The Washington times., 1911-11-01
In Dual Character She De-
lights First Night
Audience.
BELASCO TELLS OF
HIS PRIDE IN HER
In Curtain Talk He Speaks Of
Her as "This Little
Girl"

Rarely II ever does q play revolve
around SO fascinating and absorbing
theme as does THE Case OF Becky"
In which David Belasco presented Miss
Frances Starr last evening in the
National Theater for the .first time on
any stage. Cloaked In the most pro-
found secrecy. It was not until the cur
tain fell upon the hrst act that the
audience had even an inkling of what
Bolasco had prepared In the way OF a
vehicle for Miss Starr. Great as was
the expectation, the realisation was
even greater. Everything that artistry,
craftsmanship and experience could do
have been done TO make this play
drama that viii be talked about from
the Atlantic 10 the Pacific before many
weeks have passed. And the charming
little star brings to the part that has
been provided for her all the artistry,
all the histrionic ability. all the dis
eliminating taste that audiences have
been educated up to expecting from q
Belasco star II David Belasco was
looking for play that was different"
he has certainly discovered It in "The
Case Of Becky which. too. Is the case
OF Dorothy. for be It known that In
this latest play. the leading woman IL
given the difficult task of represent
Ing two widely divergent characters.
The play II Holmes ELSIE venner," Z"
Burgess white Cat" Stevenson's "Dr.
Jekyll and Mr.. HYDE" Du Maurier's 9
Trlby" and all the other novels OF
dual personality and prenatal in
huences made into a composite story
by Edward Locke and Jramatized by a
master hand. 1t is q simple story, full
nj NJ N,,n
too. But Belasco made no mistake (he
seldom does) when he placed into the
hands of his youthful protese the crea-
ton Of the dual character of Becky and
Dorothy and his trust in her power to
adequately interpret both parts was full
flied last night. In measure most gen.
erous.
She Is Lovable
As Dorothy.
AZ Dorothy. the chief actor in THE
Case of Becky IL lovable, intellectual,
| refined, pure-minded. and good. In her
| other personality, which IL the Becky
principle In her. she Is vicious, cunning,
q creature of depraved tastes, smart as
q girl of the streets. hating Dorothy
with an intense hatred, always playing
tricks upon her, in short. doing all she
can to humiliate and hurt her. sf"r
Now for the play:
The curtain rises to disclose the office
of DIR. Emerson's sanitartum, q typical
country village doctors Office, overtull
OF furniture. but room in which there
is not Jarring note, from the old steel
engravings on theswail to the speaking
tubes on the doctors desk.
Into this room comes Dorothy (Fran-
ces Starr), sweet, winsome, dressed In a
blue-and-white print dress, her arms
hlled with flowers. She Is the girl who
has been sent to the sanitarium for
observation--the girl with the dual per-
sonality, the patient In whom. for some
unexplained. reason. the doctor takes
such PROFOUND interest. Dorothy, a girl
about whom little is known. has come to
the village to be companion to Mrs.
Arnold. and. OF course. to make the
| story complete, there must be q love
AFFAIR on between young Arnold and
Dorothy However, Dorothy has re-
fused to marry young Arnold, ralizing
the futility Of It until q cure 10 effected.