The Washington herald., 1910-01-25
asst NIGHT AT LOCAL PLAYHOUSES
THE BELASCO.
"The Dawn of "A Tomorrow"


THE Dawn Of a Tomorrow is play
of optimism-a play of tomorrow, not
the Spanish tomorrow" invoked for the
purpose Of easily getting rid of to-day,
but the tomorrow of hope, adding By
anticipation TO the joy OF living
1t is a serious work, full OF thought,
and in every respect worthy of the
genius of that remarkable woman, Fran
ces Hodgson Burnett 1t finds It's gene
sis in some Of the current theories re-
garding the relation Of mans physical
condition to his mental attitude, in the
play being referred TO as new thought.
but the author is careful 10 make clear
the truth about these things. and that
is. that they are not new at all, but
as old as the human race itself.
Sir Oliver Holt, a leader in British pol
ltics and finance, has come to a condition
OF nervous infirmity bordering on in
sanity. and Mortified at the condition of
lifelong friend who has reached the
1 last stages. he resolves 10 spare himself,
and makes off in disguise into the pur-
lieus Of East London to make away with
himself, his state Of mind having been
further worked upon by overhearing
a consultation upon his own case by
| three of the most distinguished specialists
of the United Kingdom The course of
| his affairs is changed by meeting. in
| Apple Blossom court, with Glad. a girl
/ Of the slums, who is an optimist of the
most rosy hopes, who has imbibed some
/ ideas about asking" and receiving"
! from some hospital angel while she lay
I in the Institution with broken limbs and
nose.
She is trying out the theory upon her
| self and the denizens of her small world,
apple Blossom court" The experiment
| is attended with great success. She turns
| the currents of Sir divers mind into
other and new channels and saves him.
she asking" for the salvation of her
/ lover. the Dandy" who is suspected OF
/ an atrocious murder, and is answered IA
vorably; and she even makes young
Oliver Holt. the dissolute nephew OF the
| old peer play the part of true man.
/ This is a brief sketch of the play; 10 tell
more in detail would tend to diminish the
interest. It is an exempnhcation OF the
virtue OF hope and keeping eternally at
work. II is real play, full OF interest
with a moral Of consequence, and at
/ times is brilliant with satirical illusions
10 mistakes and lapses Of humanity.
As Glad, the Irresponsible optimist Of
4 the East End. Miss Eleanor Robson ap-
pears in the most effective characterize
ton Of her career. There is no advantage
/ offered 20 the role by way Of elegant cos
tuning or sensuous posing. She simply
| appears in rags and tatters and plays
the part Of the girl philosopher and
! preacher Of the slums, and never. at any
period, does she appear to lose, or even
| slaeken, her grasp Of the character and
its attributes. 1t is a clever bit Of acting
and one cannot so farther in commenda-
ton. after all. than to say that the
presence Of Miss Robson was visible.
The figure before US is Glad, the spirit
Of the play.
Miss Robson IS strongly seconded by
Fuller Mellish as Sir Oliver Holt. The
part Is especially suited to him, and. as
usual, he gets out Of it all contained there
in. Particularly effective was he in the
first act in Stimulating the conditions at
tendanJ upon approaching nervous col
lapse.
The supporting company is good with
out single exception, including Brandon
Hunt. as Oliver Holt; Thomas Fullerton as
Sir Bowling Burf0rd; George Farren, as
DR.. Heath. Gordon Douglas. as DR.. sat
teriy: L Race DunrobIn, as Lord Tommy;
William Sauter, as The Dandy: Roy Fair
child, as the thief; Claude Brooke. as
Powell. and long list Of others.
There is fine scene in the first act
where the three specialists indulge IN
conversation after the consultation. and
another in the last act. where Lord
Tommy discloses the state OF his mind
TO Oliver Holt Both are particularly
ingenious in showing the mental ratiocl-
nation caused by current happenings. The
play will set the wheels of thought I'm
motion, and whatever their attitude to-
ward these new theories. the majority Of
the spectators will agree with the people
Of the play in admitting that there may
be, at least, something TO them.
The house was filed with a brilliant
audience, the President and Mrs. Taft
occupying a box.