Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1910-08-29
"GRAUSTARK" PLEASES
McCutcheOn's Story OF A Love
Behind A Throne Greeted
BY Old Friends And
New AT Colonial
THE CAST is WELL CHOSEN
Hero And Heroine Share fiOnors With
Other Members OF An Exceptionally
Good Comp any OF Players

Although the story as told by
George Barr McCutcheon is now old
and the dramatized version as con-
ceived by George d. Baker has been
ION the road" for several seasons
and has been seen by Annapolitans
twice before, the production of
"Graustark" at the Colonial Theatre
on Saturday night repeated its former
success in Annapolis.
Well cast, handsomely staged and
with pretty women, handsomely
gowned and attractively well-groomed
men in the cast, the STORY of Love
Behind Throne" not only held its
old friends, but made many new.
ones The story of the young Ameri-
can, Grenfall Lorry, and his search
after wonderfully handsome and
attractive miss Guggenslocker, "
whom he meets in Pullman while the
lady is travelling in America and the
dangers and trials this search leads
him through to happy ending, is
well known to readers of books.
1t is one that when staged requires
technique, histrionic ability on the
part of the actors, correct stage set
ting and costuming to be enjoyed.
All of these necessaries to a good per-
Torrance, and some that were not so
necessary, but which added to the
effectiveness of the production, were
present in the performance by the
James w. Castle production on Satur
day night. What small criticism
there is to be made on the work %
the cast was traceable to the CON-
pany having been on THE road only
short time and these little. defects
will wear off as the performance is
given more time and the players work
off the rough edges. Some there
were, however, in the asst, who if they
worked for years on their one part
could not improve the interpretations
they gave on Saturday night,
Among these must be mentioned
first, Mr.. ]. II. Lewis. His work-if
work it could be called, was so easy
and naturally done-as Baron Dan
gloss, minister If police of Graustark,
left absolutely nothing to be desired.
1t would. we think, be hard to find a
character that would fit Mr.. Lewis
better, or that he could portray with
the finished touch of the artist he dis
plays, as the shrewd, keen eyed old
guardian of the welfare of the people
of Graustark and his beloved Princess
Yetive, whom Lorry finds after long
search in one and the same with his
travelling companion of American
days. 1t is not often that an audi
ence such as attends good plays at
The Colonial, breaks into scene of
any intensity with applause, but this
was given to Mr.. Lewis in the scene
with the Princess, Lorry and Bolaroz
in the Princess bedchamber.
Miss Benson, cast as the Princess
Yetive, left little if anything to be
desired in her handling of the part.
She was easy and natural for the
most part, but at times displayed the
one little flaw in her otherwise excel
lent work. This was a slight unfa-
miliarity with the demands of some
of her scenes. She is, however, new
to the footlights when they are of the
professional kind, and shows an
ability that with added work, will
make her as finished and smooth a
"Yetive" as is rarely seen.
In Saturday nights performance
Miss Benson shared honors with Miss
Violet Reid, who was cast as the
Countess Dagmar, lady in waiting to
the Princess. Miss Benson was at
tractive, full of life and made dis
tinct hit. Miss Falls, as the Countess
Yvonne, and Miss Durando, as Ysa-
bel. waiting lady to the Princess,
each handled their parts in manner
to leave nothing to be desired.
Mr.. Bartling, who has succeeded
to the cast of Grenfall Lorry. the
hero, since the company last played
in Annapolis, made a most favorable
impression. He has good carriage,
fine presence, is a typically head
strong American chatting at the con-
ventions of court which keep him
from the girl he loves. He is good
lover, and the audience joins heartily