The Washington times., 1909-11-23
NORTHWEST FINDS
A PLACE ON STAGE
The Barrier" Proves a
Find for Lovers of
MelOdrama.

Never in its widest DAYS was the
great Northwest wilder or NooHer than
in the stage picture presented by 1.-THE
Barrier' at the Columbia last night
Those who confess to an occasional
weakness for meiodrama found almost
a superiority Of thrills in the stirring
oramstization OF Rex BeaCh's story
More than once during the play. Alas
ka was referred to as the Land Of Great
Silence, and Il must be confessed that
this appeared something of q m5snonler.
so frequently was the silence punctuatr3
BY pistol pops and disturbed by sounds
Of combat. No mild imitatiou of jue
real article is THE Barrier. no Kid
glove teuderfoOt mars the atmosphere
of reality with a small 30" that be
does not know how TO handle When
tie time for gunDlav arrived. the gun
was flashed and the shot fred with all
tie speed and dexterity that an old
time gun fighter would display.
Two things saved the production from
a rating among ordinary meIodramas.
one of these was the clever vav
in which the lines were written. each
situation being carefully led uD to
and clearly drawn ont. The other was
the excellent work of Theodore Roberts
and his supporting cast. But slightly. If
any overdrawn. was their portrayal of
crude Western characters. a. we of the
East have learned 20 know them a Z least,
and in scarcely an instance was there a
lapse worthy OF more than a passing
criticism.
The plot in reality covers but a brief
week Of time but the audience was car
ried back a period of twenty years or so
ii, order to understand all of tie hap
penings Of this week.
Scenes in Alaska.
The scenes are laid in Alaska during
the days Of the gold fever and the at
niospEe-e of the rough mining camp is
wildly felt. The play opens shortly az
ter the arrival of the troops. command
Cd by a Young Captain BurreU. a gallant
Young KcnuUckiar. The plot Is woven
about the love affairs Of this young Of
hcer and Necia, supposed TO be the
daughter Of John Gale a squaw man.
Then enters the villain. Dan Stark. and
eCtivities begin.
a more charming villain than w &
Hart made would be hard TO find.
Quick on the trigger. a known killer. "
ne was so debonaire withal and such an
uhrepentant sort OF a chap, that none
OF the gallery Kisses. the ordinary viz
lain's applause, was forthcoming for
him Not unknown to Washington. he
last night found new place in favor
and made a better impression than ON
former visits In widely different role
AS Necia. Florence Rockwell, best
known here as Echo in the s-Tbe
Roundup had role that needed
careful handling 10 make il acceDtab bic
supposed 10 be the daughter Of the
Squaw Nan, Breed" but having
al OF the feelings and instincts of a
white, she was called upon for a deli
cate shading in her work that made
u most difficult. Her real birth, accord
ing 70 HE playwright. was supposed
20 predomiuate and TO make this clear
70 the audience. she was forced almost
into incongruities. Just how d girl
reared as she was beyond the outskirts
or civilization, with the most meagel
or Quotations, could feel a heredit,
strain strongly enough 10 make fl pos
sible for her 10 dress, talk, and Zee
Ike a girl of the States, is strOng
strain upon the imagination. but Mis-.
Rockwell made IL possible and her cap
tain lover seemed almost dense for no
guessing the secret Of her birth anl
finding that no barrier existed.
Roberts Makes Good.
Theodore Roberts wa given every. Cd
portunlty for good work and in IN,
main took advantage Of Il, Early Fl
the play. his presentation Of the par
was unsatisfactory, owing largely q
the fact that TO many Of his nearer
the characteristics of a squaw man ar
net well known. The weakness an,
vacillations Of a man who for eighteen
years had been a fugitive from justic
and living with an Indian squaw wer
not fully appreciated until the plot wa
fully unfOided.
In the last act, when he went TO tn
barracks and confessed that he wa
wanted, he rose to the emergency an
filed the picture OF a great, rough I'm
cOuth man, dnally driven 10 bay an
willing 10 end the life Of a hunted ami
NAL
The other characters were in capabl
hands and there were no gaps iu tn
cast so frequent in a play Ike 9TH
Barrier"
As steady diet. Tho Barrier j
hardly to be recommended. but one VII
likes an occasional stimulant, viii fin
q dose of 10 very acceptable. a bi
of humor now and then and realisti
stage settings 90 far toward making
q success