Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-07
Columbia.

Ever and again the American mind
| is lured to the graceful destinations
| of that period which introduced Dolly
Madison to the wit and gallantry
which fourished when this republic,
though vigorous in the ideals Of politi-
cal youth, was still disposed to pattern
in dress and social forms after Its
elders in world civilization. The So
ciety of which Sheridan wrote with
such pungent satire was to certain
degree transplanted to this new world.
and the social picture is well worth
the minute, intelligent and sympa-
thetic study bestowed upon it by
Charles Nirdlinger the author of Miss
Elsie Ferguson's latest play. The
events Of that time have tempted
many pens to the effort to embody
them in fiction. but the sprightliness
of fancy necessary to vivacious de-
lineation is rarely associated with the
patient literary industry necessary to
arrive at the facts. Mr.. Nirdlinger
has not attempted to give a complete
narrative: only to present the delight
full little lady whose name constitutes
the title of his play in a setting of
scenes and incidents which reveal her
In the most attractive guise.
The limitations which history imposes
compel the dramatist to rely on char
acter delineation instead of plot Strik-
ing and soul-stirring as events may seem
TO the reader, who views them in the
light OF their influence on public destiny.
few series of authentic occurrences can
compete for the thrill and the punch
with the situations which the melodram-
atist, with unfettered fancy. can evolve.
Mr. N1rdl1nger accepts the inevitable
with intelligent philosophy and avoids
trying to bolster up his charming study
of personages and manners with artificial
extraVagances. His story of social and
political intrigue is subordinate to the
ripple of repartee which necessarily en-
hvens the dialogue. 1t Is repartee worthy
OF time when conversation was an art
and politeness a science. The effects are
SO delicate that smile suff1ces for cur
tain climax to the first act. To be sure
II Is very extraordinary smile; Dolly
Madison smile, which Miss Ferguson has
managed to invest with such subtle sig
niflcance that it tells more than a page
of speech could convey. Whether or not
the play has the breadth and .poSitivenesS
of quality to exert a universal appeal
there can be no doubt Of it's affording rare
pleasure to those who occasionally pre-
fer tints to fiat colors and melody to
noise.
Next to the charm of the dialogue the
most notable attraction of the piece is
the portraiture. Miss Ferguson has in
Dolly Madison, whose ancestral influ-
ences-placidly Quaker on one side and
impetuously Irish on the other-are
ever 10 uoIIllndIS ner WOEQS
and actions, the best role she has yet
enjoyed. 1t is replete with lights and
shadows. and, with all it's gayety and
shrewdness reveals touches of deep
womanly sympathy. The part of James
Madison is played by Lowell Sherman
with a delicate finesse which makes it
as mlnutely complete as painting on
ivory. There is not a momentary loss
OF proper polse. yet never a suggestion
of studious constraint in his delinea-
Ttr ,1n1- <I,, ,xor -
Aaron Burr, a character which histo-
rians have been unable to fathom, is
assumed by Mr.. Orme Caldara- De-
spite the references to daShing ga1lan-
tries and suggestions of brilliantly
cynical temperament Mr.. Caldara holds
his Interpretation rather rigidly to the
phase of the character which presents
Burr as the man of indomitable cour-
age and bOundlesS political schemes
Save for the housemaid, whose octoroon
makeup ceased at the neck with rather
untidy abruptness. the pictures were
all finely executed by the players to
whose care they were intrusted.
dney dispayed propeT as
whose ideas of official precedence were
so rudely shocked by the President
whose presence is made known only by
the tones of the beloved Jeffersonian
is one of numerous dextrous touches
which stamp the play as one of I'M
usual cleverness. William Hawtrey
was also conspicuous for his perform
ance of the role of a self-sufficient
diplomat whose contempt for the
straightforward simplicity Of the new
government brought him to grief
Without undertaking TO be rashly
iconoclastic, the play INDUCES in some
sly illusions to the father of his coun-
try as being only human after all. The
comedy lacks the boisterousness of
farce and the sentiment never rises to
tragic intensity: no effort is made to
go beyond a vivacious yet respectful
portrayal of people and events which
must always possess intense interest
for even the most casual student Of
American history.