Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-07

,.,t;o, NeU'' could not compel the
sensational interest that 1t might
have awakened had not the Eas'-
est WAY been ahead of it with gitmpses
81 Tho social obliouity which flourishes IN
defiance of reform in every metropoiis
In discussing the pathos of moral apah-
donment. .eThe Easiest Way" had the ad-
vantage Of a story in which suspense
nIaxed some little part. salvation Men
rrovrd to he a matter of fact description
&c conditions which must reocl any save
the student who is willing TO actively oc-
cupv himself with the solution of PROB
Icms which have baffied humanity since
men first abandoned nonadlc state.
Salvation Nell is not the KIND OF pay
i'm which an admiring public expects 10
see Mrs. Fiske. An eminent actress -
expected to associate her fame with emil
nent authorship. AS the exponent OF such
characters as Tess Becky Sharp and
the Ibsen roles. this actress has CLAIMED
an intelligent and arpreciative following
The new play is an abrupt plunge INTO
unfamiliar pathways and trustworthy as
Mrs Fiskes artistic guidance may be, the
public has hesitated about taking the step
WITH n6T. ne Teteptloi VI tiiC NJ" F'e@s
may be a disappointment to her and to
her management, but such d1sappolnt-
ments are inevitable in the career of
player whose artistic ambitions refuse to
he content with success already attained.
The pioneer is a hero; the explorer is a
parsonage to whom the world owes i'm
measurable gratitude; but the rewards are
withheld until time has elapsed and the
G
IDLY manifest Mrs. Fiske has elected to
be not only an artist but a teacher. She
is not content with expressing the phase
of theatric endeavor in which the player
figures as one who lives to please must
please to live, but presents herself as an
instructor and a censor. She brings So
ciety to the bar in merciless arraignment
and must find much of her reward in her
own consciousness of moral purpose and
artistic rectitude.
Otis Skinner is one of the great actors
who have for a time at least ceased to
trouble themselN IS with abstruse COM
pIexities in the study of human nature.
He applies his skill and thought to the
delineation of a single character. His
representation of the French soldier who
busters and who plays the game of
wits better than he fights is one of those
charming creations faithful down to the
finest detail. whose like has not been
seen since Richard Mansfield delighted
i'll making exquisite copies of strange
and fascinating types. 1t is the spirit
of Balzac that maintains the interest in
the production. The association o. Paul
in "a bor "a
~ invited confidence in the minds OF
people only casually interested in the
stage. for Mr.. Potter's most recent prom
inence in Washington was in connection
with the Queen of the Moulin Rouge
which-but let bygones be bygones, Mr.
Potter was at some pains to defend
himself as only the plotmaker for the
musical show which has aroused so much
objection and made so much money He
did not provide the musical numbers
nor superintend the stage management
Mr.. Potter did write The Conuuerors."
however, and is therefore barred from
posing as a Puritan playwright who
got lost on Broadway.
Otis Skinner is Americas most poetic
actor, with the most unpoetic name that
the play bills display. Genuine ability
will idealize any patronymic
Walker Whiteside, the young ACTOR
who has scored so wonderful a success
in The Melting Pot" was regarded as
carrying a serious handicap in so un-
wieldy name but he has lived TO make
1t stand for something far beyond it's
mere sound. And meanwhile the artis-
tic tall timber continues 10 be full of
''Percevals" and ''Montmorencies
But when 1t comes to substantial sue
cess with the laugh on the lips, the tear
IN the eye and, incidentally, the dollar in
the box office, the Home and Mother
drama again has the best of the situation
For THE Chorus Lady despite its joy
Gus title, has the ring of true home love
in 1t. 1t has note of simple human hon
esty that rings true, and Rose Stahl can
90 on playing it until she becomes a very
rich old lady. unless the artistic unrest
lakes hold of her. Miss Stahl is one of
the most remarkable actresses on the
stage. Few people take the trouble TO re-
call anything more than that The Chorus
Lady is an evolution from a vaudeville
sketch. As a matter of fact, 1t Is the
condensation of experience which Miss
Stah1 had prior to her vaudeville success
IS an actress in stock companies. and as
stellar exponent of such roles as Janice
Meredith and Madame Sans Gene. James
Forbes one-act play focused the expert
cnce she had In other roles on the char
acter of the Chorus Lady and the part
proved as attractive in three-act drama
as In the sketch. The Chorus Lady
will soon forsake her native shores for
London. In the vaudeville version Miss
Stahl had great success in England, and
there IL no reason TO doubt that the
history OF this simple but celebrated play
will repeat Itself abroad.
PHILANDER JOHNSON .
THE AUTHOR OF LADY FREDER-
lCk."-"Lady Frederick the new COM
edy in three acts, in which Charles Froh-
will present Miss Ethel Barrymore