Evening star., 1909-04-11


fool could find material for rapt contem-
pation in 1.-The Witchins Hour The
play in way exempliies it's own teach
ngs The superiority of mind over mat
er is demonstrated by the vitalizng in
1uence which brilliancy of authorship and
performance exercises on a heterogene-
ous collection Of theories. No attempt
: made to appeal to the reason. Sheer
emphasis of assertion is relied on by the
author in ex,,ounding his doctrines as he
5rifts from telepathy to hypnotism and
% clairvoyance. with an occasional pause
sor breath at heredity and emotional in
sanity Only the finest artistry could sus-
ain unwavering interest in tissue of
Inconsistencies which starts with the en-
-ertainment by chivalrous Louisville
nan of his feminine relatives In his gam
oling establishment and leads to the en-
cagement of a young woman to a youth
whose homicidal insanity makes him even
ess desirable than the crooked district
attorney whose attentions are scornfully
rejected. Yet all the incongruities are
seemingly reconciled so deftly and with
such positiveness of expression that for
.he purposes of the evening they do not
,ount.
The only fault TO be found is with the
unqualified directness employed by the
:ather reckless literary bureau for the
play. 1t puts Mr.. Thomas on record as
PERSONAL advocate of all the ideas he en-
oloys dramatic material. The super
aatural in playmaking has been counte-
,anced by the earliest as well as the most
eminent authorities Indeed, the drama
inds its first expression in ceremonials
concerning things more than mortal. Its
'etiection of the events CT ordinary human
ife is. comparatively speaking, a modern
development. Mr.. Thomas has occupied
himself SO successfully in weaving plots
ii which delicacy of sentiment are COM
oined with vigorous action that there can
be no possible disposition to limit him in
.he selection of themes. Jack Brookfleld
s quite as surely entitled to his psychic
phenomena as Macbeth to his weird SIS
.ers. or Hamlet to his fathers ghost. But
when it comes to offering The Witching
Hour as the basis of an argument 1t is
100 scattering. 1t offers In a single cap
sule materials SO diverse and SO uncertain
that they bewilder the intellectual sys-
tenn. Any one of the subjects he treats
Of would require more than the demon
stration possible in single evenings
After all, it is on the long arm of CO.
Incidence that Mr.. Thomas is finally COM
pelled TO lean. The scene in which the
aged Justice Pren.iss finds himself con-
tronted with letter written by the wom-
he had loved in his youth Is one of
exquisite poetic charm. 1t is the founda-
ton of literary quality which forms the
basis of the entire structure.
And the character drawings are those
OF the sympathetic student OF the world
and Its people that Mr.. Thomas has often
shown himself to be. Only a company OF
such general excellence and such special
fitness for the various roles could keep in
terest in the men and women of the story
from being submerged in tine skepticism
which melodramatic artifice invites Mr.
John Mason finds a role that is eminently
adapted TO his quietly lorceful delivery
and Russ Whytal as the aged justice
lends a dignity to the cast as essential as
il is agreeable.
Particular interest attached to the ap-
pearance of Miss Jewell Hay OF this city
Miss Hay is the daughter Of the late Col.
l. Il, Hay, whose generous and kindly
participation in all that tended to make
the everyday world brighter and better
causes him 10 be recalled with universal
affe ection. Miss Hays case is one Of the
happy instances in which we'll wishing Is
not disappointed. Her performance OF the
role OF Viola, Brookfields niece, marks a
Judicious beginning in a profession which
Miss Hay has adopted seriously and for
which she has exceptional native gifts. In
addition to highly attractive personality
she has the indetnable quality OF poise
which compels interest and rewards at
tention.
THE Fortune Hunter is long. honest
laugh. II brings Thomas w. koss into
las own as one of the most capable
Juvenile comedians Of the current stage
He has opportunities not only for the
display of irth-provoking powers, but
of talents for character delineation and
even OF sentimental appeal. Mr.. Ross is
the more agreeable because he does not
force his laugh He let's the lines take
care of themselves. And excellent lines
the author. Winchell Smith, has provided.
bubbling over with simple, unaffected
American humor. 1t Is fun without
buffoonery and satire without a sneer; a
work of unprete n;ious purpose. but witn-
in its limitations complete down 10 the
uttermost detail. in acting we'll as in
composition.
Mr.. Robert Edeson has a melodrama
with many strong qualities in The Call
of the Nor,h.'' His own work presents
the attraction always to be found in his
delineations Of robust manly types. He
Is handicapped by lack of strength in his
supporting company. where strength is
most essential.
be consistent unto the eNa in its record
ior new productions. Even the custom
of turning over the theaters to greater
or less extent at this time of year to
local organizations does not call halt
on the first-on-any-stage professional
presentations. 1t has been a season with
its share of disappointments, but these
have been overbalanced by the develop
ment OF distinguished excellence in sew
eral instances
PHILANDER JOHNSON.
SUMMER OPERA FOR WASHING
TON.-Along with other signs that
spring is here" comes the announcement
of the annual return OF the Aborn Opera
Company to Washington. The musical
offerings of Milton and Sargent Aborn
have become factor of prime importance
In the warm weather amusemenfS OF this