The Washington herald., 1911-02-14
LiT -IIiIiIIz lI!ETi[[IzlA1rlRllIzzS
THE BELASCO.
Mrs. Carter in 1.-TWO Women"


False in philosophy. false in construc-
ton. and false in execution is the five
act banality brought by Mrs. Leslie Car
ter TO affiict the senses of large and
suspiciouslY considerate audience at the
Relasco Theater last night Rupert
Hughes, whose deliciously funny farce,
Excuse Me" should really have fol-
lowed this presentation as an aptly titled
apology, stands indicted as the author
Cf this dramatic monstrosity. But even
he apparently seeks to escape the full
burden of blame by crediting the thing
to an Italian source.
AS its title would suggest, Mrs. Carter
appears in the roles of two women. Her
first Characterization is that of a humbly
virtuOus, consumptive seamstress, mar
red to an impecuniOUs artist and in
VentOr, who is really a count, but is
not working at it for the nOnCe. Mrs.
Carter made a most healthy cOnsumptiVe.
She has pumped considerably since Inc
days of ''Zaza" and 'Du Barry" but her
marvellous hair is as flaming as ever
in fact, even a little more 50. 1t looked
almost new. We became aware of the
Camile-Iikc affiiction that was killing
this faithful sewing lady through the
speeches of a phySiCian-Speeches muf-
fed by a VOluminOus and most unSani-
Iary beard
Mrs. Garter also cOughed now and then
as she worked on the pedals of her sew
ing machine and then We were sure.
The doctor orders her TO lie down, and
while she is resting in the alcove. the
lawyer for the firm to which the count
D,
the news Of its acceptance and a large
sum in advance royalties. The husband
plans d pleasant surprise for Jeannette
when she shall awaken. He remembers
that when they were married they were
too poor to have a wedding cake. For
ten Years or 50 Jeaunotte has laid cOvet-
Gus Eyes on large Wedding cake in the
window OF the pastry shop down the
street. Now she shall have it. The maid
rusheS out with bundles of money. and
returns with the huge, frosted cake and
oth", delcaci'S. The table is set and
JcannettC awakened
She comes from the curtained alcove
in the tranc" of death. StagEers to the
table tells Of a dream in which she had
just met the Deity. slips on the ice
covered cake. and dies. All that was
missing was some Eliza crossing the
icing music from the orchestra.
The second act diSciOSeS a wild night
among the frOlicSome Genizens of the
Partisan underworld. 1t is the Bal
Taharin. and the birthday of Jeanninc
Bartct ballet dancer and what else YOU
will, is being celebrated. 1t is the one
Vivdly real thing in the whole perform
anCe, and. being SO. bo!derS strongly on
the indecent. Into this moral pigSty
swirls Mrs. Carter az a leading spirit
The count turns up and finds in her
the perfect physical counterpart of his
dead wife. He brgs her to pose for
him that h" may complete his wife's
portrait She cons"nts-dismisses her
former lover. and having no place to
EO-all the other saloons being closed
makes a he'd out Of 4 table and goes
20 sleep-gown. slippers, shoulders. and
all.
And 50 goes this absurd distortion of
truth. ethics, and Theatres. through the
ancient regeneration processes of 4 har-
lot soul, the birth of a new love, the
false plea of being driven back to the
old life by her counts alOOfneS~ to her
advances and d supposedly cIimaCtic
scene in which she drives him from her
in a stormy otItburst of anger and dis
dain because he has the cruelty to suS-
rect the reality Of her redemption when
l. finds her living in a magnificent
apartment to which the former lover
haS the entree. This scene. delivered
with a sembIanCo Of Mrs. Carter's Old
power, is, unfortunately. equally full
Of sound and fury. SignifNinE nothing"
The last act finds her completely re-
deemed and accepted by the count. who
has been stricken blind in duel with
the VillainOuS lover Of the Bal Ia
harin days. 1t is a httingly mawkish
ending to the play.
Mr.. Carter has found her professional !
career 50 heset by misfortune since the
s"verinE Of relations between her and !
David BelaScO that it would he q most
pleasant duty to write nice things about
her acting and her plays. But there is /
nothing to commend in this latest effort
L" regain her former standing. The /
master mind that made her glory is I
missing. Save in her stormy moment of |
IaSSionat" anger she was false in
key MS her play. 1t was TriIhy without |
hcr Svcngali.
+. !. EhtcNffc labors hard to make |
human being of the count without |
avail Harrison Hinter plays a perfect |
ass with cOmmcndabIe fidelity to type. !
and Brandon Hurst was an excellent !
"DeSperate Desmond" Among the (
girls Of Bal Taharin was one who dis !
ported with realistic abandon and dis |
played most distracting ankles.
+. RICHARD StHAYER. !