The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-11
THE COLUMBIA.


/ H"HNNF CatRtAs
With a full quota OF fairies, banshees.
wills-of-the-wisp. and other familiar
characters OF Irish folk lore. Chauncey
Olcott returned to the Columbia last night
in Ragged Robin his latest starring
vehicle. The appreciation OF the audi
ence that greeted him and his songs
showed that he has lost none Of his popu-
larity in this city,
The play that he is appearing in is a
| sort Of Peter Pan" set to Irish scenery
and Irish ideas All the little people"
| familiar to the Emerald Isle made their
appearance from the fairies themselves
to the will-of-the-wisp and the 'Iepra-
haun," one of the leaders OF the fairies,
| who dwells in a we'll
Ragged Robin" Is a wanderer. who be-
| lieves in the fairies and their good Offices
They find him asleep near the fairy well
and the leprahaun DEGREES that he shall
drink out OF the well and that the girl
that drinks after him shall love and
marry him. But the one who does drink
/ is betrothed to the william OF the piece
a little bit Of melodrama that gave
( Olcott his chance for the "big" speech in
the second act, but which seemed foreign
/ to the spirit and idea OF the play.
4 The Will OF the fairies Is carried out
and the girl falls I'm love with Robin. but
cannot marry him because Of the duty
that she feels that she owes TO her father
and the necessity OF uniting through
marriage, the two farms Of Grattan and
/ Darcy. So, at the end Of the second act
she goes away and is married 10 Darcy.
leaving Robin to return to the only home
that he has known-the road.
But the wanderer-like al good heroes
OF fairy stOries-is a noblenan by birth.
and he finally comes to his own and
returns during the time Of the famine 10
do good to the people. and, incidentally.
10 marry the heroine. After being led
10 her hunt IN the bog by the wfIl-of-
the-wisp-an effect, by the way. which
was eXcellently contriyed by electricity
he finds Margaret in poverty. and is
just IN time 10 rescue her from being
evicted The viii Of the fairies IS fun
filled, for the fall Of the curtain finds
her in Robins arms. while he sings
Sweet Girl Of Ny Dreams" to her as
only Olcott can.
Il viii be seen that the plot Of the
play offers nothing strikfngIy out OF
the way or noveI-it Is iust a simple lit
tie story, evidently contrived more to
give the star a chance 20 sing his songs
than anything else. But as that seemed
to be what the audience wanted and they
enjoyed it. what more could be wished?
As Robin the Wanderer, Chauncev Oh
colt had chance TO sing and look rs
fetching as Of old. and his songs. were
as good as ever. He scored especially
with Sweet Girl Of Ny Dreams The
Eyes That Come From Ireland" If
You'll Remember Ne" and 7 Used 10
Believe IN Fairies"
Rose Curry was his leading woman and
played the part acceptably. others in
the cast were Mark Price. as Andrew
Grattan; Lottie Smith. as sheela GRAFT
tan, and Andrew O'Neil. as Lanty Lani-
gan.
A word should be said FOR the scenery
and the stage effects. especially the
fairies, the storm and the last scene Of
ali in the bog. The opening OF this scene
with the dance Of the fairies and the
different wills-of-the-wisp fitting 10 and
fro, IS especially worthy OF notice for
its peculiar beauty.