Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-21
by W. HERBERT BLAKE

A drama reviewer of good intentions
would have more chance to crit!cise
the current production Of THE College
Widow" at the Belasco theater IL he
could keep decent control OF his grins,
visible and audible. AS things went
last night one came to carp and re-
mained to chortle. 1t was Mr. AIDES
fault in the major premises, with a fair
share of the culpability resting on the
shoulders of the reinforced stock COM
pany which is conjuring up walking
and talking memories of campus days
in the most popular play from the
workshop of Americas most famous
collegian.
One enters the Belasco with the most
relentless disposition in the history Of
critical crime, only to feel ones analy-
tic propensities oozing away in the
abandon OF the first student rush on
registration day. Out of that melee one
emerges with spirits dampened a bit,
but still eager for blood. Then comes
the football game, and one hasn't the
time to corral the transgressors. And
next minute the widow and Billy
Bolton have settled ii on the hotel
porch, and you wonder how it happens
to be half past TO-
In the intervals Of enjoyment last
night / managed to make a few mental
they are few proves the we'll rounded
maturity of the production, in which
very nearly every player subordinates
himself faithfully to the general effect,
and throughout which the dominating
excellence of David NJ. Hartford's S stage
management rivets the admiration.
Miss Helen Holmes has slipped into
the place Of Belasco leading woman so
modestly that she hardly seems new
conner, but rather an old friend. With
her sweet voice and quietly sincere,
womanly method of impersonation, she
takes her audiences, never by storm,
but often as an assured matter Of
course. She lent fine ideal quality to
the "widow'-made the czarina of the
campus very like the women charac-
ters whom Booth Harrington draws for
the heroines of his novels-suave, sim
pie, unaffected, lovable, profoundly
American. She was never more at
tractive than in those brief moments
when she piloted Bub Hicks, callow,
gaping freshman, through the agony Of
the first moments at his initial society
function. Jane WithersIeOn was as
thoughtful a woman as Miss Holmes
seems an actress, and that explains
much as to both. In her love scene
with Billy Bolton she was natural and
refreshing. There was q nervousness
observable in her work in the first act,
but she shrewdly blended this with the
characteristics of the role, till in the
end 1t aided rather than marred the
impersonation. One little touch of va
riety in the last act is noteworthy
the carefully artificial way in which
she met the aVowals of Bottoms love.
II was the woman acting, not the act
ress. 1t was subtle, well wrought out
portrayal In a bigger emotianal role L
believe we may confidently expect not
able achievements from Miss Holmes.
Perfect mastery spells the secret of
Richard Bennett's success in such light
weight parts as those he has played IN
recent weeks. "The College Widow
gives him not half enough to do, and
the only observation pertinent to his
work In that little Is that he is watch
full and alert. Next week, in Pierre, we
shall have an opportunity of appraising
his art in a fitting environment-the
first since his local engagement.
Mr. Morrison retained far too much
of Lyon Hart in both makeup and
manners as the college president. his
attire was dlsproportionately slovenly
for the figurehead of even fresh water
school. He lacked woefully in dignity
also. Neither disheveled hair nor
rufhed shirt front was particularly al
fected by the "Prexies" I remember.
And | am sure Peter Witherspoon oc-
casionally pressed his trousers.
Sheldon Lewis, the company's new
"second man." gave the best rounded
inlpersonation oftthe evening. He was
the blunt financier to the life, and
spoke his lines with good emphasis and
enunciation Mr., Hartford contrived
to give that impression of india rubber
waist and stentorian tirelessness which
every football trainer inherits as an
lnalienable tradition. Mr.. Applebee
should take pains to differentiate his
facial makeup from those of former
roles Elan Hicks is something like
the old postmaster in "Shore Acres"
hut hardly his twin brother in feature
and mannerisms. His intoxication
scene was good. There was just the
hint of the mans being fresh" with
out being full" as Elinor Glyn dis
tineuishes the two stages in Elizabeth
Visits America" Shaky as he was, the
old politician was quite articulate.
Richard Vivian played hard and fast
and well as the coach, and made a
swift. sincere impression in that brief
triangular interview with Bolton and
lane in the last act. Charlie Murray is
the kind of freshman you want to kick,
and blossoms into the kind who needs
II. He is doing well in his new sur
roundings. Howard Scotts i:si2ersona-