The Washington herald., 1911-05-24

| Liza, Author Of the Evelyn Norton
Redskins pirates crooodiles ostrich pack Of wolves
The Vagabonds, as the new stock COM
pany at the Belasco Theater have elected
| to call themselves, made their bow to
a goodly hot-weather audience last even-
| ing in Barrie's masterpiece Of tender nom
| sense, Peter Pan" The selection of this
l fantasy imposed far greater responsible
ties upon players and stage management
than the usual summer stock organiza-
tion is willing or able to assume. That
| the result was far from unsatisfactory is
| a tribute to the general ability Of the
players and the care displayed in the
lstagtng of this ambitious undertaking.
And yet it was not good judgment to
| choose so delicately whimsical a play
| for popular presentation. The hUnor
| that turks in nearly every crook and
Granny OF this play is too elusive, and
the symbolism Of its fairy tale too subtle
for general consumption. When that
national idol, Maude Adams. lowered the
role Of Peter with her magic personality
and sweet genius. this creation of the
whimsical Scot was received alphabetically
by thousands in the hosts that focked
in merely because it was Adams. Your
average American is too busy feeding
mouths and his fair partner too engrossed
in the prosaic but necessary details Of
Housekeeping to appreciate or even under
stand Barrie's brief for the fairies.
Peter Pan will live, however, even If he
never grows up. He is as immortal as his
cousin Alice. But 1t will not be the sum-
mer stock Company that will keep him
alive. Miss Adams probably will revivify
the role before long; but when she has
passed into the ever-eyer land, Peter will
have TO make his home in a book to be
read by children OF all ages and for all
ages. To be sure, our British cousins
have made of Peter Pan an annual habit
Once every winter he is called upon to
lead the Darling children through their
marvellous adventures IN Never-Never
Land. The English may not have the
same idea of humor that We delight to
call American. but they are tenacious of
their fun and, unlike us, once they ap-
preciate a joke, they like to hear it over
and over again.
Mrs. Hopkins was the Peter Pan last
night. She gave a most creditable per-
formance. brimming with light joyousness
and youthful charm, Slightly less effect
i've in the more serious moments. Her
husband, Charles Hopkins. played two
parts, Mr.. Darling and the redoubtable
Capt Hook, chief of the pirates, he who
breads the approach Of the crocodile
by the ticking of the clock. upon which
he had once lunched hastily and none too
satisfactorily. Mr.. Hopkins gave the
part of Darling its proper farcical touch,
and as Hook could not have been i'm
proved upon. AS leading woman and
man, the Hopkines gave promise of many
highly enjoyable performances this sum-
mer.
The Mrs. Darling of Florence Hunt
ington gave this excellent actress little
to do, but that little was pleasantly done. |
The other grown-ups in the cast ap-
peared mainly as pirates. and We shall
have to await their resumption of more
human physiological aspects before identi- |
flying them. more gorish-looking band |
Of child-eating mariners never was seen. |
Vera Fuller Mellish and Gertrude
Augarde are the two grown-ups who |
played children. and 1t Is only charitable |
to defer further comment until they are
seen in parts suitable to their years. The !,
work of the real kiddies was commend |
a BILE in each particular. Margaret Shell |
by. as the tiny Michael. was just too cute |
for anything, and Imogen Fairchild. who |
smade her professional debut at Tootles. |
gives promise of a successful future.
At the conclusion of the performance |
Mrs. Hopkins, as sponsor for the Vaga- /
bonds. recited the following epilogue:
Dear friends, the curtains down. the play Is done;
Our little, mimic web of life is spun.
Yet pause a moment eer you 60 and hear
Our thanks for all the pleasure and good cheer
Your kind applause has brought US. Would 'tweTe |
trus
That YOU like as much as we like you!
We're called the ''Vssabopds''-long years ago
Shakespeare and his gay crnlrades were called so
The deathess poet took up the word Of shame
And piped 1t with immortal song to fame. |
Those days are dead, yet we strollers still;
Come. Will you follow us? For IL you will
Wen lead YOU through the magic paths that weave
In and about the Land Of Make-beese.
Now on its steamer slopes adventuring
Now in its pleasant valleys lingering.
And take this message with you. for It's true:
II we are yagabonds it's all for you.