The Washington herald., 1912-10-06
Season Opens
With Sunshine
And Shadows
py JULIA cHANpLER MANI.

In resume of the theatrical offerings
OF the past week like to talk first Of
the most beautiful of them all. which
means, of course, The Rainbow" a
drama which catches the iridescent
simmer of the lovely thing from which
IL takes its name, for this play-in its
essence n simple story Of paternal love
is so bedecked with the riches of sem
sitive Imagination. and a sense Of humor
put IN words that II rather eludes de-
scription. Mr.. A z. Thomas writes with
strings He also writes with such grace,
felicity, and chastity of words that the
result is literary throughout. and at times
poetic
1t seems superfiuous to comment on
the mature and well-developed art of
Henry Miller, who. as Nell Sumner the
father. gives the most delightful and
sympathetic characterization Of career
which has been crowded with success.
At the climax of the second act. when
he tells his little maid good-by, the dia-
logue Is couched in q comedy vein be-
cause Cynthia thinks she is going away
for but q day, while the father KNOWS
that she is going out of his life forever.
Mr.. MiIler's acting in this scene Is su-
perb. keeping the suggestion OF tragic
pathos beneath the surface OF comedy
ever before his auditors. He makes the
episode the most intensely dramatic cii-
max that I have seen on the stage In
many q long year.
When The Rainbow" had its premiere
at the Columbia Theater in the early
spring the surprise of the production was
Ruth Chatterton, slight, lissome girl
still In the schoolroom age, whose pic
ture Of CYNTHIA, THE Little Maid" of
Nell Sumner. afterward took New york
by storm, and made even seasoned
IN a
bow" brought particular pride to wash
ingtonians and to Messrs. Metzerott and
Berger, for Miss Chatterton made her
debut in the Columbia Stock Company
when Orme Caldara and Julia Dean were
featured there.
Miss che .terton went on the stage as
dare. She and her mother were visiting
washington. The girl had a friend play
ing in the Columbia company, who. De-
cause of a suggestion made by the stage
manager who needed an engenue Tor
THE Prince Chap" dared Miss Chatter
ton to go on. She did, and with a sue
cess sufficient to make the management
feel justified in offering her an engage
ment, the result of which is now history.
The Belasco Theater opened Its au-
tumn season with Two Little Brides
a musical comedy. with James T. Pow
ers in the stellar role, heard for the
first time in Washington last week.
The operetta is a pleasing, though
trifing musical show. with the VagarieS
of plot usual to comedies with musical
setting. The score is sufficiently divert
ing and tuneful. however, despite the
fact that one waits in vain for the mt
ing melody of a dominating strain. The
Letter song, which is delightfully."- sung
by, Anna wheaton and Leila Hughes, Is
the nearest approach to this which the
score offers.
lanes T. Powers inimitable gift of
comedy lifts Two Little Brides" from
mediocrity Mr.. Powers tremolo, sloi-
liant monologue. and excruciatingly funny
facial contortions elicit howls of laughter
whenever he is in evidence, which is
most of the time. since his unique per-
sonality dominates the offering.
1.-The Other Man left the boards last
night for reconstruction. having COM
pIeted its Washington engagement and
the inaugural week of the new season OF
the National Theater.
This play by Eugene W. Presbrey Is
psychological in theme, the author hav- |
ing conceived an idea which has a multi |
tude OF unusual possibilities, the major |
ity of which he lost in the development |
of the story.
We look to the serious play for the |
preservation of the tenets of the stage |
for the elevation of the human mind, |
and the appeal to the higher of the hu- |
man emotions. The drama which pur-
ports TO be serious ana Yet adds nothing
to the sum total of human knowledge, |
sympathy or understanding fails IN It's
mission.
The Other Man" is a serious play. |
failing in appeal because it accomplishes |
none of these things. 1t is impossible to |
say what will be accomplished by Its re- |
construction, but it seems that its with |
drawal in its present form is the better |
part Of wisdom on the part of its pro- |
ducers.
One Of the most vital promises of the |
new season was last week fulfilled in the |
presentation of THE Divorce Question"
at the Academy. While the consequences |
OF the dissolution of the marriage vows |
Of Mr. and Mrs. Manners, as depicted |
in this frank and earnest protest against |
divorce are not true to life (since men |
and women who decide to part do not |
usually desert their children, leaving /
them to sink TO the most degrading |
stages of vice., yet the transformations |
presented by the excellent company of |
players seen at the Academy last week |
are so strong and vivid as to have made |
the offering one OF exceptional dramatic
merit.
Those who have witnessed the revolt
ing features of the drug habit attribute !
to William V. Mong, who was seen as
'Dopie Doe" the degraded son Of the |
divorced pair, a remarkably faithful inn
PRESERVATION, while TO Virginia Pearson, |
in the role of the sister, who has sunk
into the muck. is due the credit of
splendidly effective portrayal. Charlotte
Granville, as the unnatural mother of
the pair, plays the role with a poise and |
sympathy sufficient to win the highest
appreciation Of those who are accus-
TONED to excellence in dramatic charac-