Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-03
A NJ U S E M E N T S
Columbia.

Piaygoers who attend the Columbia
Theater during the summer season are
always sure to be pleased and very often
expect to be surprised. Last night they
had their full share of pleasure and sur
prise, for the Columbia Players gave them
a presentation of Cousin Kate that was
as finished as a whole as il was exquisite.
Never before, perhaps. has every mem
! her of the company so risen to the point
of his or her highest excellence or ac-
quilted himself or herself in SO effective
a manner. Each succeeding weeks pro-
duction by these players has seemed bet
ter than all which preceded it. but last
of all when all the players are consid-
cred.
Cousin Kate tells the story of two
mlsmatched young people who discover
thelr mistake in time to make four gem
Hine lovers happy It's theme is delightful
Ihere Is nothing of wicked suggestion,
or forced construction in it. 1t is simple.
sweet and enjoyable throughout
Perhaps the most marked performance
In its excellence as well as its surprise.
was that of the curate by Alexander
Frank. 1t simply could not have been
better. and is by far Mr.. Franks best
portrayal during the summer season
which has many good ones to his credit.
Ruth ID. Blake's impersonation of Mrs.
Spencer. the dear. vacillating creature.
who might have had ideas of her own
had they not been swallowed up by those
around her. was splendid piece of char
acter work Laura Oakman. as the truly
good little girl who was born to be a
curates wife. presented charmingly
natural bit of clever artistic work and
more nearly than before revealed her real
possibilities. Ruth Chattertons return
as Jane, servant, was a refreshing bit
of natural sunshine, while Everett But
terheld's Bob Spencer. the boy, was sim
ply untouchable
Yet, as excellent as We're the other play
ers in their respective parts. it cannot be
aehled that Julia Dean and Orme Cal
dara, to those who came TO cry. or to
iaugh. to be happy sad, as the beauties
OF the play were I'M folded, were the stars
that shone and will continue to shine.
Not SO quaint perhaps. but quite as low
able and nearer the stratum of nature
than the Inns of idealization in Cousin
Nate than in Lady Ursula. Julia Dean
was all there-nothing missing and moth
ing TO be desired. save only. perhaps.
that she might have fingered bit longer
Miss Dean is an artist, cast her as you
VIII. and her art is so interviewer with
nature that it is difficult to say where
the one begins and the other ends.
Orme Caldara, always the same and
Yet always different, is as accomplished
delineat9r of manly character as has
ever delighted a Washington audience
His little love scene with Miss Dean in
the second act was exquisite. Washing
toi VIII HISS IHeSe payers Wnen they
go. 1t will always receive them with
open arms when they come again.
The work of another star that shines
was also observable in Cousin Kate" 1t
was the masterhand of Frederick A.
Thompson. There are few that know Of the
touches his artistic skill and experience
in mounting and directing these summer
comedies lend to their enjoyment. He
Is out of sight. both in fact and as
stage director, and no praise of play
would be complete that did not accord
him his full share of credit
Cousin Kate is going to draw and
draw we'll this week