The Washington times., 1912-01-11
Jula Murdock Says Billie Burke Has
Technique as Well as Beauty and Charm

While none OF the dramatic reviewers
would dream OF denying that Billie
Burke, who Is appearing in the Ma
tional Theater this week In "The Run
aways," Is very pretty and thorough
ly charming young woman, as sweet
and kind as she Is lovely. they have
been prone in the past to look upon her
with suspicion. For the hard, indurat-
ed dramatic critic tends to become. like
other critics, q worshiper Of technique,
and with many of them technique be-
comes a little god whom the critic
views respectfully, but with q distorted
perspective.
So, when other qualities than technical
mastery are offered fol. inspection. the
critic grows suspicious.
Miss Burke the critic says, "is
undeniably charming person; possibly
the most charming little piece of hui
manity on the stage at the present time,
but she became q star over night. She
cannot possibly be q good actress. be-
cause she is so young and 30 pretty, Sc
1 shall not let her great personal charm
bias my judgment. People are wild
about her, but that does not prove any
thing. I hold that she is not q mistress
Of her art in any technical way, and
that her loveliness, her naive ways. her
CHARM and allure are but insidious and
deceptive snares to fool mankind and
dramatic critics.
Not the Only One To
Suffer From That Source.
So has the critic spoken in the past
There has always been that insur.
mountable. BUT. Miss Burke has moi
been unique In that experience. Fol
years Ethel Barrymore has suffered In
somewhat the same way, in spite Of
the fact that she was more than Q
competent actress in q technical way
early In her career. Maxine Elliott IL
another instance that may be cited. and
there are many others.
But Miss Billie Burke can take hel
place among the Actresses who have
something more than mere persona
charm and beauty 70 offer. This little
lady has shown discerning and stead,
gain in her art. From the time sh,
first left London bereaved, ana cam.
to America in support Of John Drew
until the present season, this actres.
mas advanced steadily in command O
her technique. experiment in her deliv
cry giving way to certainty. her gamu
In "The Runaway" this week her par
is that of young girl, "Collette," full
Of childish emotions which develop int
the mental state Of a woman very muci
in love. 1t is a very definite, skillfull,
shaded characterization which Mis-
Burke gives. and that childish qualit,
of voice which she dearly loves to EN-
ploy. and which is fetching-for q time
at least-is quite in character with hel
present role.
Some of her scenes are fairly tempes
tuous. When the little runaway, nov
in Paris. discovers at the end OF th
second act that the man she has bee,
idolizing has feet Of clay. and yer,
muddy clay at that. the little runawai
girl breaks into q storm of sorrow an,
grief and disappointment which Is quit
convincing. as Miss Burke plays It. An,
again, when in q Jealous rage she daub
and smears the half finished portrait O
her rival, Miss Burke demonstrates tha
all who thought her charming were un
just. or at least short. sighted.
AS for the charm, It has grown rathe
than diminished. One need not sount