The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-04-11
CAPITAL REJOICES
IN MENU FOR WEEK
Past Seven Days Furnish
Rare Diet For the The
atergoerS.
EDESON REFLECTS
THE BIG STICK"
Lacks Versatility, For Which Ad-
mirable Directness Hardly
Atones.
BY ALLEN D. ALBERT, II.

many an ACTOR OF less C6paDllty IMAM
Robert Edeson, in a play less interest
ing than THE Call of the North,'' has
been the focus of our thought here in
the Capital In this instance player and
drama suffered eclipse by a composition
which Mr.. Winter has termed 1.-The
most interesting play in years. and
new comedy which many audiences are
certain to term one Of the most pleas
Ing entertainments In years.
Mr.. Edeson is an actor of directness.
His music, so to speak, is written In
octaves for the right hand. Four
speeches out of five are delivered with
an intrepid look into the other fellows
eye. The voice is held at the pitch OF
challenge More than any other inter-
prefer of any class who comes to mind.
this actor reflects unwavering stalwart-
ness, earnestness. declarativeness.
These are traits IL is hard to dis
approve. They are so admirable in life
that adverse comment upon them In art
is likely to be misread. But they do not
constitute acting. Acting is a reflection
of all characters, all moods, all man
ners. No actor can become a mirror of
humanity who makes all humanity as
straight over the plate as that unit Of
humanity ycleped Robert Edeson. Some
of us. possibly not less honest, are not
so abrupt Some of us are by nature
diplomatic. Some OF US are weak and
hesitant. Some of us are even dig
semblers and towards and cheats. Ana
If Mr.. Edeson has never acted any but
choppy manners II is also true that he
has never acted any character without
opportunity for Shedding. The symbol OF
acting is not the big stick; 1t is the light
sock OF the dancing comedian and the
buskii of the formal tragedian.
Contrast To Edeson.
A marked contrast TO Mr. Blossoms
method is that on view this past week
at the Columbus Thomas w Ross is
an actor Of humOrs. He knows his
types. does Ross. He keeps his eye on
men, not on self. In any given situa-
ton he asks himself not What would
I do here?" or What would David Gar
rick 90 here?" but What would Check
ers' do here, or Nathaniel Duncan?''
The result is a delicious quality OF
comedy which II would be hard TO over
praise. Some viii think it mere person.
Atty. "Oh. Ross is always the same"
they will say. But they Will not see.
If u they say that. how different
Teller" how finely Ross has drawn the
distinctions. how delicately ana yet
strongly he has reproduced his model.
The Fortune Hunter was to a GER
tain theatergoer one of the greatest
pleasures of the season. Through three
happy. laughable. brightly colored
studies Of life In our American small
this theatergoer sat in solid content
ment. Then II was spOiled-and not.
apparently, by Mr.. Ross The spoiler
was Mr.. Winchell Smith, the author.
In the spelling was a burlesquing Of
q theme rich enough I'm comedy and too
rich in appeal TO the heart to be treated
as page IN a comic weekly. The best
comedy is that produced by the asso-
citation on the stage Of characters who
would make laughter II they came to-
gether IN real life. That Is the achieve
ment Of Mr.. Winchell Smith In THE
Fortune Hunter'-up to "A certain point.
Then the effect is that he requires Of
all this company putting on OF eX-
aggerations- The Uowel is not exactly
visible. But its E.4rk3 are plain and
the edge is taken from as fine q comedy
as has been acted in Washington IN
years.
Little Miss Ryan. of this company.
was greeted enthusiastically by the
score Of leading actors in the audience
OF Thursday afternoon. Why2 Her
acting In The Fortune Hunter" was
the answer. Like Mr.. Ross. her mani
young miss OF that WOrn-in-the-heel
drug store way up IN Radville, not 10
act Lolita or Mrs. Fiske or Mrs. Pat
rick Campbell. This effort. expressed
by a personality keenly alive and pleas
inEly comely. produced fine result
a result which made the judicioUs
grieve all the more that the refinement
must be taken from II. too, by the
grindstone or the bludgeon Of bur
iesque-
Defends "The Witching Hour"
And now for last chance. though a
little one. at THE Witching Hour"
Was II good drama? Were the credull-
ties too far stretched Were there false
notes in the half-mourniug and fun
mourning of Helen? Would any Jury.
least OF all. In Kentucky. find a verdict
of murder In the first degree when the
crime was unprecedented?
The reply might be that none OF these
things matters In the least. The two
important things were. first. the Great
ing OF so many interesting types Of
human character In channel of events
in themselves so interesting and, sec
ond. the use Of the drama 70 project
the telepathic hypothesis.
But Il is fair 20 say that the Jury
might have been infamed by a corrupt
prosecuting attorney. that the law pre-
sumes intent II the slayer deliberately
takes up. holds and uses a weapon.
that there would seem TO be motive in
Ciay's clearly described resentment OF
the drunFeu mans conduct at fNe Dill
lard table Also that Mrs. Whipple
may have chosen her costume fO4 her
visit 10 Justice Prenfiss' library for ef-
feet upon the synpathies OF so kind a
man. Also that II Mr.. Thomas premise
OF the communication Of thor b. with
oIt reccUrce 20 the senses of hearing or
sight can be granted. then the episode
Of The pis-Cl must be accepted as en-
tirely within bounds.
Fear Anti-CIimax
intelligent men and women in the
audience Of Monday night feared anti
climax after they had seen the s=st
three acts Yet, as one OF them after
ward wrote:
In an ordinary play there would be
very little left for another act In Mr.
Thomas play. however. there is q great
deai-in one sense everything. Ia Jack
Brookfield's individual history is The
true crux OF the action. which all this
intensity OF dra matte and meloirs mat c
effect has led us 20 neglect somewhat"
From this same source comes me
thought with which this later COM
ment must close. q thought reproduced