The Washington herald., 1913-01-19
BY EMORY ID. CALVERT.


New York, Jan. 1s-while the mourn
tul word is passed up and down Broad
way that things have gone TO smash
''on the road and the fresh contingent
OF idle actors and actresses winch ar
rives almost daily from outside points
seems to confirm the report, the local
theatrical mill grlnds merr1ly on. And
there have been several goodIy grlsts
brought to that mill during the week
just passed.
The most notable production doubtless
was Joseph and His Brethren at
the Century Theater. This production
has been nailed out only as a magnlf1-
cent pageant, but a drama or great
merit. Another great play OF the spectac-
uIar, at least OF the uItra-scenic order,
was "A Good Little Devil" produced IN
Washington, ID. e., the last week IN De-
cember, and brought to the Republic by
David BeIasco this week.
Both of these plays doubtless will take
rank with the big hits OF the season.
One of the most important things IN their
favor was the favorable auspices under
which they were launched. They came
along at a time when the theater-goers
were bordering on a state or nausea
through having had d1shed up to them
unsavory meSses OF the underworld IN
the more than numerous ana excessively
various crook dramas. The two plays
mentioned were swept IN on the high tide
of reaction, and while they would have
succeeded under any circumstances. there
is nothing like booming start, even for
an inherent winner.
''Ths Tragedy of fNan.''
Here is indeed a tragedy. when John
Masefield wrote Nan" he seemed to
have forgotten that there is such a thing
as a smile in the world. Mans father
hanged ha tS tn h
own earthly career by committing a muir
der and then taking her own lite. II is
not cheerful play.
The play was produced at the Lyceum
Theater Monday afternoon by the Stage
Society of New York, and afforded quite
a pleasant and fearful afternoon for the
ladies.
The role of Nan was played by Con-
stance Collier. She invested it with art
and convincing force, and at times rose
10 splendid dramatic heights
A. E. Anson as Dick did the best he
could in a most thankIess part. Miss
Alice O'Dea and Walter Leonard Howe
as the aunt and uncle were very accept
able. Miss Mary Barton did well with
the part OF Jenny.
THE Spy"
This is another drama, made over from
the French and introduced to the New
day night. Being French, it is scarcely
necessary to say that il has a wife who
is in love with another man, or thinks
she is.
As produced in Paris the piece. which
is by Mr.. Henry Kistamaecker, was
called La Flambee," and is a sort OF
French, An Englishman's Home"
There is no similarity in plot between
the English and the French plays, to
be sure but they both were written for
the same purpose, to Wit, to awaken pa
triotism in the breasts of their respective
fellow-citizens
The Spy has a few tense moments,
but on the whole there is little to COM
mend it. at least to American audiences.
Perhaps some day American managers
will awake to the fact that the made
over French play can almost never be
made palatable to the American taste,
and that in the translation what is really
good in the piece has been lost.
The role OF the wife was played by
Edith Wynne Mathison. Being one of the
most accomplished actresses on this or |
any other stage, she played with author |
itv and power.
Cyril keightly was the husband. He I
played with spirit and sincerity. but he |
has number of mannerisms which mar
his effectiveness
Julian fEstrang played the lover in
his characteristic manner-direct and
earnest.
Fine Feathers is another strong dra-
matte portion from the pen of Eurep,
Walter. 1t hasn't the punch in il that
Paid in Full' and THE Easiest Way
had, but still it is considerable of a
drama.
Fine Feathers had its premier at the
Astor Theater on Tuesday night, before
large and eXpectant audience The
American playgoers have come to look
Tor strong dramatic meat from Walter
and while the new play is a powerful
drama as a whole, there was much in
II which seemed foreign to the author.
There was not that directness which
characterized his other plays Just men
toned. In them he went to his objective
point with the swiftness of a rife shot
But in Fine Feathers the action drags
at times. This is especially true of the
fIrst act.
This fairy play. built up from stroies
that Mime. Rostand and her son Maurice
used to tell each other, was reviewed bv
the dramatic critic of The Washington
Herald December 81. There is need
therefore, only to record that the ex-
quisite piece with its equally exquisite
Presentation met with the instant appre-
Ciation of New York audiences this week.
''Joseph and His Brethren"
Joseph and His Brethren is a re-
lEious play not to be Stunned. It af-
forded the pleasantest surprise of the
new year. 1t is, of course, built around
what is, perhaps, the most familiar
story in the Bible. And Louis n. Parker,
the author of the play, has shown his
fine artistic sense and literary acumen
by adhering strictly to the story and
using, wherever possible, the simple, yet
sublime text of the Scripture. But he
seems to have been so imbued with his
theme that his own text carries that
same simple strength and dignity, and
there is no glaring gap between his lines
and those he has taken from Genesis.
This magnificent pageant was produced
at the Century Theater on Saturday aft
ernoon by the Lebler Company. And
this firm is to be congratulated for their
effort. 1t is decidedly worth while and
comes as a refreshing balm after the
rather depressing Daughter of Heaven
and THE Garden of Allah
1t is not only a pageant, greater than
'Ben-Hur," but il is a drama of the
highest art. Much of its success is due
TO Brandon lyman, the Joseph of the
play. 1t would, perhaps, be impossible
TO find an actor better equipped for this
role than Mr. lyman He n,ada ono faal