The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-02-25
The NatIonaI-Ethel Barrymore.

Ethel Barrymore. in Her Sister," a
new play by Clyde Fitch and Cosmo Cor
don Lennox. was greeted by large and
fashionable audience at the National
Theater last night.
Whatever part Mr.. Fitch has contrib
uted to the play certainly procIsims IN
unmistakable terms his diminishing pow
er as a creator of dramatic vehicles OF
vivid action and high sustained interest
In this particular instance talk is the
principal thing. some OF the discourses
by the principals quite approximating
sermons There is nothing strikingly new
in the theme. it simply being the oft-re-
peated story of one person assuming the
real or fancied crime OF another. and
thereby flying to their own ruin. or al
most.
Two sisters. children of the same
mother by different fathers. are thrown
on the world at an early age 10 shift for
themselves The elder. Eleanor. inherits
good qualities from her parental ancestor
and becomes the mainstay of the family:
first trying the stage and finally beconi-
ing very successful as fortune teller. with
4 fashionable clientele She meets Ernest
Buckley. the son OF a well-to-do English
family. with social status not extending
hack f)T many generations, and he falls
in love with her end proposes marriage.
She is Il little dubious about her true
| feelings in the matter. but wishing to
form respectable connections and live in
an atmosphere more cOngenial to her ma
ture. she virtually accepts. with the re-
solve 10 make him true and loyal wife.
While she had been thus progressing. her
more frivolous younger sister Jane. had
not been so circumspect. but had be-
come. by suspicion. implicated in a nota-
| he New York divorce case. and hereby
hangs the keynote Of the story.
After being examined by Arnold Culllng-
worth, uncle Of the hero. and pronounced
worthy, Eleanor is invited TO the home
OF Mrs Buckley. and all is going we'll
when Mrs Herriard. another asplrant
for the hand OF Ernest. also arrives, with
motives sinister. and stealthily introduces
an American newspaper into the matter
with the picture Of Eleanor as the party
named in the divorce case. which had
been published by mistake for that OF her
sister. IN order TO shield ner sister. who,
F, under the name Of Jane Hammond. is en-
gagged 10 George Saunders. a close social
and business connection OF the Buckley
| family. she admits that she is the guilty
party, and the whole family falls away
]
believed thoroughly in her from the start
/ He resolves 10 prove her innocence. and
by means OF q trick, not new to dramatic
art, traps her into admitting the truth.
declares his own love. and all ends meT-
rily. During the course OF the action the
heroine delivers a long and plausible ex-
position of the temptations which beset
young girls. and offers a strong plea for
/ lenient treatment The second action as
/ sumes the aspect of a trial by jury. and
is unnatural for the reasons that a WON
an would hardly have submitted 10 it.
and no collection of gentlemen would
have been parties 10 H.
| OF Miss Barrymore's portrayal Of the
character Of Eleanor Anderson. nothing
can be said except in terms Of commen-
dalton, and the best feature is the ap-
parent fact that she is growing in her
art. She seems 10 have entirely shaken off
that peculiar air OF languidity which
formerly characterized her acting. and
plays the part with vigor and convincing
skill OF course the role is a fine one.
but it is doubtful If Miss Barrymore's
| Interpretation could be much improved
particularly as regards elocutionary ef-
/ feet. while she is strong in the few per-
| iods of high emotion.
Mr.. Arthur Byron gives fine support as
Arnold CullingWOrth, q highly synpa-
thetic role, and is aided BY Lumsden Hare
as George Saunders. Charles Hammond
as Ernest Buckley. Fanny Addison Pitt
as Mrs Buckley, Lucille Watson as Mrs.
/ Herriard. Louise Drew as Miss Ninety.
and Anita ROthe as Miss Rowby
The play partakes Of all the faults ac-
cruing TO play Of mixed FORM It
| is heralded as a comedy. and certainly
seems 10 be treated in the spirit of
comedy all the way through. yet the
strongest moments come when tragedy is
/ imminent. and the elimination is weak
ened by a glorious ending. People who
make great sacrifices must suffer the
fullest consequences in order to draw
Il forth fha ft1lleet