The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-04-08
MILDRED HOLLAND
Allen Dale Writes Of this Well Known
Actress.

that nothing notable can occur any
where else-that events elsewhere are
little, and tawdry, and cheap and I'M
important. How glibly we prate of its
aIluring imperfections, and how deli
ciously perfervid we grow on the en-
ticing topic of its glittering indecen-
cies! Nothing else matters. There
we stick in that one white groove, con-
WINGED that we am in the thick OF the
worth while.
Yet, at the LITTLE Yorkville theatre
this week, leagues away from Broad
ways will-o'the-wisp, singularly in
teresting and even remarkable, effort
is being made to portray meritoriously
the great, grotesque creations of Chas.
Dickens in dramatization of Dickens
greatest novel. his autobiography, in
fact David Copperfield." Miss Mil
dred Holland, an actress of much skill
and of artistic effort, in long stay
at the Yorkville (evidently and deser-
vedly very lucrative one) has put on
David Copperfeld" for a week
could not resist the temptation 10 go
and see it-eveIl though. TO do so,
had to sag So long," to the great
White Way. And | was repaid.
| saw dramatization, crude in
many respects for the dramatization
of Dickens is task that is nearly i'm
possible to achieve successfully but
one in which all those splendid types
those unforgettable characters of
the great novel were capitally and eX-
ultantly set forth. | saw Irish Heep,
done to the life. tumble, despicable, but
breathing; | saw that lone, lorn wild
ow," Mrs. Gummidge, vivid with truth
and accuracy; | saw Little Emily
painted in drear colors but not dewitt
allied; | saw Dan'l Peggoty, Ham, Mr..
Micawber, Traddles, James Steerforth,
David Copperfeld Rosa Darble and
last but not least-Betsy Trotwood.
All had stepped from the familiar II
was delightful to welcome them
NGra type had lost its individuality,
for the sake of the melodramatic story.
The plot of the Dickens story always
has entertaining truth. His caricat-
ures were there, of course But the
characters had been little tempered
with. They had been interviewer with
fairly satisfactory results. The Great
White Way itself must have enjoyed
Altlii iHOukH 1lldll llttD " 90
not made to sing ragtime interpola-
ton. and Betsy Trotwood was not 'liv-
ened up" with an eccentric dance"
This dramatization was not work
of art Most of the characters ate up
soliloquies. David COpperfield himself
wandered in and out. like a spirit of
unrest, and was the worst feature of
the piece. Odious music" from the
orchestra occurred when least expect
ed The entrance of a new character
even in the scene by the sea, was in
variably heralded by an execrable out
burst Little Emily's melancholy
movements were signified by one of
Thomes nauseatine melodies.
But just the same there was a great
deal of the David Copperheld' that
was excellently dcne-that would have
been considered excellent anywhere.
Every EFFORT was made 10 retain "atmo-
sphere" Most of the actors were won
uertully good; and the fact that play
was made which entertained the York
Vile theatre people must not be over
looked. Many OF these people enjoyed
the real Diekns OF the thing, and en-
loved it for It's own sake This Is
worth mentioning at time when many
illiterate people consider ii smart TO
consider the greatest novelist of the
last century out of date II is a fact,
nevertheless.
Miss Mildred Holland deserves great
praise for this David Copperiield' eff
fort. The role of Little Emily was
scarcely within her physical jurisdic-
ton. but she did well with it, She
went through the old story of the
Steerforth betrayal discreetly and ar
tistically. Several times she touched
her audience by her sincerity and her
real power. She had a sympathetic
note in her voice that compelled atten-
ton Nor did she try-as most stars
would do-to over-emphasibe Elm ly,
or to make her more important than
Dickens intended her TO be. She sank
her stellar sentiments-for she must
have them-and was content to be in
the pictures" Work like this calls
for encouragement. Columns are
heaped upon the woman who makes
big shout on Broadway in some foolish
Importation. Silence greets the eff
forts OF the actress who is trying TO do
good work elsewhere This is, of
course, rank injustice.
People love to advertise themselves
by prating against the gorgeous inn
of Broadway Why not, for
a change, try prating from the proprie-
ties of other thoroughfares. This at
least would be original. Some say
that originality is an advertisement.
Probably if some worthy gentleman
let us say, a minister-pompousiy an
nounced that he had discovered a per-
fectly meritorious effort in East seth
street he might make the coveted
sensation. Why not try it One gets
so tired of the same old thing.
The best feature of this David Cop
perdeld" at the Yorkville theatre was
the Uriah Heap of George Warning
ton. This was nearly a perfect piece
of character work 1t was a cameo.
Those who are still questionable
enough to enjoy Uriah Heap should
see W. Warrington's idea of him. A
better sketch could not have been
given by any of the 500 minute If
they get it Broadway actors Ger
tainlv no great White Way star" ae-
tor could have successfully We'd with
it, -
rho NIicawher of Frederick E.