The Washington herald., 1910-01-02


There is now hope that the low-water
mark in theatricals has been reached:
that the fiat and foolish musical comedy,
the unclean modern drama. and the
risque farce are losing vogue. and that
we are to return to an era prosperous for
art and Cor managers who are not slow
to recognize the trend Of public fancy.
"Herod" is a gladstone oasis in a dreary
desert OF triviality and unworthiness.
The large audiences that gathered at the
BelascO TO enjoy this literary and dra-
matte treat furnished a sign that the love
of art has not yet died in the public
breast, That it has been slowly starving
from lack Of nutrition has been the opin-
ion of the thoughtful for some time
One Of the causes OF trouble has been
the unseemly haste on the part of man
ayers to put production after produc-
ton before their patrons. in an unfin-
ished condition. in order to Guido some
one else, in an effort 10 pander to what
they unjustly termed the popular de-
mand for trash and nastiness.
II is not so very long ago that a pro-
duetion Ike 'Herod," as grand as it is,
would have excited no unusual comment,
not because it would have been less ap-
preciated, but because it would have been
only one OF many such excellent Offer
ings
Excepting the few Shakespearean plays
which some high-aiming actors still con-
tinue to give. "Herod'' stands absolutely
alone to-day as a classical production,
and gives promise OF a revival Of those
days. not so very long ago. when we had
such plays as "Cyrano de Bergerac,"
'L'Aiglon. "GismOnda." Dante, King
Arthur THE Sunken Bell" Ulysses
Cleopatra" and Francesca di Rimini."
The last of these productions OF big
classical plays was Peer Gynt," and
Faversham has not hesitated 70 match
himself with Mansfield by his Offering OF
'.Herod''
He should. by the way, leave the COM
parison of himself with Mansfield to the
critics and not offer the announcement
through his own press department. He
has proved himself big enough to stand
alone in this field of endeavor. and those
who follow closely the trend of the
drama win ever owe him a debt Of graft
tude for his courageousness in going
counter TO the majority and becoming
pioneer in the enterprise Of leading pub
lie taste back into the channels Of artistic
enjoyment.
No Moses ever led a more willing people
out of the wilderness, and we hope that
fate has in store for Faversham a sheaf
Of laurels of which ''Herod" is already
shining leaf.
With the Sothern-Marlowe Shakespear-
can revivals and "Ben-Hur" in the near
future, We cannot complain that there Is
just now a dearth of things really worth
while "Ben-Hur' has proved to be pos
sessed Of lasting qualities that mere
scenic splendor could not supply. It is a
moving and dramatic play as well as a
great spectacle.
paid in Full" although It has enjoyed
wonderful success. does not belong to the
ultra modern emotional school It is one
of those realistic domestic tragedies that
appeal to every class of theatergoer and
leaves in the mind something to think
over long after the final curtain has shut
out the actors from view. It is one of
those timely sermons which are nlustrat-
ed so viyidly by the stage and which
have a wholesome effect on the public
morals. Situations such as these do not
belong to any particular epoch; they
speak In all tongues and for all time
No matter what the temporary taste may
demand. there is always room for the
little stories Of real life such as Paid in
Full so forcibly tells.