The Washington herald., 1909-06-22
LAST NIGHT AT
THE THEATERS
THE BELAsC0.
aThe Som of HIS Father.v

Belasco Theater iaBt night. when the
Messrs. Shubert produced a new play
entitled ''The Son OK Ills Father" TIE
object Of the company now Installed at
the Belasco Theater, as has been pre-
viousIy stated. is to give production to
new plays that have been accepted by
the shuberts. and allow them "try-out''
under the best possible advantage.
The company engaged has not the COM
plexion Of a regular stock organization,
because the selection OF actors ana act
resses for the portrayal OF types would
necessarily be restricted In that case. bit.
on the other hand. various people under
Encouragement OF the firm viii be brought
to Washington. as occasion demands. for
the creation Of the characters for which
they are especially fitted Thus the maxi
mum Of encouragement will be given 10
the proper presentation Of each play Of
fered.
The Son OF His Father" was well re-
ceived last night. It Is Z, modern play. IN
which stocks and bonds ard sentiment
and science are commingled. The play
takes is name from the fact that the
central figure. John lie Baron. Is the son
Of a great dnanc!er Of Wall street. who
has died. leaving behind him a reputation
for merciless dealing and the wreckage
Of other mems fortunes.
Not being under the necessity OF work
ing for a living, he has the reputation for
being a dilettante and an idler. but in
reality he is clean-cut, wholesome
young man. with good honest princi-
pies and a big heart. In Paris he has
met and fallen in love with Eleanor Hi
larry, the daughter Of New Yorks newest
king Of fnance-a man Of about the same
type as the late lie Baron. ST. Hill
larry. who has been dubbed "the ring
master" on account OF hts powerful ma
nipulatlOn OF the street" is putting
through a tremendous deal. IN which lie
Baron Is invited TO become a partner.
lie Baron. however. turns out not 20
be the "son OF his father" in that he
win lend his name 20 any OF the dis
reputable schemes OF ''the ringmaster."
whom he repudiates. and all his works.
starting for Europe the very next day
on hts yacht, after first being satisfied
that Hillary had abandoned his nefari0us
projects Hillary. too. is starting FOR Eu-
rope. but before he goes he leaves d.
rections 70 his brokers. which, n car
ried out. VIII break the particular
market IN which lie Baron IS involved.
Young Ie Baron. entertaining a jolly
party on board his yacht. Is all uncOn-
scious OF the ringmaster's" treachery,
until two OF HIS guests. who auuse them
selves by translating wireless messages,
picked up IN midocean run across one Of
Hinary's instructions 70 his broker. This
message sets lie Baron 10 the right
about, and he hastens back 20 New York
and there starts up a complete OppO-
sltiOn 10 the Hillary plans. Hillary. Of
course also posts back from Europe as
fast IS the Kaiser Wilhelm II and spe-
cial tugs can bring him The crisis IS
reached and a tremendous financial bat
tie ensues IN which principle triumDhs.
and Le BaTOus inherited fightins quail
ties manifest themselves 90 the discOm-
future OF the money kings. Unlike his
father thOurh. he fights for the prin-
cIpIe. and IN winning. proves himself 20
be the son OF his father"-a winner
powerful story. crisply and directly
told The author IS obviously thorcughiy /
Yarniliar with the Vaccinations and the
dealings OF the financial world. BIG sub
iects are handled. and sometimes the ac-
ton is so rapid as 20 mystify the unini-
tiated. but al all times the plot IS kept
within the bounds OK plausibility. The
action is mostly rapid fire, the Only
'taIxv" parts occurring IN the early
scenes. mostly useful In developing the
ranifcations OF the story But matters,
once under way. move swiftly ana
smoothly The Son Of His Father pre-
sents fewer angles where the pruning
knife Is needed than the average play
does upon its first presentation What
comedy there Is Is original. and Tor the
most part cleverly handled. The CHIEF
weakness lies in the development OF the
leading feminine role. which IS more or
less sletchy in outline and not sufh-
cientlv cOlOrful 70 justify the hinging
az the story about 81 The climax OF the
third act Is q strong one, and IS the clev-
er handling OF an idea which, though
not entirely new, presents aspects or
originality which are cunningly worked
into the story.
There IS plenty OF opportunity for good
acting on the part Of the very excellent
companv which the MessTs. Shubert have
engaged for the production. A II. Van
Buren, who assumed the leading part OF
Le Baron, is an actor Of much ability
The part is a long one and demands
ectivity and contrasting moods. he
seemed TO catch the spirit OF intensity
which is the strength OF the role. and
played with much earrestness and SIN
cerity At the end OF the third act. on
behalf OF the unknown author and the
company, Mr.. Van Buren thanked the
audience for It's applause and friendli-
ness. He seems TO be Just the man IN
the role for which he IS cast-a thought
ful, straightforward, and honest tight
ing gentleman.
The play abounds in excellent character
parts. Three fnanciers. men OF blood
and iron. figure cOnspicuOUsly. OF these. /
Edward Emery. as Paul Craven. con
tributed a splendid study IN naturalness
and reserve force. George Howell. as
Hillary, the ringmaster." was also well
within the limits OF probability There /
was no tendency toward mock heroics !
or melodramatic villiany, but he gave a
picture of man Of strength and virility,
who when beaten. was not ashamed to
acknowledge Il. Mr.. FREDERICK Burton /
was good as the unfortunate MeElroy, the |
man who sacrificed his life 20 the money
market and its demands.
William Rossel. who is pleasantly re-
membered for his clever work in mile /
Mischief" was an amusing chap OF the
lovable Juvenile type. and he made love /
very acceptably 70 Miss Elsie Esmond. /
who as Rebecca Love played opposite I
him. The pair furnished considerable fun
with their doings on board the yacht I
when they read every ones wireless mes
sages with perfectly innocent intent, but 4
with star lillS results MIS- marion Bal I!
lou, as a seasick chaperon. who ex-
changes her mai de mere for intoxication. 4
created plenty of laughter during her 4
short occupation OF the stage. Half a /
dozen minor parts were exceilently acted 1
by Virginia Pearson. Charles D. Pitt /
Paul Taylor. Harry McFayden. Ogden I
Stevens, Grant Clarke, and John Emer- I
son
Miss Laurette Taylor. whose last ap-
pearance in Washington was in ''Yosem-