The Washington times., 1908-02-04
SKINNER ANOTHER PETRUCHIo
IN "THE HONOR OF THE FAMILY
The Cast.

With a slash Of his sword, a rap of
his stick, and a threat hurled through
the air like q bomb. Otis Skinner scored
another triumph in Washington at the
National Theater last night ia THE
Honor Of the Family" Paul Potter's
edaptadon Of the French play original
ly founded On BaIzac's lie Menage De
GarcCn." The character Of Philippe
Bridau reminds one so strongly OF
Petruchio IN "The Tanning Of the
Shrew'' that almost the same express
sfOns might be used in defining it.
Philippe comes on. like a bomb and re-
bounds throughout the play with equal
emphasis, threatening to explode at
every turn. lie cuts and slashes,
threatens, brOwbeats. and generally ter
rOr1zes everybody about the place But
he is a French soldier who realizes the
honor Of his family Is at stake and he
has come to save IL II he has to XIII
of a few persons 10 do IT. With the
memory OF many successes told OF to
this admirable actor, including his per-
Torrance of The Tanning OF the
Shrew'' with Miss RehaE several years
ago, it must be conceded that he has
his greatest success in years in Philippe
Bridau- He t-Petruchioed Petruchio
and so delightfully."-, 50 consistently por-
tTayed this dashing. determined. devil
take-eVerything- but-hOnOr soldier that
the audience could not fail TO feel the
influence Of his more or less brutal
way of getting what he had come for,
THE Honor OF the Family is es-
sentiaIly comedy and a comedy OF the
most delightful drawing While the
I background is more or less dramatic,
involving the period OF the restoration
[ f# hon sAar gg-Hr~ q
phere is apparent only infrequeutly as
tie comedy element is permitted 70
/ dominate except in the concluding act.
II moves Ike Wildhre through three
acts, taking the cue from Mr.. Skinner,
who plays up 10 the highest key. TIL.
audience was completely lost IN the
/ charm Of Mr.. SINNERS comedy, but
elmer the original playwright or the
adapter, NJ Potter. failed to keep the
story Of this high pitch and IL ends al
most in melOdTama. The last act drops
from pure comedy into tragedy OF the
/ glOOmiest sort and as the town bells
] lover Philippe his slayer, goes out
[ hummiug a little French song to en-
! counter an assassin In hiding just
I around the corner But Philippe IS not
/ killed. He returns with the bland an
] uouacement There's a man out there
! who needs attention" It's q rather
! ETuesOme ending, even for French
! comedy. and one cannot but regret that
Z the Dl4E-tlE ttIll-LlC AlLt-IAHffs OF EhLAA
/ could not have been kept up 10 The
/ white heat OF altogether delightful
! comedy that ChaTaCleTZeS the first
! three acts.
! Miss Percy Hasweu Shared honors
1 with Mr.. Skinner. Miss Haswell has
( done some remarkably good work. but
4 her clever representation Of the selfish
/ sCheruing Flora whose one Tedeeming
quality was q great love for man as
Z selfish and scheming as herself, IS the
/ best and most artistic piece OF acting
/ she has yet given in Washington Miss
HasWeu received a cordial reception
/ last night q manifestation Of her Per.
! soual popularity here. A G. Andrews
rs the deCrepit old uncle whose love FOL
! Flora leads him almost 10 the sacrifice
OF his fortune and his family. gave az
admirable performance, and Harr3
( BuTkhardt presented a clear cut char
I qcterfzatiou as KouSki servant 10 Mas
/ Gnet. FIora's lover. q Harry Barfoot
who was for so many years associated
/ with F 8 Willard, Joseph WheeloCk
ST. and Russell CraufuTd filled minOl
I roles exceptionally we'll