The Washington herald., 1913-11-23
By JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

.sTbe Stage as an Educational Factor
That was the subject OF Richard Ben
nett's lecture last Tuesday afternoon in
the Columbia Theater. dis very pIoduc-
tion of Damaged Goods is conclusive
proof that he believes that there Is no
more effcacious way of informing the
public than through the drama But this
is not all In a delightful talk with him
one afternoon last week found Mr.. Ben
nett, the man, as completely saturated
with his brave purpose as Is Mr.. Ben
nett, the actor. He is reformer 10 the
core. indefatigable in his work, and en-
tirely sincere in his belief that the stage
is the place to present his vital message
to mankind.
In this latter belief Mr.. Bennett has
been supported by thousands throughout
the country who have upheld his pro-
duction of Damaged Goods" and ac-
ceded his claim that IL is but the trun-
net blast of a great sociological revolu-
ton, Washington proving no exception.
for the actor informed me last week that
he is well pleased with the size Of his
Washington audiences, and still more de-
lighted with the manner Of their recep-
ton Of the Brieux drama
While Damaged Goods was but 1alr-
ly attended, and THE Blindness Of Vir-
tue'' played to starvation audiences last
week, the Ziegfeld "Follies" packed the
National Theater from orchestra to bal
cony at each performance, proving that
the majority of folk want to be simply
amused while in a theatcr, and are not
over-particular that the coveted fun shall
be free from salaciousness.
There are scores upon scores of man
ayers, producers, critics, and laymen who
believe that the thester's sole mission is
to furnish such entertainment to its pat
rons as will Danish the thought of care
To all such the present week will make
strong appeal, for Its offerings make no
claim TO a solution of any problem which
man in his everyday life may be called
upon to meet
OF course. we know all about The Sum
shine Girl" who made her initial bow to
us last season, in the person Of Julia
Sanderson, who was for the first time
full-hedged star. in the London lGayety
success by Paul Reubens and Cecil Raj
eigh, which received its American pro
duction at the hands of Charles Frohman
in the Columbia Theater about year
ago.
First-nighters packed the theater to
greet the dainty New England girl. Ex-
President Taft Cthen President Of the
? United States) sat in a box, and flung
great bunch of American Beauty roses TO
the little star, while the audience went
wild with enthusiasm. And the best Of II
cal comedy which marked the beginning
of her brilliant stardom justified the re-
ception they received, for the piece is
full of lifting melody, clean comedy,
dainty femininity, and. featured dances.
There are few important changes In the
cast since last year, Miss Sanderson be-
ing still supported by Alan Nude in the
hero" part, and by Joseph Cawthorne
as the comedian, who furnishes the
greater part of the irresistible fun IN
which the piece abounds
As for Miss Sanderson herself. nobody
in Washington needs to be told what de-
light is found in her voice, and smile, and
manner. for they so hypnotized the Cap
ital last season that many went to see
her performance in The Sunshine Girl,
not just once or twice, but three or four
times, than which there could be paid
her no higher compliment.
Anna Pavlowa. the Incompatible, re-
turns to Washington this week for four
performances at the Belasco Theater, be-
ginning tomorrow evening-Pavlowa. the
synonym Of grace, OF youth, and of life
at its springtime; Pavlowa, to whom
America owes what Russia and England
acknowledge as their debt of gratitude
to Taglioni and Elssler, respectively.
A number of dancers, native and for
eign had made valiant efforts to awaken
America to an appreciation of the art
of dancing before the coming of the Rus
sian to our shores, but apparently 1t had
nc place in the category Of Western CIV
ilization and culture. AS matter Of fact
the dance had at no time been taken
with any degree of seriousness in this
country.
History invariably points to one per-
sonality as the potent factor in epoch
making. This is true in art, science, and
politics. 1t is true in the renaissance of
mimetic art. 1t took the ethereal grace
of weakened little Italian, Marie Tag
liCni. to show Russia the possibilities of
the dance in its most sublime form. It
took the ravishing charm and beauty of
Fanny Elssler, an Austrian, to impart
its beauties toEngand Finally. Anna
Pavlowa. a Russian. comes to America
and startles the continent, rendering its
people "hors du danse.' And thus his
tory repeats itself. The dancing Of Tag
lioni was spiritual; that of Elssler terres-
tial according to famous chronicler OF
the history of the dance, but Pavlowa, |
the greatest of them all, is the modern |
Incarnation Of the terpsichorean art She |
is more than a dancer. She is a creative |
genius. Her conceptions seem inspired. |
She interprets with precision a lyric, a
poem, or an epic. Her technique is the |
acme of perfection. Pavlowa is an i'm
perfect union between beauty and emu
tion. Beauty alone is not sufficient in her |
estimation, which means that she pos
sesses the fire, imagination, and realism |
of Fanny Elssler and the ethereal beauty
of Marie Taglioni.
Beginning with a Thanksgiving mat |
inee, THE Innocent Sinner will tenant |
the Belasco Theater the latter half of
this week. The new musical comedy IS
remarkable in that its score, book. and
lyrics were written by one man, William
p. Chase, young Californian whom Fred
c. Whitney ran across on his last trip
West. The piece, which opened in Pitts
burgh n few weeks ago, has as the fea-
tured member of its cast Alice Hegeman.
who, judging from reports which pre-
cede her, has been the hit of the snow
since its.initial performance.
Back to the Columbia comes ''The Old |
Homestead" the drama of another day
which still has power of attraction be-
cause of it's undying simplicity and hu-