Evening star., 1912-01-09
New National.

The Runaway" is a love story, and in
1t Miss Billie Burke is charming. The
audience at the Ney National Theatcr
last night could have conveyed no higher
compliment than that represented by the
marked attention each member of it paid
TO the Interpretation Miss Burke gave to
the girlish role of Colette. After seeing
the four acts Of this comedy of modern
France it would be reasonable to ask
whether Miss Burke is acting or is rornp
ing through the scenes as her natural
self. No matter what the answer is, the
conclusion would he found satisfactory.
II it is her natural self, then she is en-
dowed with qualities of entertainment far
beyond the ordinary. If she is acting,
then IT must be she is deeply in sympathy
with the loves and ambitions Of Colette.
mon love story, although 1t Is 6ne not
entirely neglected by other stage produc-
tons. 1t is the story of a girl-almost
little girl-whose heart Is captured once
and for all by the chivalry of much
older man. Although the commonly ac-
this story is presented SO gently, with
50 deft touch that eternal youth
seems to be the leading quality of the
older man, who is Maurice Delonay in the
play. the role being tahen by c. Aubrey
Smith.
To Miss Burke falls the lot of being
constantly on the stage. The center of
attraction at all times. she skips from
pretty childish impetuosity 3nd petulance
to the uncomfortable passion Of a warm
hearted, budding woman; and there is
art in the manner she chooses to present
these extremes. Her light. spontaneous
fun seems born of the moments inspira
ton. while the brief moment of her sor-
row is pitiful and real. People laugh with
her, not at her, and when she has tears
she Is not alone.
There seems to be just the right quality
of French local color aed atmosphere.
One would almost think that some one is
reading one of Daudet's little French
country sketches in the first act. where
Colette's two maiden aunts and the vii
lage cure are arranging to marry Colette
to Aicide Pingo, a Daudet type Of rustic.
Dclonay calls Alcide a ''sanctimonious
mun"-a Washington girl would call him
4 pill For any one to marry him
would be impossible. So thinks Colette.
whose prim aunts have made life dull
prison for this out-of-doors girl. In whose
soul glows the warmth of great genius.
Therefore she becomes "The Runaway"
and Delonay. the artist, the gentleman.
and above all. the man, takes her and
makes of her an artist, little knowing un-
til the last that his wonderful little stu
dent loves him as flower loves the sun
light.
c. Aubrey Smith seems to have caught
the spirit of Maurice Delonay, and, being
quite able to balance his powers so as to
harmonize entirely with Miss Burke's, he
does so to the complete satisfaction of
those who saw him last night. The other
members of the company present their
roles with smoothness. An original idea
is seen In the role OF Simoneau, q French
prefect Of police. who hates to make ar
rests, and the idea Is well carried out In
the hands Of George Howell Edwin Nj
canders acting Of the rustic role of AL
eide Pingo is artistic. Emily Wakeman
makes a very real French aunt and Jose
phine Morse as Mile. Suberville gives a
good presentation Of French actress on
the stage.