The Washington herald., 1910-02-15
THE COLUMBIA.
.sThn Bnrrier.v

1t is not very often that a play makes
such q decided and marked success here
that 1t can afford to return within three
months, and not only return. but play
TO sucn an enthusiastic and pleased audi
ence as The Barrier" brought together
at the Columbia last night.
This tense, gripping drama OF the last
stand of man who has been accused of
crime that he did not commit and has
been bounded 10 the boundaries Of the
earth-the arctic circle-in order to es-
cape, and who finds that even there the
arm Of the law overtakes him, and his
vindication and the discovery of the real
criminal occur, is too familiar to need
repetition. Those that have seen Il will
hardly forget the many thrilling situa-
tions-the arrival of Stark and Runnion
in the opening act and the quarrel of the
latter with the army officer; the shot in
the second act, when Gale misses Stark;
the scenes between Nescia and her sup
posed father; the scene when she finds
that. after all. she is as white as her
lover, and the final great scene OF the
fight In the dark-none Of these viii be
forgotten: and together they make "The
Barrier one Of the most intensely inter-
esting and most compactly written plays
that we have had of that country where
'the circle is law unto ITSELF
The recital Of the story Of the play will
show that it is melodrama OF the most
melodramatic sort. but who is so slow
blooded as to have lost hts appreciation
OF good melodrama: for, after all.
| play of this sort, like a good detective
story, has the power to thrill and to hold
| the audience Ike no other.
The cast OF The Barrier" is the same
as when it played here earlier in the sea-
son-and that is praise enough. Theodore
/ Roberts is the embodiment Of what the
author meant John Gale TO be-strong,
virile haunted by the fear that the crime
| that he did not commit will follow him
even TO his last hiding place. and so spoil
| the life of the little girl that he adopted
| the daughter of the woman whom he
! loved. Mr.. Roberts best expression OF his
art is not IN the spoken words-though
these are also excellent; It is in his facial
| expression and his every move while on
| the stage His face while he IS clean
| ing the gun, preparatory to the attempt
| 10 shoot Stark. in the second act, is
study in emotions, and every move he
makes While telling his story TO the cap
| tain, In the last scene, tells its tale well.
| Next TO the star came ". II. Hart In
the part of Stark. Those who saw him
/ in THE Virginian" and as Cash Haw-
! Iins. in The Squaw Man." know what
| ne is capable Of. and IN this part he al
| lows no chance 10 escape him. Especially
good was the death scene just before the
last fall of the curtain.
In the role OF Nescia, the heroine of
the play, Florence Rockwell recalls her
triumps or "The Round Up" and more,
for she has chances here that were
before denied her. and she shows great
depth Of feeling and an ability to act. and
act well.
! The remainder OF the excellent cast was
| composed of Guinio Socola, in the part OF
No Creek Lee; John J. Pierson, as Run
nion. the companion and pal Of Stark.
! lAlphontz Either, as the French-Canadian,
/ Poleon: James Durkin. as Capt. Burrell,
/ and Miss Abigail Marshal. as Alluna, the
Indian wife of Gale.
/ 1t did not need the added incentive Of
the presence Of President Taft and his
box party to make the company give one
Of the most enjoyable and realistic read
iugs OF a melOdrama that we have had
for some time.