The Washington herald., 1910-11-08
THE COLUMBIA.
.Ambition.v


Ambition" the new play by Byron
Ansley, in which Elsie Ferguson ap-
peared at the Columbia Theater last
night. deals with a problem which has
lately brought forth much discussion. II
is the question OF the freside versus the
workshop for women with the Gus
tomary accompanying ideas of being
welded TO art" and the alleged sur
render OF womanly independence on
the matrimonial altar.
The heroine. Jane Spear, imagines that
she Is an artist and proposes to support
herself and pay her brothers way
through college with the proceeds of her
artistic handiwork, being encouraged by
the fact that she does sell some pictures,
through the medium of Horatlo Wins
low, an art dealer, aud all Of which time
she was holding at arms length one HUI
bert Field, a~successful lawyer and first
class man. who has offered her his name.
Now. as a matter OF fact, Jane Spear IS
no artist at all, and as the hero at a
critical moment Of the play diplomatical-
~ expressed H. her work did not meas
ure up to the standard OF high art. and
the pictures had been purchased by Field
with the high intention of saving her
from disappointment or course, at a
certain moment the young lady had 20
be disillusioned, and she is furious, partly
with having so fooled herself and more
50 with her lover. whom she accuses of
having deliberately schemed to bring
about the situation. which Is a complete
misinterpretatiOn OF his motives; In fact.
her whole career, I'D 10 the point in
which she finds" herself in the last act.
Is Nmisinterpretation. The events that
lead up TO the happy elimination accrue
principally from what happens 10 her
young brother. who becomes entahgled In
some shady bookmaking transactions, is
accused of murder, and is saved from the
sallows by Field, ssad it is In the court
room, when she finds herself looking into
the barristers eyes and sending cour-
age into his faltering heart by the mys.
ferrous agency of thought transference
or spirit outpouring or something Of the
like sort, that she comes to a sane real
ization Of her true relationship to mum
dane affairs. and particularly to the man
standing before her. There is also
wrought into the play an element per-
tanning 10 hereditary taste for drink,
which both the girl and Ter brother in
merit from their father
All Of the material mentioned above is
good, and the whole thing is presented
with proper reverence for the accepted
rules Of dramatic construction, while the
lines are clever, in spots approaching
eplgrammatic brillianey What the play
now lacks is virility, which may prob
ably come with pruning and a more
vivid presentation OF the character ele-
ment. OF interest there IS plenty, for
the very nature of the things discussed
evoke interest. There is host of young
women Ike this one in the land, al
though most OF them hope 20 maintain
their independence by stenOgraphy and
accounting rather than the higher forms
OF art The author evidently has an
intelligent conception of the state OF af-
fairs that he plays upon, and there is no
question about the correctness Of his con-
clusiOn. A WOman's happiest sphere is
within the circle OF the home. and not
among things placed by Providence out
side of her nature
Miss Ferguson's work as Jane Spear
is very interesting; She has good per-
sonaiity and an intelligent grasp Of the
role. and carries the emotional scenes
without undue stress of voice She is
particularly clever in the trying scene in
the art store. when the true state OF
affairs is revealed 10 her. and in the
scene where the hereditary instinct OF an
appeal TO drink comes over her
Frank Mills, as Hubert Field. gives a
finished Interpretation: in fact. II is at
times so finished as to convey the idea
of Overstudiousness: but he makes the
lawyer lovable fellow, thus aceentuat-
ing the utter foolishness OF a woman
hesitating for an instant between the
love Of such man and the preearious
fame which might come to artistic talent.
Horatio Winslow. the old art dealer,
offers great opportunity for a fine char
acter sketch. which Mr.. Grant Steward
does about all possible within the limits
of the lines and action allotted This
character should be made more of in
the play, bat the omission seems to be
on the part of the author and not the
actor. There is a serving maid addicted
TO overindulgence in liquor. who fur
nishes most Of the comedy, and is very
we'll presented by Beatrice Prentice;
younger brother, the customary cause OF
throuble that brings about the eventual
happiness played by William Harrigan;
and then. figuring with so much promi-