The Washington herald., 1910-02-01
LAST NIGHT AT THE
LOCAL PLAYHOUSES
THE COLUMBIA.
Mabel TaIiaferro in aspringtime."

Mabel TaIiaferrO in "SprIngtime."
"Springtime," the play by Booth Tar
kington and Harry Leon Wilson. in which
Mabel Taliaferro is appearing at the Col
umbia theater this week, Is pretty little
romance Of old Louisiana, at that period
when New France was shifting allegiance
from the tri-color to the Stars and Stripes
afterNapoleons sale, and when Andrew
Jackson drove Packenham and Gibbs back
TO their ships with remnant of their
veteran army.
NJ de Valette, a Frenchman OF the old
school, abhorring the Yankees, and still
keeping up, additionally. at least, his al
| legiance TO the mother country, has be-
trothed his Madeline, according to the old
Norman custom. to his cousin, Raoul de
Valette. a man whom she has never
seen, who arrives at the opening OF the
play for the formal proceedings in the
matter, but everything is changed by the
arrival also upon the scene Of Gilbert
Steele, son of a neighboring American
planter, with whom the young girl in
stantly falls in love; and he Just as in
stantly acknowledges a reciprocal affee-
| ton. He, however, has contracted to go
| OFF to the war with Capt VOLTS COM
! pany Of sharpshooters, and go he does,
after plighting his troth She follows,
but is stopped at the river by the officers.
She wanders back home is disowned by
her father and under the additional
stress entailed by the delivery of false
news by deserter. 10 the effect that the
American army had been completely
destroyed in the battle, she lapses into a
sort OF aphasla and is only recalled 10
rationalism by the appearance OF her
lover, hale and hearty, and thus the
Representatives Of the old and new regime
are happily united. In its inception the
play reminds one OF the Rose of the
Rancho" in which, It will be remem-
bered there Is a similar uniting of repre-
sentatives OF the old Spanish aristocracy
with the conquering Americans and the
scene in the first act. where the girl
awakes from a nap and finds herself
looking into the face of the handsome
American, Is strongly reminiscent Of the
scene in THE Circus Girl" when, in the
morning after her accident, the injured
rider comes 10 and finds the minister in
her presence
The chief charm of the story came from
the portrayal of the innocent character
Of the daughter Of the old French aristo-
crat which Is most charmingly effected
by Miss Mabel Taliaferro. Her girlish per.
sonality fits the role exactly. and she has
a comprehensive grasp Of the character
to such an extent that she is able to make
IN aDDear very real and IovobTo urbf1n 81,
other effective element Is worked upon
by William Harrigan, as the young Amre-
lean, who is quite as lOvabIe IN his hoy.
ish earnestness- Other characters Incl,
dental 10 the story are agreeably sus.
tanned, particularly that Of Father
O'Mara, an Irish priest with a genuine
brogue. by Joseph Brennan; NJ. de Va.
Iette, the French aristocrat. by William
B. Mack. Wolf, the backwoodsman, by
Francis McGuin, and Louise. the old ser.
want, by Helen Lindrath.
The play is simply a pretty love story
exemplifying. Of course, the world-old
adage that love overcomes everything
There IS plenty Of character delineation
and the atmospheric conditions accruine
TO the place and period. while not strong
" depended upon, are sufficiently worked
up TO lend pleasing background for tht
romance. It leaves pleasant impression,
! in the mind and will probably be nor,
thoroughly enjoyed by the mass Of thea
7 tergoers than play OF intricate problem.
! OF complicated emotion. The simplicity o
, the chief character permeates the who'll
, performance.