The Washington herald., 1910-02-27

A good many years ago a young dra-
matte writer had occasion TO write a
criticism Of Miss Annie Russell. and In
HIS review he referred TO her "purrlng'
manner. The charming lady. who is now
one of the leading lights of the New
Theater, made a strenuous objection 10
such a designation of her methods. Per-
haps, If the young writer had said COO
ing" no umbrage would have been taken
but looking back over the years, there is
somehow a feeling that Miss Russell was
justified In her objections.
Similarly, John Drew must writhe
under the word polished" which we en-
counter nowadays, even in the advance
notices II is understood always that a
gentleman has polish. and at best 1t IS
but a vulgar term. Were it not that John
Drew never energies into print. perhaps.
we should have on record just such an
objection as that registered by Miss Rus
sell
Mr.. Drews distinguishing character
istic Is personality. A lady who attended
a performance OF "Inconstant George"
and a lady who, by-the-way. is an ad-
of seeing all the plays In which he APP
pears. said that she could not reconcile
the actor with the youthful part-that he
seemed too old Setting aside the criti-
cism as applicable 20 a great many of the
leading lights Of the stage. past the hey
day of youth. who are portraying young
characters, there is just one thing to be
said as a retort to the shaft aimed at
Mr. Drew in this particular case.
The majority of his admirers admit
that he does not assume a character.
His parts are selected with such care
that Mr.. Drew himself seems TO be the
individual concerned in the plays action.
This may be another way of saying that
he is always the same. and II may be
true but then one always has the pleas
urable sensation of seeming to watch
John Drew, not fictional character. To
the theatergoer who really appreciates
Drew that is sufficient. His personality
is many-sided. but, in the accepted mean
ing of the word, ne is not versatile. That
is why he is such a powerful personality,
To those to whom delicacy and refine
ment are acceptable on the stage. 10
whom comedy is wit and neaty-turned
epigram, and to whom acting is a subtle
delinestion of real human nature. John
Drew will always appeal. HEROES and
exaggerated sentiments are not at ali in
his line No one understands this better
than he. and when cast as Richard Car
vel" he could hardly keep his face
straight, so huge was the joke.
sketch of Willard Holcomb appears
elsewhere in these columns to-day. Mr..
Holconb served for several years as
dramatic critic in Washington. and his
writings on matters pertaining to the
theater were held in high esteem. He was
one Of the pioneers of that cOterie OF
Washington dramatic writer's who now
claim New York as their home OF these
the best known were Fred F. Schrader,
Will A. Page, Hector Fuller, Claiming
Pollock. and Mr.. Holcomb. The two last
named have had conspicuous successes as |
playwrights and Washington has every
reason to be proud of their achievements |
Mr.. Holeomb's play, est. Elmo" has en- |
joyed an unusual prominence, and the |
chorus OF critical judgment has been al |
most unanimously in praise Of the play.
It is curious to note the interest engen- |
dered by plays depicting by-gOne periods /
of American life. Irrespective of the work |
manship, the story. If toleraby told. and !
the characters. If fairly we'll drawn. seem
to rivet the attention at once Is this /
caused by the natural tendency of the |
human mind toward the romantic and pic /
turesque, two qualities which have dis
appeared from our national life? No doubt |
these gamblers, gentlemen and otherwise
these road agents, these backwoodsmen, |
and these COW punchers. all have their
counterparts in the present system, but |
there was something present in the older
times which is absent in this
The time and place chosen by Booth |
Harrington for the background Of a num-
her OF his stories was one OF the most
remarkable In our annals. The half for
eign city of New Orleans. with its Creoles,
jevees. and semi-medieval customs; the
Mississippi with its steamboat traffic.
patronized by the cotton planter, and
preyed upon by the card sharp. The riff
ran of Adventures who journeyed 20 and
fro amid these scenes, all afford material
for the romanticist New Orleans was the
commercial and social metropolis Of the
Southwest, and wherever we find the gen.
tleman gambler, or by whatever story
teller he is depicted, we invariably hear
some reference TO. or some "reminiscences
Of. the old life in New Orleans Although
the character has often before been pre-
sented by American writer's, Bret Harte
being the first and most successful, there
&C cff r4Ta -
writer like Harrington, who is skillfuI in
creation of atmospheric conditions, the
relation Of episodes. and the dellneation
of character, being, in fact. A capital
story-teller.
In Cameo Kirby" he has focused his
arts upon prolific subject and the We
hicle, as presented by Dustin Farnum and
his excellent company. makes an evening
of enjoyment and semi-historical interest. f,
This sort Of play seems 10 have moro
blood and bone than the modern socio-
logical or economic wrangle
What promises to be the dramatic event :
of the season will occur in the coming
engagement Of the New Theater Com
pany. This famous organization will be
seen here in three or four of the most
prominent successes OF their Inaugural
season in New York This tour was only
decided upon after continual and urgent
requests from all over the country for an
opportunity TO witness this notable COM
pany of players and one of the first OF
the few larger cities to be visited is
Washington In addition to the actual !
company now engaged at the New Thea I
ter the original stage settings viii be
carried for each production to be present !
ad ~, tour Il