Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-23
Belasco.

That a vagabond is generally ne'er-
do-well Is automatic. but that the Vaga-
bonds" at the Belasco Theater possess
| certain sterling qualities that their name
sakes in real life lack was amply dem
onstrated last evening in their produc-
ton of Peter Pan" To inaugurate their
summer season of stock with so preten-
tious an Offering bespeaks either the ir-
responsible impulse of typical vagaDond
or mature consideration on the part of
one who believes he will attract along
lines of real worth. The proof OF the
pudding remains to be ascertained in the
eating.
The story of The Boy Who Wouldn' I
Grow Up Is not too we'll known to bear
repetition. except to those who, knowing
II, will never forget it And yet, To repeat
il for the sake of the unintiated means to
seat ones self on magic carpet and be
waited back to the childhood days OF
fairies and elves and pirates bold. who
gamboled about on that wonderful bit of
earth known in fairy lore as the green
sward.
And, is always the case in such
tales. the bare facts oil the narrative are
nnlmpressive in the extreme. but simply
astounding when clothed in their delight
full habiliments. such goSsamer wings.
aglimrner with the dancing sunbeams
that have filtered through the tree-tops
of the forest cool--or any OF the thousand
and one substances known only to fairies
anu 10 tItiiuItH inc STpWn-upS-iI II
he that they have lost the way back to
this enchanted land-there is in every line
the subtle mastery of the Scotchman
who wrote it. j. M Barrie, that makes
the play a second cousin at least To the
classic Alice in Wonderland
To- follow an actress of such. eerie charm
Maude Adams In the role of Peter
Pan is what Mrs. Charles Hopkins there
tofore well and widely known Violet
Vivian was, perforce, compelled to do
"a ftIlIy do nd
her sprightly way along the path was at
tested In no uncertain fashion by the
audience, and especially by the wide-eyed,
open-mouthed children. Her naivete. her
wfnsomeness, her youth and the earnest
ness with which she essayed the role all
stood her in good stead.
Charles Hopkins. Mr.. Darling, the
father of the children who carried
away TO the haunts of Peter Pan.
brought to the part an originality of con-
ception that pleased, and later. as Hook.
the pirate captain. offered a most accept
able Interpretation of the role.
Florence Huntington we'll remembered
from previous stock work In the city, was
enthusiastically greeted when she appear
ed as Mrs Darling, the mother, and re-
established herself in the good graces of
her admirers. Gertrude Augarde brought
to the role of Wendy a certain vigor of
diction and movement that does not seem
quite In keeping with the part. Margaret
Shelby. as little Michael. made several
separate and distinct hits for her own
cunning little self in the evenings per-
formance, and Imogene Fairchild demon
strated her ability to render the lines In
trusted to her with rare naturalness.
Henrietta Goodwin. as the First Twin.
proved really attractive number of the
band of lost boys.
Fuller Mellish took the small part Of
Since and made of it bit that stood out
pleasingly In the performance. Mrs.
Stanhope Wheatcroft was acceptable as
Tiger Lily, was also Juliette Shelby
as little John Darling.
The entire production was staged with
a lavishness surprising I'm stock per-
formance. and the stage pictures received
deserved measure of the appreciation
of the audience. At the conclusion of
the play Mrs Hopkins delivered the fol-
lowing epilogue. written by Charles
Robert Housum. with rare Evolutionary
effect:
THE vAGABONDS EPILOGUE-
Dear friends the curtains down. the play IL
done,
Our little. mimic web Of life Is spun:
Yet pause a moment you go and hear
Our thanks for all the pleasure and good cheer
Your kind applause has brought Would
That you like ms as much like you!
We're called the "vagsbonds" years ago
The deathess poet took up the word of shame
And piped IL with immortal song to fame.
Those DAYS are dead. yet strollers still.
Come, WIN you follow us For IL you will
Well lead you through the magic paths that
In and about the Land of Make Believe.
Now on its sternpr slopes adventuring.
And take this message with you. for tits true.
II Vagabonds it's all for you