Evening star., 1909-07-13
A N U S E N E N rs.
Columbia.

splendid play beautifully acted is a
strong temptation to rush to the superla-
tive. and that is precisely the case with
II. v. Esmonds when We Were Twen-
ty-one" as presented by the Columbia
Players at the Columbia Theater last
night Nothing that has previously been
presented by the players during their
summer engagement really compares
with last nights performance, although
IL Is well known and generally acknowl-
edged that the character and quality Of
the Columbia offerings during the present
summer season have been such as to
make 1t memorable for years to come.
The play is thoroughly meritorious as
we'll as an idyllically beautiful one. 1t
wholesome throughout. even when the
necessities of the plot require the up
lifting of the veil. 1t teaches in a touch
ing manner several lessons that are
wholesome. The smitten Imp. plunging
to his own destruction, repulsng those
whom he knows to be his best friends,
listening to no one. but rushing headlong
to his own undoing through boyish in
fatuaton for The Firefy," a female
parasite from whom his older friends
under the circumstances. 1t was well
played by Everett Butterfeld. and as
presented in this play is a good charac
ter for young men to get well acquainted
WIFI. SlT horace flumeiy, Bart, COM
monty called 'Waddles'': Col. Miles Gra-
hame. the soldier man. and Terence Nc
Grath, the doctor. that faithful but mis-
guided trinity" as they called them
selves, who constitute themselves assist
ant foster fathers and try to regulate the
young Imp by precept and their own
experience. are typical old folks. well in
tentioned. but inadequate to steer foolish
young folks clear of an experience they
will insist upon having.
The parts were ably filled by Alexander
F. Frank. Charles Lane and Laurence
Eyre. They represent three different
temperaments, and they do it well. The
honors of the play, however, clearly and
Enthusiastically fall to Orme Caldara. as
Richard Carewe. the faithful. devoted
foster-father of the Imp, and Julia Dean,
the Imp's discarded fiancee, who strug
giles throughout as best she knows how
to make known her love for Carewe and
that she does not want to marry the
Imp. Miss Deans portrayal of the young
girls role was charming and effective,
perhaps at times just a triie bold, but
never otherwise than thoroughly and
beautifully attractive. Just bit of coy
ness might have helped. but who can
say? Mr.. Caldara's work as Richard
Carewe was of the finest order, as strong
and manly in the earlier incidents Of the
play as it was impressive and affecting
in the pathetic scenes: ard when Carewe
first saw the light of pure love breaking
in upon his life it was DELICIOUS
Ruth Blake's Firefy was the best piece
of work she has done this season, and
she has done some very good work in
other plays: Alexander Calvert's brief
character sketch as David Hirsch was
fully in keeping with the artistic por-
trayals which are never expected of him
in vain. Clara Sidney made a lovabe
old lady as Mrs. Ericsson. The minor
characters were all well presented. al
though they were many and varying in
kind. when We Were Twenty-one' as
presented by the Columbia Players this
week is as artistically beautiful as it is
impressive, and the ovation ac-
corded it. and especially Miss Dean and
Mr.. Caldara, was thoroughly well de-
The play will fill the Columbia
Theater this week, no matter what the
weather may be.