The Washington herald., 1909-06-15
LAST NIGHT AT
THE THEATERS
THE BELAsCo.
"succeSs.1

which was produced at the Belasco Thea
ter last night Notwithstanding the fact
that the evening was sultry, there was
large audience present. and one which
was composed Of many of those proml-
nent in the oficial and social life OF the
Capital.
Throughout the evening there was plen-
I ty Of applause for both the play and
the actors, and, at the end OF the second
act. there were also calls for Mr.. Glib
son, who came forward and expressed
/ his thanks. very graciously aclInowledg-
ing also the help that he had received
| from the various members OF the COM
pany and from Mr.. Harry s. Hadheld.
who assisted in the production.
/ Success" Is q play the beginning OF
whose action is in the southland-Hamp-
ton, Va, where the first curtain intro
duces the home OF Douglas Thompson.
Thompson. financially embarrassed. has
leased his ancestral estate TO Frederick
| Winthrop, a New York broker, who Is
entertaining a house party from the
/ North Both Thompson and Winthrop
! become suitors for the hand Of Allne
Anderson. the daughter OF a New York
social leader. with more position than
money. Naturally. the rich Winthrop
/ Is the favOrite with the match making
mamma, but equally natural is the at
/ traction which the poor young Southerner
has for the daughter.
Winthrop, who is a thorough-going VII
lain OF the good old-fashioned type, is
after some valuable coal lands, the prop
erty ef one Dave Denny, for whom
Thompson is sort Of guardian and trus-
tee. Thompson apparently possesses but
little business acumen, but his love for
AIne and the realization that the lack
OF money stands between him and his
love. aWakens him 10 his opportu-
mites and starts for New York himself. 10
'~egotiate the coal lands and form CON-
Ithrop, however, manages 70
iscover Thompson IN a COM
situation with Helen Johnson.
'eetheart. and Aline loses her
r Southern lover II is Win
ever. who lures Helen away
m home and takes her 10 New
him.
C nd act serves 70 further de-
machinaUons OF Winthrop.
arried 20 Helen. he openly
10 Aline. trading upon his
gin over the impoverished Mrs.
In this game he seeks the aid
1 heavily involved in the short
NAL ket and endangered by the
II Wall street OF Douglas
become a financial power.
Dr y eeking his lost Helen. Is in
r winthrop that Thompson is
Ie no has injured him. but IN
lax 70 this act Thompson al
aes Winthrop. and declares that
In Aline. and. moreover. VIII
Winthrop on the stock market.
e straightens out the tangle
has made his fortune and wins
making good his boast 20 make
out OF himself. The fall OF the
Illnesses the confusion OF Win
! one gets a picture OF Thomp-
Aiine looking forward 70 their
lome" 70 Virginia to live happy
rWard-
)son IN his play has made no at
avoi6 the conventional, nor has
rtaken the creation OF any IN
bizarre characters. His story Is
ith frankness. and IS inno-
epigTams or suggestiveness
le play Is absolutely clean IS a
point in its favor. but IN the tell
IL there are some disappointing
$ There is an incompIeteress, or
ness. about the first act, with the
ters suddenly coming on and OF.
euotes indecisive action There IS
ency TO conhne the dialogue TO two
5 only. so that the people are con-
y conversinF IN pairs. Thus some
ne real incidents. which might prove
eater dramatic value II worked out
)st in a plethora Of small talk and
lonplaces. Then the vital situations
times dismissed with a few sentences,
ugh the idea is al no time inadequate
lggested- With the Introduction or a
more dialogue Of the crisp. direct
so necessary IN unfolding the plot
play. Success can be whipped into
rama that Will stand very favorable
q lparison with some OF the professional
Us we have recently had the Oppor-
lity Of viewing AS II Is. Il Is decidedly
terjaining.
The company which Mr.. Gibson brought
down from New York especially for this
production is headed BY Alphonz Either
and Laura Burt. Mr.. Either as Douglas
Thompson, the patriotic and typical
young Virginian. was delightful He
played in a subdued key. with a gentle
Ipersussiveness that was very winning.
His accent was well carried, and he con
Quoted himself altogether as the type he
was pOrtraying naturally would. His
only outburst al the end Of the second
act, was the righteous indignation OF the
patient man. OF whose fury we are pro-
verbally warned to beware Miss Burt
as Aline Anderson, the heroine, was
cheerful OF fearful, by turns. according
TO the state CT the barometer OF her love
affair.
A note OF naturainess was furnished
by the money-loving Mrs. Anderson,
played by Miss Belle BOhn, and Mr.. Fred
erick Powell was good as the worldly
parson. DT. Snicker.
Mr.. II. s NOrthrup, who appeared as
Frederick Winthrop, is evidently unac-
customed to playing villains, for he made
this villain more unnatural than even the
average one OF melodrama. with fire.
Quent snarling asides, deep ha! has.
and innumerable cigarettes. One has
only 10 recall certain admirable portraits
which Mr.. NOrthrup has furnished our
self justice.
Ethel Grey Terry, as Helen Johnson.
Carl Gerard, as William Parr. and Mer-
eta Esmond. as Mrs. Parr, rounded out
the cast
Success" Is handsomely staged. the
opening picture Of the Thompson home
stead. amid the Virginia forests. being
especially notable. The one interior.
which suflced for the remaining two acts.
was tastefully arranged
THE NATIONAL.
"It Happened In NordIRnd..