The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-22
LAST NIGHT AT LOCAL PLAYHOUSES
THE BELASC0.
Dustin Farnum In "cameo Kirby.

Dustin Farnum In "CameO Kirby"
Cameo Kirby" the play by Booth
Harrington and Harry Leon Wilson, In
which Dustin Farnum and company ap-
peared at the Belasco Theater last night.
is an American play, full of sentiment
and character, with a strong atmosphere
/ pertaining to one of the most romantic
periods of American history and dealing
with episodes and types of men charac-
terfstie of the period. The basic theme
is divided between love and the mixed
nature of man.
Col Randall, Louisiana planter, sells
his cotton up-river. and. returning with
the proceeds, falls into the hands of gam
blers. and while drunk is despoiled, not
oLly Of cash but also Of his jewelry, title
to his plantation. and even the miniature
Of his dead wife This was all supposed
TO have been accomplished by Cameo"
Kirby. notorious but high-elass gam
bier, who piled his trade on the river
boats. but whom, il develops later in the
story, had entered the game with the
purpose Of saving the planter from Jack
M0reau, crooked gamester, who was
the real offender against decency in the
matter.
| The planter killed himself when he real
| lied his losses Moreau shoots Kirby in
| the back, supposedly with fatal effect
gives out his version of the affair, and
| here the real story of the play begins for
| Moreau. after a sojourn in Mexico, turns
up in New Orleans again. and discover
! ing Kirby to be still alive and present in
/ the city, poses as a chivalrous gentleman
! before the Randall family and its friends.
and takes upon himself the finishing of
! the task which he had begun of killing
/ Kirby. self-protection being his motive.
and not any feeling Of chivalry at at all.
/ At the very moment when he is intro
duced into the household ne receives a
challenge from Kirby to meet him at the
Oaks" the famous dueling grounds,
which he accepts. not before, however,
he had been prevailed upon by young
Tom Randall 10 use his fathers pistol in
place of his own. In the encounter,
which was strictly according to the pre-
vailing CODE Kirby is successful. but
young Randall. who followed TO the
grounds takes up and secretes his faith
er's pistol, making it appear that Kirby
had shot an unarmed man. thus giving
the affair the aspect Of murder
A posse pursues Kirby, and he takes
refuge in the Davenzac mansion, where
the Randalls are visiting; meets Gen
eral.' younger son. and Adele. the
daughter. becoming the friend of the boy
and instantly falling in love with the
girl, who believes in him, and he Is ena-
bled to escape from the posse by taking
the place Of the man he had just killed.
| Col. Moreau, in the carriage with the
ladies. and is taken to the plantation,
where he fingers. the warnings Of his
friend. Larkin Bunce, until the arrival
OF Tom Randall when the matter Is
Strengthened out and his motives made
clear, principally through Anatole Vean-
dry, young Creole a lover Of
Adele. and an uncle, Aaron Ran
dali. He has fallen deeply in love with
the girl and she with him, but he is con-
sc!ous of the truth OF Bunce's first asser-
ton, that he was not Mt by reason of his
past career to have pretensons in the
direction of a lady, and he goes away
with promise 10 return II he succeeds
in rehabilitating himself and a promise
from the girl 10 wait, which ending is
) quite proper. allowing latitude Of surmise,
and is far superior, in effect. TO the per-
functory happy ending.
/ Mr.. Farnum, as Cameo Kirby, gives the
best delineation Of his career, the charac-
ter portrayal here exceeding that of the
| Virginian, while he fully brings out the
romantic possibilities Of the role. His
method is depressed but forceful. while
his fine personality is always in evidence.
He has a splendid opportunity and makes
the most Of it, The supporting company
IS excellent in every respect. especial no.
tice being due Mr.. Eugene O'Rourke. as
Larkin Bunce. and little Frank Aqueres
as The General" while Miss Eleanor
| Monten as Adelaide IS very IovabIe
Others giving artistic assistance are
! Edith Brandt as Anatole, John Harring-
ten as Col Moreau. Gordon Johnston as
Tom Randall, Burr Caruthers as Aaron
Randall. Maud Hosford as Nine. Da-
venzac Nora Shelly as Anne Pleyden, and
Gus p. Thomas as Judge Pieyden. The
audience was large and appreciative, call
ing the company out repeatedly