Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-02
ADJUSTMENTS
Columbia.

Had a casual playgoer wandered to the
Columbia Theater last evening-and been
able to get in-he would have supposed
that some rare dramatic event was on
the tapis and that the theatrical world
was intensely interested. Not only was
every seat in the house filled. but there
were standing, first on one foot and then
on the other. throughout the four-act play
that made Billie Burke a real star, hun
dreds or at least as many as the law al
lows who were able to secure only ad-
mission. And then throughout the even
ing the applause that rang throughout
the house and was distinctly heard in the
street betokened that that great audience,
whatever the event. was thoroughly and
enthusia stically delighted with what 1t
came to see.
The event was the first appearance OF
Blanche Hall, the Columbia Players new
leading woman, who has come to supply
the place of the popular fav6rte OF two
seasons, Julia Dean. The test to when
the little woman was subjec ed was that
of Love Watches the four-act comedy
of r. De F'lers and G.. Caillavet, adapt
ed from the French by Gladys Unger,
which two seasons ago served to make
the internationally popular Billie Burke
real star.
1t was evident from the beginning that
there was intense interest in the appear
ance of Miss Hall, and it is not at all
unreasonable to suppose that here ana
there throughout the audience there were
those who were skeptical and who did
not believe that she could in any meas
ure supply the missing favorite, whose
ill-health had caused her retirement In
midSeaSon.
But there is an old maxim that there
never was anything so good but that 1t
cannot be bettered. and the performance
last evening demonstrated beyond queS-
IaJI 20 l1v-
share i'm the popular favor and esteem the
honors which Miss Dean has so worthily
won in the past and to become herSelf
quite as popular in the brief season be-
fore her. There is nothing invidious in
the comparison. 1t seems eminently
proper to establish the true state OF the
facts.
First of all, Miss Hall is pretty. an ele-
ment that had to exist in Miss Dean S
successor. She is petite. graceful, mag
netic and winsomely charming. Most
important of ALL she is an accomplished
actress, whose versatility might be fairly
presumed from the manner in which she
handled the various situations in which
her role placed her last evening. Not
once did she seem wanting, and the APP
plause which began with her first APP
pearance and followed her throughout the
evening testified how warmly the Column
bia patrons had received her into their
favor.
pany. Dollie Warden and Nina Tessa
Melville. although cast in minor roles
were bright and refreshing. Both give
promise of much better things when the
opportunity offers. The cast was a
large one.
Mr.. McAllister was. of course a very
good Andre. and Mr.. Butterfeld was
quite effective as Augarde. the book
worm, whose soul seemed to be wran-
ped UP in love letters which he ulti
oil confessed
ceiyed. Walter Wilson as usual gave
an excellent account of himself in the
character role of the Able Merlin aS
did Emelie Melville in her part OF the
Marquise de Juvigny.
Frederick Forester was quite good