his
hrst two acts this author has provided
little else. We give a hopeful good-by
to Father and Son" even If we could
not extend the glad hand.
The Favershams' Good Luck.
The curtain that went down on this
rather cherries week for Mr.. Norris
promises to rise on brighter nrosnecf
FOR Mr. Faversham. This excellent
actor has obtained a first-class pIav
according 70 provisions of it, from
Charles Frederick Nirdlinger. once
widely read as dramatic critic Of Town
Topics" and known among even cursorv
students Of the drama for a book Of
striking essays on Mosques and Mum
mers The material for the new NAV
1t is virtually that-came from the
composition in Spanish BY the great
Jose Echegoray. But the drama has
been practically rewritten, with mr.
pose 10 give ii life and grip on the
auditor
Ell Gran Galeoto." the Echegorav
play is story Of gossip. a sort OF ex-
tended School for Scandal" II Is seri-
Gus but not depressing and owes its
high standing in the Judgment OF Ell
ropean critics TO the marvellous nsvcbo-
logical study upon which the story Of
the events depend. Such a work would
appeal with great charm to earnest stu,
dents of the drama like Mr. Faversbau,
and his wife. Julie OPP. II is more GER
tain 10 obtain at their hands a beau
tiful and tasteful mounting. and an IN
depreciation by a competent conDanv
subject. or course. TO the judgment of
Monday night, The World and His
Wife'-as Mr. Nirdlinger renames the
play-promls es TO be distinctly one Of
The dramatic sensations Of the season.
The National will likewise present q
nrst performance. "A Gentleman From
Mississippi is a political play. located
chiefly here in Washington. study in
the picturesqueness Of our life In o1,r
own time. Mr.. Wise. who Is TO pIav
the politician, is an actor Of rounded
training. with an enforced and steady
twinkle in the corner Of each eve.
A City of Premieres.
Washington promises to shine this
year as never before as the CITY Of
premieres. The Fighting Hope" Jet"
and Father and Son. have already
tried their wings in our air. Now are
TO come The World and His Wife
and The Gentleman From Mississip-
pi" October will bring Mr. ZangwIITs
The Melting Pot 10 the Columbia. for
Its first appearance on any stage and
not less than ten others are to follow
after.
It Is good to zee that the Columbia
IS to have an inning. The new manage
ment has earned it. The comment in
these columns Of last Sunday on Thea
tiers Of Courtesy did not take proper ac-
count OF present conditions at this thea
ter II is in the hands OF men who rate
courtesy only next to safety in the
management Of playhouses. They have
expressed in their own personalities a
very fine kind o. consideration for their.
fellows, and their evident purpose is to
give the Columbia every advantage
which reposes in polite attention to their
patrons Strength TO their elbows!
What a pleasant thing is mere enter
tainmentl Thus. at the Columbia last
week. Al II. Wilson provided what he
designs to be entertainment, pure and
simple II is not easy to do that. as
thousands of wrecked comedies and
hundreds OF stranded musical companies
bear witness But Wilson does it-bv
virtue of more than ordinary acttng
ability, a sweet voice and, best Of all.
q modest and Hkable personality. Next
week Andrew Mack follows. with a little
more plot. but otherwise much the same
kind Of diversion. And the patronage
extended to Raymond Hitchcock and
Miss Palmer at the National. as well as
that vouchsafed to Wilson at the Co
1umbia. would Indicate that the first
function Of the stage IS stiH TO en-
certain. A. d. A.