The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
u = Il - 60

SPECIAL Ce-7esondsacs he washington Herald
New York. Jan. 90.-New York is truly /
8 city OF cosmopolitan tastes-or. let Us
say. our general civilization is OF the |
most cosmopolitan eharactsr-as concerns
the drama. Englishmen say We are far
more tolerant than their own country, /
and France. which IS 20 say Paris, never
discovers that there are other great art
ists in other countries until every other
country mas acknowledged their genius
This miscellaneous taste is well set
forth this week in the varied character
Of the pieces that are offered at the lead
ing houses. There was almost as much
good VIII IN the welcome given Eleanor
Robson last Monday in a pretty little
slum drama OF London life as there was
in the wonderful demonstration which
greeted Mrs Leslie Carriers temperance
On Broadway last Saturday night in one
OF those somber. heroic and heavy poetic
nnslodramas which John Luther Long
knows so well how to write. The public
+ buying seats weeks in advance TO The
Easiest Way" this heart play Of the
New York slurns and theatrical boarding
houses. and applauding George P. Hunt
ley at the New Amsterdam in an English
musical comedy. Kitty Grey" So long
as It is something new. it matters little
what the subject, or where the scene is
laid
In The many years that he has gone to
the theater. this scribe fails to recall an
other such demonstration as was given
10 Mrs Carter on the opening night OF
.'Kassa' az the Liberty TheateT. Just
az many OF her CID friends and ad-
mirers as could crowd into the playhouse
we're or hand 10 Go her honor You could
hardly find room to pull of your overeoat.
As the actress appeared IN the first act
the thunderous greeting began. Again
and again Mrs Carter had 70 bow. not
daring 90 vary her statue-lke attitude
lest she should break the spell After
the third act the enthusiasm Of the au-
dience burst all restraint From twenty
10 twenty-five curtain calls followed
Mrs. Carter brought out the author He
met with warm reception. but still the
applause continued, and at last Mrs Car
ter spoke. She said it was the hsppiest
hour OF her life. and. painting and smil-
ing sne added how grateful she felt to-
ward those in front whom she could
thus meet again after an absence Of two
years and q half
Even after that the tunult continued
and several times she thrust her face
through the curtain folds 10 bow and
smile.
It is quite conceivable that much Of
this furOre was inspired By sympathy
for a woman who is making life and
death fight for survival. rather than by
the dynamic power OF the interest in
spired by the acting and the play. But
Mrs. Carter showed that she has lost
none OF those qualities OF expressing long
sustained agony OF which she was mis-
Jress in her BelascO days. and never in
those days was she the center OF g more
pretentious scenic production. which, az
ter much cutting. has now been COM
pressed 70 within the limits Of an even
ing which ends little after Il o'clock
Although in The Dawn Of To-mor-
row We are introduced 10 low section
Of London town, with alleys. grog shops.
and garrets. IN the midst OF a London
fog. peopled with convicts. pickpockets.
policemen, and detectives, Mrs. Hodgson
Burnett, the author, has abstained from
any attempt to reproduce either the Ian
gauge or the manner OF the depraved.
Everything Is veiled IN the delicate glam-
our Of romance. and the interest Is cen
tered IN the cheerful personality and
bracing optimism Of the reG-headed bun
die Of pink rags known as Glad-shOrt
for Gladys-which Miss Robson imper-
sonates with a success which she has
portrayal OF the scuiliOn. Mary Ann
This sprightly creature falls ike a stray
sunbeam athwart the path OF the mighty
Sir Oliver Holt. who has lust left a con-
sultation OF physicians that has spoken
his doom, believing he cannot recover
from q serious af7iction of neu-osis He
has disguised himself as tramp. armed
himself with pistol, and in a fit of eccen-
tric dependency seeks the underworld
TO end his life and vanish forever. when
chance throws Glad into his way, and
by her cheerful philosophy she makes
Sir Oliver forget his megrims and defy
the sOmber prophesy OF his physicians
Il IS some time since such a stimulat-
ing personality as Miss Robson's Glad
has appeared IN any play IN New York;
and Il was her work even more than the
play, OF the superb scenery representing
this Five Points Of the London sluus
Glad's garret, and the sumptuOus apart
nents OF the rich lord that made for
the undoubted success which the per-
formance scored before q brilliant au-
dience. She manifested vivaeity and
a knowledge and command Of the White
Chapel cockney that enabled her to make
the character Of the street waif peculiar
ly sympathetic.
OF course there is a love interest
= 30 4 f.T all
over London by the police for murder,
which Glad IN the end proves was not
committed BY him The part was played
bv Harry Stanford Lord Oliver was ex-
ceIlentIy played by Fuller NeIlish.
The play scored an immense triumph
Miss Robson had TO answer a dozen cur
tain calls. and Mrs. Burnett had to show
herself again and again in one of the
stage boxes. Originally Christian Science
was largely an element IN the web Of
the story; but this has been minimized TO
the extent Of the simple faith shown by
Glad in the maxim that II you wish real
hard for a thing. It win happen This Is
:Ha basis OF her philosophy. which IS per
hapz ,;-ttsr than going into metaphysics
and running the risk OF OVERRIDING things
In the way Of thought traGsference. telep-
athy. and vampirism. just now the vogue
IN dramatics.
kitty Grey" which has come to the
New Amsterdam to take the place OF
Little Memo" Is one Of those light
wasted but exceedingly pretty English
musical comedies with which Lionel
Monckton's name has become familiar
as the musical purveyor It is a cheer
ful affair. with lot Of good-looking gels.