The Washington times., 1911-05-23
"PETERPAN" CHARMS
BELASCO'S INITIAL
SUMNER AUDIENCE
The Vagabonds Rival Maud
Adams in Beautiful
Fantasy.

f'eiasco's summer stock season was
p'easanuy and successfully launched
Iast night, when The VaeahondS"
mace their first appearance in Peter
Pan" ~
some doubt may have been felt and
expressed over the selection of Barrje's
oeaultu! fantasy for the opening bill,
win the wonderful Interpretation which
leuu ADAMS gave the title role so
NiVldly remembered by theater-goers of
the Capital. but after seeing the per-
iorniance last night the wisdom of the
arrangements chonce is apparsnt
NohtnG was left undone IN the way of
sage settings and accessories, and so
exceptionally good was the production
'iaI the audience, old as we'll as Young.
grew enthusiastic and, in spite of the
Iie"t' applauded so heartily that 1.-The
Ndsanonos' must have felt quite at
home
Charm Brought Out
The new organization succeeded in a
rather surprising extent in bringing out
'ne charm of the wonderful little play
mat delights the hearts of children and
makes the older ones forget their age.
ana takes them back to the age when
'nS talr1es. pirates, and wolves all seem.
cd very real and the marvellous adven-
lures or the children quite believable,
linen. too, there was a very noticeable
lack or that roughness which is sum
posed to be permissible in first nights
OF stock productions. and the lines were
read with little assistance from the
prompter.
In the role of the boy who did NOT
want to grow up. Peter Pan, Mrs.
hopkins, so well remembered here as
Violet Vivian. was Just what her adj
mlrers expected her to be Slender ann
boyish looking. graceful and natural sine
presented Peter Pan that was very
acceptable. Her work las. night pronr-
1ses much fer other roles during the
season. I'VE
Charles Hopkins. the leading man
part OF the time gave a very terrifying
portrayal OF the pirate captain with the
deadly hook hand. and then appeared
as Father Darling, making that part
Just as satisfactory. Fuller MelIish in
the small role of Since, gave an IutIrna-
t1on of what to expect from him when
ne has part worthy OF his ability,
Florence Huntington. who, as a member
Of the Columbia Stock COMPANY maSa
many friends here, gave a natural ana
easy portrayal of the mother Miss
Huntington IS as attractive as ever and
she was given a warm little greeting
when she appeared.
Miss Augarde and Wendy.
Gertrude Augarde took the role of
Wendy. and while the part does not fit
her. she works enthusiastically, and one
finds oneself much better satisfied with |
the portrayal toward the end Of the |
play. One of the real favorftes of the |
east was little Margaret Shelby, and
she doubtless will prove a strong draw
ing card later in the season if given
a role in which she will have an op-
portunit% to show what clever little |
miss she is. FmOgene Fairchild, cast as
Tootles. is another of the young mem
fers who did nOticeably good work.
Juliette Shelby and half a dozen other
Juveniles helped to round out a cast
that deserves little but praise.
st. the close of the performance Mrs
Hopkins read The Vaga bonds Pro-
logue." written especially for the open
ing night by Charles Robert Housum.