The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-02-21
MISS MARIE D. RO
RADIATES CHEER
"The Richest Girl Sheds
Sunshine of Genuine
HumOr.
HEARTY PRAISE
FOR FAVERSHAM
New Play Presented by Miss Cros-
man Dangerously Thin-COm-
ing Attractions.
By ALLEN D. ALBERT, Jr.

BY ALLEN D. ALBERT, JT.
a rare kind OF amusement was offered
at the National this past week. Little
Marie Doro in The Richest Girl" is
brightener OF life. Not in the manner
OF Bottom or Lew DOckstadeT OF kaJh-
crime or Cyprienne, but rather in the
manner of an American ROSalind ia an
automobile.
James Whitcomb Riley suggests in
his lectures that Americans emphasize
wit at the expense OF humOr. The one,
as Thackeray put it, is a flash of lightn-
ing; the other a glow of sunshine
Now sunshine is not thick. 1t has
not even tangible substance But
IL warns, ana nourishes, and cheers
without mental effort Oh the part of the
beneficiary-very much as does Mr..
FIOhman's youngest star in her new
car. Mr.. Riley is right. 1t would do
the world more good TO see The Rich
est Girl" ,fairy-tale as it is, than TO
see a dozen Of Arms and the Man
How naturally the automobile has
slipped into its place on the stage. One
yeAr we have musical comedy called
The Vanderbilt Cup" Another We have
Mr. Shaws Man and Superman' with
an automobile taking. all the audience to
OsbOrne's Baby Bullet" in the form
OF comedy and taken it with little
squirms Of delight Good luck 70 the
management which turned the trick,
Likewise much thanks for proving that
the tired business man" can be light
Is and healthfuIly amused this side OF
The Queen of the Moulin Rouge"
Somewhat this same kind of humor
MI E9y-aT-G n a in Tho "a r
Der Of New Orleans" a delightful com
edy bought Of Philadelphia newspaper
man, Carpenter by name. 1t was tax
ing on motion (Which may be the
critics way of saying gong some) for
this star to undertake two new plays
on his first tour as his own manager
But the one was 10 balance the other
If FL Gran Galeoto" was too heavy
end serious then The Barber of New
Orleans" with its quaintness and sInil-
ing sentiment would balance the scale.
How has it worked out? The tragedy
has succeeded decisively and brilliantly.
The comedy is on the shelf
No wonder as to the first play, Ny
Nirdlinger had excellent material in
Echegeray's poetic drama. 1t had stood
the test Of a dozen seasons in Europe
wrought figures Of speech. At the HANDS
OF this capable young American it has
been condensed into terse, tight, driv-
ing action. Most Of all, it is beautiful
y acted.
Mr.. Winter came out with the truth
when he saw 1.-THE World and His
Wife" in New York and had time TO
think about II. "Mr. Faversham,"
wrote the dean, ais easily the most in
terestng actor now visible in New
York" Mr.. Sothern and Mr.. Forbes
Robertson were not then visible" the
rating above Mr.. Warfeld Of a man
who is far more than d character actor
is easy to understand in Mr.. Winter,
and Mr.. Faversham has IN fact earned
high place on the English-speaking
stage.
All the managers in the world to the
contrary, he is an excellent character
actor. Not in roles like The Music
Master" perhaps, but, nevertheless
with hardly less fidelity and effect, for
this earnest and ambitious artist has
drawn human nature so delicately and
withal so impressively that no one VINO
has seen his Sir Bryce Skene in "The
Masqueraders,' or his young lieutenant
in Brother Officers" will fan TO rank
him among the most effective Of ouI
students Of acting.
Beyond this, he is an excellent light
comedian, an adept at that most diff
cult task-the representation Of stra fght-
forward, earnest Uaenlbroidered charac-
tiers and an actor Of much tragic power
Miss CrOsnan. at the Columbia, did
not prove 50 fortunate Her new play