The Washington herald., 1911-12-21
''KISMET rs GIVEN
BEFORE Big HOUSE
Otis Skinner Plays Stellar
Role in New Piece.

A new Richmond came forth full-pano-
| piled in the theatrical lists last evening,
and a new rival to THE Garden of AL
lah" was launched. The first perform
ance in the United States of "Kismet, -
with Otis Skinner in the stellar role, was
given in Washington, and among the
notable events of the present season this
brilliant enactment of new play will
not be ranked among the least.
''Kismet' is play and spectacle. Wild
ly imaginative, and almost barbaric in
its scenic magnificence, Edward Knob
LAUGH is the author, and he truly de-
scribes it as a new Arabian Night" 1t
is this indeed. 1t is a Maxfield Par
rish extra illustrated edition of the
Arabian Nights, an ocular orgy, some
thing which is rescued from the vacuity
of sheer spectacle by a certain literary
cleverness and reCurrent Omar Khay
yam-ish fantasy-the Quintessence of
''Kismet"-which runs through the fabric
of the play, if play 1t can be called.
"Kismet' is a succession of scenes
strung together with much the same Sc
quenCe and releV ance as the tales of
''Sindbad the Sailor" or Aladdin and the
Wonderful Lamp" 1t makes a composite
whole, however. 1t is leavened by a
strangely fascinating Oriental symbolism
vide the name of the play. Sometimes
performance were less obvious and op-
pressive II would be impossible to
swamp acting of such quality as Otis
SINNERS with scenery in any event, but
"Kismet," gOrgeOusly beautiful as it is.
draws near to such situation. 1t leaves
nothing to the imagination. Surely it is
not too much to say that the bulk of the
applause lavished upon the production at
the National Theater last evening was a
tribute to the scene painter, whose spIcn-
did work, assuredly, will do more to
make "Kismet'' one OF the most-talked-
about productions of the season than all
other elements combined.
In all justice. 1t must be said that such
overwhelming pictorial achievements as
the hammam of Mansure's Mansion"
the surprisingly beautiful street scene
before the Mosque of the Carpenters the
courtyard of Halls house, would make
the success of any ordinary play, and
"kismet," in view of KnoblauCh's clever
ly fantastic treatment, an ability which
he showed in THE Faun" and THE Shu-
lamite." is more than an ordinary play.
London recognized it last season as
remarkable transposition of the spirit of
The Arabian Nights to the stage. per-
haps the most remarkable in the history
of the theater 1t will unQuestionably be
borne to success on the strength of its
bizarre spirit and its scenic novelties.
even If The Garden of Allah" will dull
the edge of its reception as spectacle.
To a sophisticated Washington audi
enCe little need be said about the polished
and fine-hbered art of Otis Skinner. AS
Hail. the Moorish heggar, he has 1
limited opportunity. all cast i'm the spirit
OF Oriental fatalism. How Ceverly he
cast aside all of the romantic and emo
tiOnaI clements OF his equipment last
evening and gave a whimsically eXtrava-
CANT portrait of the whining. lying,
hypocriticaI, yet lcvable Hail. is a study
which will delight the entire Skinner
following throughout the country.
1t is strange to see the names of Klaw
&, ErlanEer and Harrison Grey Fisko
associated on a programme but If future
COllaborations result in such enjoyable
productions as "Kismet." ii is to be
hoped the alliance will be continued.