The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-25
OTIS SKINNER "YouR HUrfBLE SERVANT
AT The NATIONAL

| shop OF Mrs Perkins, where the great
| newspaper scene is enacted. The locale
affords opportunities for some splendid
character sketches, and Edith Ellis. the
author, has made the most OF them. They
are all true 10 life and lend 10 the pictur-
esque completeness Of the play The
character OF little Mary Jane whose
love and sympathy are the ultimate cause
of the reunion OF the parents. is admir-
ably PLAYED by Gretchen Hartman, and
has aroused the enthusiasm OF the press
and public everywhere. It is said Mr.
Figman is appearing this season under
the management Of John Cort. who is
becoming one Of the most important pro-
ducing managers Of this country.
The Columb ia-Hobert billiard.
Robert billiard. IN a Fool There
Was" will be seen at the Columbia this
week, This curiously gripping play Gre
ated a great stir when first produced in
New York. and crowded the Liberty The
alter for weeks. "a Fool There Was" is
an intensely dramatic portrayal Of
phase OF life set forth IN the thought
and philosophy OF Kiplings poem, THE
Vampire" This poem had its inspira-
ton in Sir Philip Burne-Jones' great
painting which startled all London when
first publicly displayed. Porter Emerson
Browne the dramatist. has built a mod
ern American play upon the theme OF
painter and poet The story reverses the
familiar triangle OF two men and a wom-
and and gathers SIS force from the strug-
gle OF two women for a man The latter
is a typical. polished New Yorker. who
stands very high in the financial. social,
and diplomatic world. HIS charming
home life at his villa in Larchmont upon
the eve OF his departure for Europe,
where he goes TO undertake an important
mission foe the government. is pictured.
The action quickly changes 10 the deck
OF a big ocean steamship about to sail.
Here the strong dramatic interest begins
when he meets the vampire woman,
seductive and fascinating creature Of al
Turing charms for whom a distracted lad
has killed himself five minutes before.
Although the big man Of the story Is
well seasoned citizen Of the world. he in
stantly falls under the woman's spell.
His mission iu London IS neglected for
wild days and nights IN Venice and
Paris The climax comes in the library
of the house where he is living in
wretched solitude He has abandoned
wife and child. and. in dull self-reproach.
has taken to brandy. His friends have
forsaken him, and he has fallen very low
from high estate The surroundings are
dust-eovered and neglected; furniture,
mirror. and bTic-abTac have been smash
ed in his drunken fury; even his one
faithful servant has left him. Then
comes the supreme struggle between the
opposing forces OF good aud evil, the
final result of which cannot be foretold
until the instant the curtain falls. II is
play OF striking contrasts. There are
many scenes of brightness and clever
comedy 10 tighten up the shadow of the
plays tensely dramatic side. There are
many flashes OF real humor and wiry
lines that sparkle with epigrams. The
scene production brought here is elab-
crate and beautiful-the same used In
the original New York production. The |
great steamship scene, with its crowds |
and hustle amid the excitement Of the !
sailing hour, has astonishing realism. Mr.. |
Hilliard brings a strong company, inelud- |
Ing Berton Churchill. as his friend: Stel |
la Archer. as the sweet and sympathetic |
wife: Winifred Burke. as the well-poised |
sister; little Boots Wurster, who has |
appeared in every performance OF the |
play since its opening night. as the win |
n.
fascinating vampire woman. There are a |
score OF others, including George Clare, |
Edward Glare, Edwin Holland. Horace |
Mitchell. w. c.. Bristor, C. w. Haskins.
Lillian Collins, and Virginia Pope. Over
fifty extra people are introduced In the
ocean steamship scene.