Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-17
A M U S E M E Mt
Columbia.

The Columbia Players gave a very
creditabie presentation of Edward e. Kid
der's touching comedy drama. "A Poor
Relation" at the Columbia Theater last
night. and from the beginning to the end
Frederick A. Thompson had the full
sympathy of his audience in his portrayal
or the pathetic role of Noah Vale
The part Is one that was written especi-
ally for the late Sol Smith Russell and
1t was written with especial reference
10 his personality and peculiar line of
dramatic talent For this reason few if
any. have attempted it since his death
Indeed. few would have had the nerve
10 attempt it i'm the light of its traditions.
Tor 1t was this one particular role per-
maps, more than any other he ever
portrayed which made the great PLAYER
famous and linked him in a heart interest
to his audiences throughout the land
Naturally. any one who should undertake
II must be placed in direct juxtapostion
TO MIN, with the result that his good
work would be apt to be overlooked
while where he fell short would ever be
a theme of apprehension. because folks
VIII forget the faults of their favorites
but they will never forgive others who
may gar the memory of their virtues:
Frederick A. Thompson as Noah Vale
gave strong, consistent. faithful i'm
personatlon of the unfortunate inventor
and there were times in his performance
when the touches of pathos came like a
rehectlon from the dead master of human
sympathy. and one could almost imagine
Sol Smith Russell had returned to his
own.
The audience knew and felt it, and its
response with tears and with. applause
was ample evidence of its complete salts
faction. After the second act Mr. Thomp-
son was repeatedly called before the
curtain. and his little speech Of acknowl-
edgment, so modest and SO grateful
how IN Foy- hi
as completely as did anything else The
same experience came very near being
repeated at. the close of the performa nee
when the curtain had to be raised sew
eral times in response to the demands of
the audience.
Now that Mr.. Thompson himself knows
his powers and he has been freed from
the nervousness that necessarily must
have embarrassed him. he is going to
do some very fine acting this week. and
establish beyond question that Manager
Berger did not make mistake in select
ing him for the Noah Vale of the future
The cast as whole was excellent. The
'Scollops' of Edith Luckett revealed pos
her most sanguine friends did not sus-
pect and stamp her as a very clever
actress. Violette KimbaIl also gave a
satisfactory rendition of the part of
and mother to Dolly Faye. fresh from
school, who was delightfully."- impersonat-
ed by Louise Reed.
Easily sharing the honors with Mr.
Thompson came the clever little Helen
Brown. in the part of Patch" with
Tommy Wilson, another bright little
juvenile. a close second, as RIP" Both
James A. Bliss and Robert Cain, the
partners to whom the weak. starving,
pitiful poverty of Noah Vale looked for
an open sesame to good dinners. silks
and satins and velvets and horses and
carriages. and what not performed their
parts in the play with discretion, ability
and satisfactory effect.
Everett Butterfeld. whose entrance
was greeted with much applause. the re-
served enthusiasm at his performance of
"Charley's Aunt last week. had but lit
tie to do. and yet did it very well. So.
too. with z. ]. Bradford. as the land
lord and James W. Shaw, as OHaley
the janitor, the latter especially, who
gave another fine character impersona-
ton. Ruth D. Blake had the rather linn
tied role of Alice Warmer, the fOrSaken.
and made the most of 1t as she always
does of any part in which she may be
cast
"a Poor Relation" is so we'll known
that recital of the story seems hardly
necessary. II deals with a great soul,
whose depths of poverty incline his heart
in fatherly way to two little children
who have been forSaken by their father
and to their poor mother whose poverty
and ill-health make it impossible for her
to care for her babes The discovery of
great invention, which shall bring
wealth and happiness to them ALL the
theft of the plans by the rascally father
of the children and their ultimate resto-
ration by the forsaken mother are the
chief elements of the plot. 1t is a drama
Of pathos, alternately rejecting tears and
smiles. and with a vein of pretty light
comedy continuously running through
out.
The production is another honor to the
players who did it so well.