The Washington times., 1912-01-23
lula Murdock Says Mrs. Fishes Genius
Dominates Mrs. Bun1pstead Letqh''

Occasionally there comes along play
which, for its sheer beauty of work.
manship, demands recognition of it's
merits. rather than an extended review
that might contain presumptive criu-
cism. Such play Is MRS. BumpsAead
Leigh" In which Mrs. Fiske is appear
ing this week in the Columbia Theater.
1t is a play that fascinates not SO much
on account of any brilliance 1t may
possess as q literary production, as for
the genius Of Mrs. Fiske. who plays
the name part
The plays in which this actress has
appeared in the past nave, in a meas
ure, set standards. Not at any time,
however, has the versatility of the ar
fist been more supreme than in this
remarkable portrayal of the daughter
of the Indiana pill mixer and peddler
Of ellxlrs, who climbed, through her
own efforts, into the British aristoc--
racy. The play Is Mrs. Fiske, and
Mrs. Ftske Is the play. Every facet
OF her brilliant art sparkles with rain
ailty is presented, and through It ali is
the woman herself, not the play. which
holds the attention Of the audience.
Mrs. Fiske gives one Of the most de-
tronio csPesr Never h has en sas bes s
more fascinating, nor has she ever had
q part that offers better opportunity
for display Of her delightful comedy.
sumed style and her true vulgar middle
West character comes like a flash. and
emphasizes the keen. brilliant wit of
this actress; The audience sees Mrs.
daughter of an impossible parent who
made his pile In pills. and then oblig-
ingiy took his departure to q better
land, leaving wads of money to his
as q parvenu. and again It sees her in
that big cerise ostrich feather hat that
overshadows, eclipses, and consigns to
oblivion everything else on the stage;
languid fashion: sees her as Mrs. Bump
stead Leigh, who, in staccato voice,
gives orders to her family Is q general
marshals his forces for battle. And It
wages, a battle for social supremacy
and recognition for herself and her lit
tie sister and her mother.
The audiences sees this woman Of over
with a cleverness born Of cunning;
shrewd, impudent, but as smooth as
sealskin when 1t suits her purpose to be
so; q woman Of hundred moods and
whims.. each impersonation as clean
cut and splendidly perfect as Saolini
cameo.
Her Play Grips
The Audience.
1t Is a play that grapples the audience
and carries each man and woman along
with 1t until everyone lives with the
actress who makes helpless subjects Of
them all, hypnotically drawing them
into her fascinating world of make
believe. Only genius of the sort pos
sessed by Mrs. Fiske could accomplish
this. Hers ID work permeated with In
tellect, yet full of beauty; sparkling
with brilliancy Of wit, irradiated with
delicate and alluring humor, touched
with fire of imagination, instinct with
dramatic power. 1t Is the humorous side
of Mrs. Fiske's personality that is
shown in Mrs. Bumpstead Leigh, and in
the opinion Of many of her critics and
admirers this + the most brilliant side
Of her genius. -.
Now. as to the play itself: ..
Mrs. Hampstead Leigh" is a play OF
almost farcical broadness. its author,
Harry James Smith. has called 1t "a
comedy in three acts 1t is the
authors first play. and fortunate. in
deed, is he in having had so consum-
mate an artist as Mrs. Fiske- to fntro-
duce his first effort to the playEoi1g
public. Mrs. Hampstead Leigh" has
been pronounced by dramatic critic
transplanted from Mayfair to the
modern field Of the new rich. those So
cial climbers who dare everything for
even the cheapest of aristocratic recog-
niticn; a Mrs. Malaprop,' warped and
twisted, but as delightfully."- amusing as
in her youthful days" IL view of what
Mr.. Smith has done in this. his initial