The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-06-15
Distinguished Audience Wit
neSSeS a Brilliant Pre-
miere of Success. "
DRAMA is BUILT
ON SIMPLE THEME
Story Hinges on Efforts Of Virgin
ian to Win Hand of North
ern Girl.

Preston Gibson. of Washington. wrote
. play, called it Success" personally
supervised its production and last
night bid for a verdict from his friends
in this city by presenting it at the
Belasco.
In the audience were many attracted
by the coming of a new play, and al
most as many who were more directly
interested in the presentation of a new
play by Mr.. Gibson. This audience
was out OF the ordinary run Of first
night gatherings in several ways-the
most striking was the large number
OF men, Among these men We're Of
ficials high in Government service and
others prominent IN business affairs
OF the District
Having asked for his play the verdict
OF his friends. Mr. Gibson should
have the truth. Indiscriminate praise
cannot, in this instance, be the gauge
of Washington's regard for this writer.
Oliver Optic Story.
Success" is an Oliver Optic story
about srown-up people. The plot cen
tiers about the EFFORTS of Douglas
Thompson, a Virginian, to win the
hand &C Miss Aline Anderson. a North
ern girl This young woman's mother
has banked upon her daughters attrac-
tons TO recoup the family fortunes.
and her trump card is Frederick Win
throp, the villain Of the play Thorough
y aroused to the necessity. Of making
money for the first time in his life
this Nirginisn engineers a successful
corner on the New York stock market.
Winthrop WINTHROP IS ruined, and. to clineh
InoInpSonS clalms news comes that
Winthrop has married and deserted a
Virginia girl. the ward Of the hero
himself.
Lesser characters are the Rev DR..
Smoker, fawning clergyman who
ebets Mrs. AndersOn's ambitions for
her daughters marriage, and Dave Den
ny. the Tilted fieaee Of the girl whom
Winthrop married, and William and
Agnes Parr, two roles that might be
eliminated with no injury 10 the play.
This material is not new or very strilz-
ing But with this fabric Mr.. Gibson
may yet weave a homespun PLAY with
genuine heart interest" And Il may
be made the background for very real
people who live in Virginia and in New
2ork Already there are several such
characters and the basis for more.
Easy to Remedy.
The one great fault of Success" and
it is fault that can be remedied. is
the lack Of stagecraft shown in its con-
struction. Mr.. Gibson had material out
Of which TO fashion play, but lacked
the playwright's technique in assemb-
ling them.
Mr.. Gibson explains too much. Ora
matte situations are spoiled by haIts 70
set forth details, sometimes obvious and
often unnecessary. The return OF Win
throp's wife at an embarrassing mo-
ment offers an opportunity for genuine
why. when did you leave Balti-
more?' queries Winthrop, and daughters
is the response 70 one of the most dra-
matte moments OF the play
In his determination that his idea shall
carry across the footlights Mr. Gibson.
IN one or two instances, paints carfca-
lures. not people To the mind of Mrs.
Anderson a successful marriage for her
daughter spells money. Her changed
attitude toward the Virgiuian the mo-
ment she discovers he has come into
great wealth is one opportunity 10 bring
out this trait. But her emotion when
she learns the news could be better ex-
pressed by e glance. the lifting OF n
eyebrow without a single word than
~ the retrospective monologue that
continues long after tie audience has
caught the idea
Lines Too Conventional
The conventionaIity of the plot might
easily be disguised by original lines.
Stock expressions. which creep into
every new play. abound. The clergy
make such speeches as The villain,
he has ruined my life"
or one phase OF his story Mr.. Gibson
was very sure The Thompson family
home in Virginia, the people who
lived there. and especially THOMPSON.
made this picture Of the Old Do
minlon seem very real
The role OF Thompson gave AIDhonZ
Either an opportunity 10 delineate a
Southern gentleman with great veritv.
his methods are admirab bic in their
restraint, and two occasions for emo
-iOnai acting gave him opportunities
OF which he took full advantage.
Cast I Capable
The rest Of the cast Is capa bic.
Miss Ethel Grey Terry gave TO a part
eiightly overdrawn touch Of natu-
sadness that went far TO redeem the
arst act
Miss Laura Burt would be more
acceptable If her acting was less
obvious. The same might be said Of
n = Northrup, who OVersteps the
bounds for a villain, even In an offer
ing az popular prices
Back OF hrst might mistakes lies
not only room for Improvements but
marked opportunities for the re-
building of q play on q foundation
OF genuine merit.