The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-24
BELASCO.
"The Bird of Paradise"

"The Bird of Paradise"
"A Bird Of Paradise" Richard Wal
ton TuIly's Hawaiian play, had its first
production in Washington at the Belasco
Theater last night before one OF the
most brilliant audiences that has been
gathered in that playhouse this season.
Nearly every seat In the auditorium was
occupied, and all followed, with breath
less interest for more than three hours
the development OF a love story which,
though intrinsically simple, is invested
with halo OF romance quite out OF
the ordinary. The spectator from the
very first moment Is ushered into an at
mosphere of weird mysticism and the
aboriginal superstition Of the Hawaiian
race "Aloha'-peace and love be with
you-is the first greeting. the while the
softly modulated songs of the Kanakas
float on the air to the accompaniment
of mandolin and guitar Comes on the
scene Luana, daughter OF the Islands,
a true bird OF paradise. bewitching and
bewildering In person and manner, and
almost Immediately succumbs TO her
charm Paul Wilson. young doctor
who has come from the United States
to study at close range the dread dis
ease of leprosy. Also there is seen
Ten-Thousand-Dollar Dean" a beach
comber. formerly a man OF brilliant
mind, but sunken to the lowest depth
of moral debasement under the eneryat-
ing influence OF the tropical Ianguor.
He is reused from this mental and moral
stupor by Diana Larned, a university
graduate who also has come to the
islands philanthropicany inclined.
Wilson Is found by the regenerated Dean
in almost as wretched a condition as that
of Dean himself. when Wilson first saw
him and reasoned with him. He Is
reused from this state by Dean and Capt
Hatch, a shrewd and not overscrupulCus
Yankee planter, and under the promise
of business advancement is induced to
go to Honolulu and take an active part
in the revolution which is to bring Hawaii
under the American flag. which little
scheme. by the way. goes all awry by
the order OF the President TO haul down
the Stars and Stripes. Luana, now VIII
sons wife. accompanies him to the great
city Wilson, under the influence of wine,
Is angered at Luana's inability TO ac-
commodate herself TO the ways and man
ners of the white people. and just at this
psychological junCturc come messengers
to Luana to tell her that Pele the native
deity, demands a sacrifice Luana, heart
broken, offers to immediate herself to
apease the deity. and plunges into the
fiery crater. the house Of everlasting
fire."
This story. replete from first to last
with captivating interest. was presented
by n cast of unusual ability. Even the
least important parts were handled with
conscientious care. Nothing was slight
ed, nor WAS aught overdOne. Through
out there was apparent unity of purpose
and consistency OF action. The native
songs were sung and the dances executed
with engaging originality. and the scenic
investiture was distinguished not only
by lavish elegance. but 10y extreme f.
deity in the matter of reproducing the
tropical locale Nothing more overpow-
eringly beautiful has been seen here
than the closing scene. where Luana
plunges into the seething crater. Equal
care has been bestowed by Mr.. Oliver
MorosCo the producer of the play, upon
the costuming, in every detail of which
discriminating taste is DISPLAYED
Miss Bessie Barriscale has the star
role of Luana. the bird OF paradise II
can readily be believed that she has
studied the manners and customs of
Hawaii and Hawaiians in the Islands.
for she lacks in nothing that could give
a perfect impression of the untutored.
naturally coquettish. willy. impassioned
daughter OF the sun. Hers is through
out consistent pOrtraiture, and the in
terest she awakens in the character Is |
so intense that it is not lost even when |
she is not on the scene. Guy Bates
Post, as Dean, gives a splendid imper-
sOnation of the brilliant scholar gone |
to seed under the insidious influence OF |
the tropical sun, while Lewis S Stone
presents an effective foil in the part Of |
Paul Wilson. whose lofty purpose fails |
when assailed by LUana's charms Miss |
Margaret Langham, a very pleasing Di- |
ana, and Miss Marie Howe gives a fine |
character sketch as Mahumahu, Launa's |
fostemOther. Howard Hickman. as
Hewahewa- a native priest; Robert !
Morris, as Capt. Hatch; John W. Bur |
ton. as Mr.. Sysonby. a missionary. and |
Joseph Burton. as Hoheno, are able as !
sistants in the action
Mr. Kaliaianaole, the Delegate to |
Congress from Hawaii, was an inter-
ested spectator.