Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-01-11
MABEL TALIAFERRO AND
'SPRINGTIME' SCORE HERE
Dainty Actress Work in All but
One Act Strikes to Hearts
of Spectators.
GOOD ATTRACTIONS AT
OTHER LOCAL PLAYH0USES
P~rOctor's, American, Valid
mann's, Columbia and Miners
Have Fine Bills.

KTABEL rALIAFERRo, star of
lVI "Springtime,n at the Newark
Theatre this week, is II of the
daintiest, sweetest little women on the
American stage. She has a great deal
of that mysterious, elusive thing we
call charm, and as long as she graces
the lootlights She will have a staunch
following. Blu it is doubtful if her
slender shoulders will ever be able to
bear the burden of a heavy role. In
pretty, Whimsical characters her sweet
personality asserts itself to great adj
vantage, but when she gets into deep
water. as in the climax of the third act
in "~Springtime,p there is a lack OF force
that makes for something almost like
fiatness.
One of the hardest tasks an actress
can set for herself is the CONVINCING
portrayal OF u woman in the process
of going mad from sudden grief. This
is What Mabel Taliaferro has L do,
n il She fails to convince it is be-
cause she has not the dramatic force
that brings conviction.
On The other hand, in the fourth act.
where She portrays the little Madeleine
gone mad, her work is excellent. Her
own n~aturalness of method has an OPP
portunity to again assert itself and her
picture of the little maid stirs her audi
ence to tears. In the final climax,
where recognition of Gilbert, her lover,
slowly comes, there is no room for imr
provement. And she is altogether
charming in the first and second acts.
where she dasntily reveals the effects
of the awakening of love in a maid of
II. One of her valuable assets is a
very pleasing voice.
Miss Taliaferro is fortunate in having
such a clever opposite as William Har-
rigan. There is q naturalness and free
Ion from overacting about his por.
tiayal of Gilbert, the lover of Made
leine, that makes their scenes delight
full.
~.Springtime'' does credit to the clever
pens Of Booth Harrington and Harry
Leon Wilson. It's scene is laid in Louis
lana, in 1916 NJ. De Valette, descen-
dant of a noble Norman family, Is
nxiou that his daughter should marry
his cousin to perpetuate the family
name. She is but IL, and, never hav-
ing known what 1t meant to disobey,
readily consents. However, h meets
Gilbert Steele. the son OF a n%eighbor-
ing planter. Her love for him leads
her TO follow him when he starts for
the war. At the river edge the cap
ain of the troop sends her back. She
returns to her home to hear thai Gil
bert has been killed, and that her father
has east her from his hearth and ar
fections. The double shock to her child
like nature induces madness. but the
return of Gilbert restores her, n the
curtain falls upon her renewed happi-
ness.
William 3. Mack creditably plays the
role of Madeleine's father. Others in the
cast do excellent work. That of Miss
Mary Faber, as a gypsy in love with
Madsleine's cousin, is OF a high or
der.
1t would be impossible for Frederic
Thompson to stage a play without
making the scenery well worth While.
That of "Springtime' is very, very
effective.
ADELINE STANLEY CARRICk.