The Washington times., 1911-04-18
THE WOMAN SCORES
WITH BELASCO Ill
AND NOT PRESENT
Launching of His Third
Venture of the Season
a Triumph.

David Belasco's illness kept him from
coming to Washington yesterday to see
the launching of his third successful
venture of the present season. That
THE Woman" which had its premiere
at the National last night, is destined
to prove all that its producer and au-
thor hoped for it, there can be no doubt.
Powerfully constructed, dealing with
present-day conditions, with gripping
interest that at times makes the audi
ence hold its breath, and presented by
cast that is well-nigh perfect, the en-
thusiasm 1t evoked can but be lore
cast of success
1t was altogether appropriate that
Washington should have been selected
for the first performance, for while the
theme is q national one the scenes are
laid here in the Capital 1t deals with
graft and grafters, not the small CRATER
but the big ones, those whom The
long-eared public rave against in gen.
eral, but bow down to as individuals"
Rs the chief CRATER of them all, the
Hon. Jim Blake expressed 1t. Nor is
there any word-mincing in the authors
handling of his theme. He does not re-
sort to fictitious party titles, but calls
insurgents, insurgents and his house
leaders can mean none other than the
regulars" the faithful old guard of
the Republican party.
Power and Frankness.
The inner workings of the powerful
machine and the INSCRIPTIONS methods
employed to force the passage in the
house of a bill Wall Street interests de-
mand are displayed by the author with
a frankness that is startling to the un-
initiated at least. This. however, is but
an angle of the play, and the author
has presented another side that is
equally as interesting
An old scandal is raked up in the po-
hical game to ruin the insurgent-re-
former whose attitude means the de-
feat of the bill. 1t develops that the
woman in the case is the daughter of
the arch-grafter, House Leader Blake,
and the wife of his chief lieutenant
Representative Robertson Of New York.
Years before her marriage the affair
with Standish, the reform leader, had
occurred. When the fight is at its hot
test, detectives for the machine rake
up this old scandal, but are unable to
learn the name of the woman. Blake
sends fo- Standish and threatens to pub
lish the story that will ruin him po
litiCally If he does not withdraw his op-
position to the bill. Standish refuses to
quit, and the subsequent events which
lead up to the exposure of the woman
TO the husband and father and the de-
feat of them and their bill come in
logical sequence and with thrilling in
terest.
The Moment of Tensity.
There the author presents a novel
situation. One of the tensest moments
OF the play comes when the wife admits
that she was The Woman" The hus-
band, who unconsciously has been
bounding his own wife, seeking to dis
grace her merely to win his game of
politics. stunned for a moment by the
denouement, stands helpless, then opens
bis arms TO the wife who has wronged |
him. y
The central figure in the production is
the telephone girl, for about her efforts |
TO get square with Jim Blake and |
her fight to save the woman in the case
from exposure. much OF the story re-
wolves. In this role Helen Ware, who,
since her appearance here in The
Third Degree" has been one of the
Capitals favorites, will lose none of
her popularity. Her portrayal is pains
taking and convincing, and shows a
regard for the little details that make
her acting so pleasing.
In the rest Of the cast no serious
flaws lcan be picked. William Court |
leigh. as Jim Blake. gives a character
iZation that would attract much atten- |
ton were it not for the excellent work |
Of those about him. and Jane Peyton
makes the woman in the case just the |
sort of character the author intended. |
She deserves thanks for not OVERRIDING |
It.
Cuyler Hastings gives a most COM
mendable portrayal of the insurgent |
leader. His acting is quiet and forceful, |
and particularly convincing in the scene |
with the woman"
To Carleton Macy was entrusted the |
role Of Ralph Van Dyke. CORPORATION |
counsel, who comes down to Washing |
ton when things are going wrong for |
the interests. Mr.. Macy succeeds in
making the character appear a very |
familiar one to Washingtonians
William Harrigan gives very salts |
factory portrayal Of Blakes son, de-
spite little .,U Unfamiliarity fam with his
T1win Holt. as the husband: Guy !
Nichols and John Ellis round out the
strong cast.
1t is seldom that Washington, accus-
toned as it is to first productions, has
seen premiere that was presented with
the finish and polish that The Woman"
showed and the audience, which in
cluded the President, Champ Clark, and
many other notables, applauded with
unstInted enthusiasm until the author,
William c. De Mill, appeared and made
sp appropriate If slightly embarrassed
little speech OF thanks.