The Washington times., 1909-05-18
The Witching Hour" Gets
Royal Reception Upon
Its Return.
Same Capable Presentation
Marks the Second Engage
ment in Washington.

That there were many people IN
Washington who would appreciate a
| return engagement of "The witching
Hour was amply attested by the audi
ence at the Belasco Theater last evening
when this remarkable play OF Augustus
Thomas was again produced by John
Mason and the excellent company that
appeared with him here few weeks
ago.
BY the premise OF thought as dy-
mamie, out of which he creates dra-
matte force, MIR. Thomas has aroused
an interest and discussion that are
given 10 10 ordinary plays. And by a
wonderfully strong and truthful char
acterization, with a crucial human
struggle, he has made a drama that
reaches deeply into the human heart.
That it is a play to interest not only
once but a second time. there were not
few faces in the large audience last
night 10 show.
Three big stories go to make UP this
play. ony one OF which might stand by
itself. Indeed, one almost wonders
Where the author is leading him, until
he comes upon the disaster that befeil
Clay Whipple. But thenceforve ard
Justice Prentice brings into the action
the force for which he stands-telep-
athy.
Through Jack Brookfield, the gambler.
by the influence of mind upon mind,
reaching the. very jurors. the boy is
acquitted BY the same means his per-
secutor is disarmed and defeated Then
by his realization of his powers, Brook
fields own moral fight is won.
1t is an unusual and masterfui ar
rangement of plot and a powerful and
significant resolution And it is espe-
cially great achievement in its sue
cessful use of a purely intellectual
motive in action so intrinsically ap-
pealing to the purely emotioaal side of
human nature. The love OF CLAY and
Viola, like many a pretty story, but
fresh and new with the lovers own
youthfulness; the sweet sentiment of
the justice-"the delicate odor of mi
mountaineering daintily from an
old romance. but powerful enough to
affect even a judicial decree; and the
love OF Jack Brookheld and Helen
Whipple, in its mature truth and
reality, and sweet seriousness: these,
with the pitiful agony of the mother
surely the emotional appeal is full
But after all, the intent of the play
is the thought with which Brookfeld
explains his course toward Hardmuth
his own responsibility for the other
mans crime because of his prior
guilty thought. The theory the play
projects, which to many minds is much
more than a theory, imposes the duty
of pure, right thinking by the ire
mendous posi- bilities it contains Few
stories of purpose, however. have been
told with less didacticism than IS The
Witching Hour
The cast is unchanged since the pre-
vious performance in Washington, and
10 see the play again is again to feel
the delight in the perfect sureness, not
only of Mr. Mason, bI.c of all the prin-
cipals, The sweet and gracious woman
illness and the thorough naturalness of
Miss Gardner In her trying role as Helen
Whippie were again most satisfactory,
and no less a perfection than ever was
Mr.. Whytal as the Justice. a part that
would seem almost unique in its de-
mands. The impersonation Of Hard
muth. the INSCRIPTIONS attorney, in the
hands of Mr. Nash. is also a remark
ably sincere and forceful piece of work
Mr.. Gaston's comedy in his part o.
Lew Elltnger, is an unfailing enjoyment.
and this, with the excellent BIT of Mr.
Jackson as the reporter. were warmly
appreciated. Each part In the play was
individualiZed and clear, but of the re-
mainder Miss Hay and Mr. Balsar. as
Viola and Clay. were particularly earn
est and good.