Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-17
ADJUSTMENTS
New National.

plays which have reflected the art and
temperament of that excellent and favor
lite actor, Mr.. Otis Skinner, within the
past few seasons. 1t presents the actor
agreeably and effectively. Indeed, MIR.
Skinner may always be depended on to
take care of himself so far as his own
role is concerned. With enough lines to
tell or merely to suggest story Of hu-
man experience, Mr.. Skinner will provide
personal magnetism, delicate shading of
vocal expression and convincing grace
Of pose and gesture sufficient to make
the one role stand forth from the sur
rounding material like cameo. Com
petent to rank with the leading opponents
Of the standard plays, Mr.. Skinner has
chosen rather to explore the modern field
of poetry for themes and forms of express
sion that will deserve at least in some
degree to be considered with the respect
that Is given to the time-tried classics II
is difficult and fascinating quest; the
likely to be the joy of striving rather
than the attainment of marked material
benefit.
Sire" is play of extremely delicate
workmanship, one Of the French school
which addresses itself to subtle psy-
chology rather than to entertaining mar
rative. 1t Is a revelation OF mental anu
moral conditions which the American au-
ditor cannot be expected to receive into
complete sympathetic understanding With
out vigorous exercise Of his own imagina-
ton. He must comprehend the deep and
affectionate loyalty which the French
royalist held for a mOnarch's son, In the
face OF revolutionary reverses; he must
take seriously the petty conspirators,
whose plottings foment nothing more than
street brawls. and he must idealize the
'clock-mending. chimney sweeping jack-of-
all-trades, whose love for lady's attend
ant Is the one thread of romance in the
story-that is. such romance as contents
the auditor who demands wedding joy
Ously consurhrnated' Or tragically pre-
vented as the prime essential of a popu-
lar stage story. Without the knowledge
OF the French temperament which, nor
mally, idealizes a character or senti-
ment to the point of extravaganza, and
the French art which rejoices in showing
its finesse by pressing the sublime to the
uttermost limits, and then by supreme
skill avoiding the ridiculous, Sire by
Henri Laveoan, is likely to seem an in
congruous collection Of moods, a series OF
too sudden contrasts, ranging through
farce, melodrama and tragedy.
Mr.. Skinner enables his own role to
thread the mazes safely and securely, but
the play itself does not permit the versa
tile, impulsive, generous and withal super
fetal Roulette to be either a true come
dian or q complete hero. He is the passive
figure in circumstances, and his willing
ness to die at the close of the play is the
manifestation of the Indifference of pa
tient misfortune instead of the vigorous
determination of martyrdom. An audience
keenly aware of the historic events which
afford a background for the play would
find In Roulette a type worthy of it's
closest interest. But the spectator who
contemplates the play merely as an
evenings diversion may have difficulty in
assuming the view points essential to
thorough perception of the minute analy-
ses of character and motive which the
author has made. The fact that the chief
characters, the adventurer and the aristo-
cratic lady whom he deceives, are both
mature types forces the plot to an intel
lectual rather than to an emotional basis.
The effervescence Of youth is supplied
by IZetta JEWELS role of the lady's COM
paniOn and Mr.. SINNERS scenes with her
are delightful portrayals of sentimental
ardor. But the big emotional impulse is
effaced by the rigorous chronology which
the playwright is forced to respect, ana
the relationship that suggests itself is at
the outset of the story impressed as un-
suitable and improbable. Yet the COM
edy is delightful and the sacrifice of the
hero at the close of the drama seems as
wanton as that which destroys Mercut1o
in Romeo and Juliet, simply because
there is nothing else to be done with him
Miss Mabel Bert handles the part OF the
royalist lady we'll and there are charac-
ter delineations in the performance OF
varying efficiency.
Mr.. Skinner was called before the cur
tain for a speech and expressed himself
in happy vein.