The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-13

Interesting Series Of Plays to Fol-
Iog-Miss Russell as Viola.
A performance of Twelfth Night ex-
cellent in every particular. was given by
the New Theater Company. at the Be
lasco Theater last night As was TO be
expected. there was capacity audience,
headed by the President and Mrs. Taft
and including all the first night theater-
goers in washington, who had looked for
ward for a whole season 10 this engage
ment.
Ever since the New Theater was opened
in New York. reports Of its achievements
have been eagerly followed all over the
United states. and the present tour is a
succession Of t.iumphs The reputation
gained by this company. from its direc-
tors down 20 the humblest stage me
chanic has been gained 10y a rigid ad-
herence 10 the best principles Of dramatic
art For once the public has been con-
WINGED that commercialism. If not entire
" eliminated from the objects OF the in
stitution. has at least been subordinated
10 artistic ideals.
From this statement must not be drawn
/ the Impression that there has been any
neglect Of those features Of the play
whose sole object is 70 amuse. Witness
/ the upToariously funny twelfth night
Irevels Of Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew
/ Aguecheck, and Marie-antics which de-
scend 10 the lowest levels of broad farce.
I"ticklin- the ears OF the grounding" In
VERY truth. but so aptly and so intelli-
gently as 20 leave no shadow Of doubt as
TO their propriety.
Fine scenic Effects.
Twelfth Night" is an admirable se!ec-
/ zion from the repertoire Of the company
with which 20 exhibit the results Of that
wealth Of resource which the theater has
/ az It's command The play IS enacted
amid scenes Of exquisite beauty, the soft
and mellow arrangement OF light. so
!skiIifulIy introduced as not 20 suggest the
/ existence of artificial light at all: the
/ delicate C0iorinE Of the sky and the sea;
/ the respondent yet not gariSh OF OBJ
}
/ decorative interior Of the ducal palace.
| Each and every change Of setting was
the signal for handclapping. showing that
there was I'm the audience an echo Of
appreciation for the fine effects which
i the genius Of the producers had evolved.
/ The whole production represents the
/ highest pinnacle yet reached IN the appli-
/ cation OF modern stage methods 10 the
! Shakespearean Crama. Saturday after
noon there is 20 be shown "A Winter
/ Tale produced after the manner of
/ Shakespeare day. so far as is possible
4 in a modern theater, and thus an excel
lent opportunity for contrasting the two
methods will be afforded but 10 sug-
gest for an instant that the beautiful
trappings seen last night in the Twelfth
Night production could distract the at
tention from the actors and their lines
is 20 repudiate the wonderful strides
/ which the producers art has made dur
ing the three centuries which have in.
tervened since the play was penned-
An Excellent Cast.
Naturally when a perfect presentation
Of a given play is sought, dependence
/ cannot be made upon scenery and proper.
ties alone. Nor is the star-actor idea
deemed beneficial TO this laudable con
clusion. The allotment az each and ev.
cry role. therefore, 10 a player Of The
| highest capabilities possible has been N,
system Of the New Theater So il turret
out last night that those who were IA.
miliar with Twelfth Night"-or though
they were-fcund many OF the roles in.
vested with unsupported prominence. NJ
one actor overshadowed another. eacl
claimed and received his share OF the al
| tentiou. each got out OF his lines pre-
Cisely what was put there in the frs
place. There were no feeders" no role,
cut or slurred for the sake Of puttinr
some other one forward. and when az
tho final curtain the characters troopet
about the stage. by pairs. the applause
was about equally divided. As each on,
passed he was rewarded for his coutrl
button 10 the splendid ensemble.
Mr.. a. F. Arson as Orsino, Duke o.
Hlyria, gave dignity and force TO hi,
role, and that tinee OF melancholy that
| follows his unreqUited love for Olivia
and that puzzled tenderness with Viola
and that sudden awakening az the last
70 the reality. with admirable discre.
ton. Charles Balsar was the Sebastian
and while not physically a replica Of Miss
Russell, read so well as TO make this
defect one easily passed over. Mr. Lee
Baker was a virile Antonio. though OF
course there is little opportunity in The
part save for conventional acting
Two Clever Actresses.
Miss Leah Bateman-Hunter was a su.
perb Olivia, her bearing and her change
able moods being in perfect sympathy
with the role. She is a very handsome
young woman, and II We mistake not 9
newcomer. so far as Washington is con.
! cerned. Miss Jessie Busley could no
be improved upon as Marie Her clear
ness il enunciating and thorough aban.
donment 20 the scheme for the bedeviI
ment Of Malvolio made her acting Of IN,
part quite a notable performance. This
is her first appearance in ShakeSpca~ear
role. it is thought and she proves tina
she has studied her role WIN the ut
most intelligence and understanding. AnC
above all. she y>yed it deliciousIy. Will