The Washington times., 1909-02-02
Otis Skinner Repeats Tri-
umph in Role of Philippe
BTidau.
PlaygoeTS Likely to Ignore
Possibilities in Honor of
the Family

The FaInlIy.
The presence Of two feminine stars !
who hold a high place ina public favor in !
Washington did not materially affect
the reception accorded Otis skinner last !
evening ON his return I'm "The Honor of /
the Family which has, since its ap-i
peaTauce here last season, enjoyed a /
highly successful New York run, NIr. 1
Skinner is fast attaining a sure tO0t-I
hold among the smaH company of
American actors of the first rank, and /
the role OF Philippe Bridau marked "a /
distinct milestone iu that career.
Baizac fell far short OF being a dTa- /
matist primarily because ne lacked the /
least vestige of true dramatic feeling, !
and not altogether because Of his faulty /
construction. This play, adapted from i
Balzacs I'm Manage de GarcOns' by |
Emile Fabre and retOuched 10y Paul III. /
Potter, breathes the true spirit Of Balzac /
i'm its true analysis of human charac- /
ters: Those who transferred the story /
TO the stage have, OF necessity, taken
some liberties with the oTlGudl CON
CeptiOn of Bridau, but they wisely /
stopped short of trying 20 inject any
emotional touches The triumph or OTIS
Skinner, Miss Percy HasWeu and sew
eral others is not concerned al all with
emotional acting, but with the precise
deliueatiOn of character. As q character
study. albeit cold and suggestive or tue
operating table, this play presents with
remarkable fidelity Balzac's aim and
methods
Follows Balzac Conception.
If it be true that BaIzac's strongest
characters are men and women actual
ed by the evil weuspriugs Of human ma
ture that of Bridau may lay claim 20
being one Of his greatest, for 1t IS sure
Iy one of his worst, The Bridau OF
the novel is pictured in all his cunning
and braggadOci0, with not the palla-
tion of one saving grace save that MS
CyuICism has been cohFe-tS1 iuto q
v5{erd sort of cynical humor. one oJneF I
deviation. designed 10 placate the play /
goer. the introduction OF spurious re-
gard for his mother Wnlcu lsal1aC go .
Bridau did not nave, failed 10 ring uue.
1T only served 10 emphasize a lew Oh
the staggering cOlOuels auoclues-
This one instance serves 70 sOuhq Ji-e
keynote OF the play. To DflhS a 5lu9iS
character into prominence actuated by
high motives would 10y contrast wreck
the rest of the cast on the snoals OF
general autipaLhy. An American audi
euce delights to see tne triumph or VIZ
tue over evil ana Will stand Ior the VIC
tory of evil over its own KIND on q
few uccas sious. But It - oouDtIui
whether even Otis skinner could elicit
enough sympathy in behalf of Bridau
did not those who crossed his path get
little more than their due.
Has Historic Value.
BaIzac is notable for investing types
with a highly charged individuality
that makes them intensely human. The
Bonaparttst dinner OF the third act
tells more truly the chaotic condition
of French politics in 1870 under the
Bourbon King Louis NVIu tdan
double three hours spent Ia coming
musty tones. France was rife with
Just such gentlemen Of adventure as
Colonel Bridau. whose one virtue md7
/ their bravery, and whose entire ssoeH
lU trade was tbs memory OF some ueeA
OF daring in the PTussian campaign. In
this setting BalZal paints character
OF singular compleItE and or profound
interest. His atms doubtless was 20
trace out to It's iulness the result or
youth spent In i0leneSs1 ana lu meas
ure TO reflect the influence or PaTlsleA
life early in the nineteenth century.
if the picture has been oVeTWrOughL
it has been for the sake of Clearness-
Thought IL Is a sad commentary on Hu-
man nature, DO must be admitted that
Bridau is wonderfully human, and
everyone OF his shortcomings may De
found lu someone, though not all OF
T them, we trust I'm any one person.
Otis SINNERS Part.
+ The portrayal II Philippe Bridau by
Otis Skinner affords not a whit less
/ food for thought than does Bridau him
/ SELF Roles, which on first glance seem
f 10 afford him q much wider scope for
hls powers he has laid aside. Acting
& Ike most lines OF human eudeaEor5
( should bee Judged 80 measure 1y re
/ suits Arousius sympathy among his
I atal
/ character as Erldau IS no small under
taking. and the fulluess OF MT skin
uer's triumph Is likely % be missed be-
/ cause his methods are so easy ana so
/ natural That burst of applause iu tho
J last act when Philippe returns stained
/ with the blood of GIlers aVeugers tho
/ one man who most nearly represents
4 right was "a rroWulnE tribute. II meant
that the actor had submerged the most
elemental Instincts or aA American
. audience ll sympathy lpF EhdIatte-
ular priced playhouse such o peFyerslan
. of morals and sense of ethics might call
. for attention from the authorities but
. here lt has the Justification OF an art
. that bears the earmarks or great
If The suDmerg.ng Of personality
/ counts for anything BIldaus on mat
/ count alone. would be the greatest role
+ Otis Skinner has yet attempted Ia the
+ hands of 81 less experienced actor Col
+ ouel Philippe could easily be converted
. into a EaT.carlEc with disastrous re-
/ Suits The entire success of the play
/ hinges on the fine restraint or MI
J Skluuer's treatment and the sympathy
+ his impersguation creates.
( Miss Hasweu Scores.
/ just as vital as the role Of Nr. Skin
ner is that Of Miss Percy Hasvcu 1t
F is the lot OF Miss HasweI 20 repel rath-
. o. than 90 attract The faiutest touch
F Of sentiment and real WOmanIy feeling
I'm her portrayal of Flora Brazier would
have dCtIgCted immeasuEabIy from
. Mr. eilluuer's work. Tie cunning and
+ shrrwIisn women OF the Sapho type
/ that play ID prominent part In French
action asa a little uard for 10 under
+ stand oH tHls side OF the water. But
+ aIizs HasWeUs work was convincing.
and she scene iH which tn6 ''sadler. s
Daughter" eudeavoTs 10 inlaturte
. Philippe was "a particularly clever bit
The Quest OF GOLD from varied mo-
tfves forms the basis Of this play. and
tae love OF money for itself u.s. typlned
by Bouget played with telling effect by
. A. O. Andrews
IH one particular alone could the act
lng be Improved. That ls In tie part ot
. Frederick Sargent TO whom falls Com
uaudaut Max Gilet Mr.. Sargent 8
portrayal hardly meets the accepted
Idea of GUet. primarily au uuSCrupu-