Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1913-10-24
QUO VADIS PRESENTED
GOOD PHOTO-DRAMA
Produced by Society of Italian
Players in Rome.
SHOWN AT COLONIAL THEATRE
A Realistic Story Of Ancient History
Told BY Artistic Actors.
" Is the world growing better?''

l
the photo-drama presented by George
kleine last night at the Colonial
Theatre and splendidly produced by
the Italian society of Cines.
Is it growing better? Indeed! The
very idea. There are no Caesars to.
day such as Nero, the beastial brute,
the cruel monster. Not muchl The
world would not tolerate him. There
may be cruelties among the Moros,
in the Philippines, and there is much
yet to be done to civilize a part of
our world, but there are no such
rulers of the people today as the ty-
rant Nero, the last of the Cae sars and
Emperor of Rome, who died in 6S A.
D., and in the short span Of his thir-
ty-one years of life, fourteen of which
he occupied the throne, was a pitt
lessly cruel monster in human form.
1t is not the privilege of every one
to sit, two thousand years after a
thing has happened, and to see that
part of history presented before them
by human beings, on the screen, in a
life-like passing show, the stupen-
dousness of which undertaking cannot
be expressed, and can only be meas
ured as Americans measure every
thing, by the dollar mark, that stand
ard of commercialism which "tells"
in this country and is most express
sive. When it is said that the TAX
ing of these pictures, which were
made in Rome, and the presentation
of this photo drama, cost Sl65, 600,
the thing can be appreciated, at least
in a me asdre.
The pictures We're made in Rome,
and are most realistic. The baths,
the palace, the garden, the Appian
Way, the amFhitheatre; all, all are
ue to life. The actors, for they
are splendid, all of them, are well
fitted to their several parts. N gro,
the central figure, though large. in
body, is small and weak. His face iu-
dicates weakness, even effeminacy,
and it is easy to discern in the weak
mouth and chin the vain conceit, the
dishonor. the love of flattery, the de-
bauchery and immortality that fills the
heart and soul of the absolute despot
of his era. Truly, fxce is indica-
tive of the character it sometimes
tries to hide, but seldom deceives.
Vinitius, military tribune, and
nephew of Petro Mus, is magnificent
specimen of manhood, as well az a
strong character. His acting is splen-
did al throu yh, and his conversion to
Christianity and adoption of the faith
of the Christians, his baptism by
Peter are all as beautiful and sublime
as his love for Lygia is pure and coed
after he embraces Christianity. Mr..
Novelli, as Vinitius, does most cap
able work. All the actors and partic-
ipants in this wonderful historic
photo-drama are Italians, and all are
good actors. 1t is said, however, that
one, the great giant Ursus, was only
an athlete and an instructor in gym
nastics in Rome, and had never acted
day in his life. But suiting the
part so admirably, physically. his SER
vices we're required, ana he was
whipped into condition, in other
words, train ID in the histrionic art
and so we'll instructed that Mr.. Cas-
tellani, as Ursus, measured quite up
to the standard of the company pre-
senting "Quo Vadis.
Chilo, the Greek soothsaytr and spy,
reminds one of Otis Skinner, in Kis-
met. he is admirably cast and pre-
sents his character with that fnesse
that stamps him the real impersoua-
tor of the part he presents. Lygia is
charming, winsome and delightful,
and Eunics, the beautiful slave, whom
Petronius loves, is character that
deeply impresses one, and who can
not soon be forgotten. But what of
PetroniUs, her lover and Nero's ia
vorite, Roman patrician, courtier,
leader of fashion and man of cul-
ture? What of him? Petronius, in
our mind, is THE character of the
play with the emphasis on the
'the. y He is splendid, superb,
magnificent. There are not sufficient
expletives to describe Mr.. G. Serena,
either as to his physical appearance
or his acting. He is the all-rounc
matinee idol, the manifest of manly
men to look upon. His facial expires.
sion is the index of his soul. While
playing the part of Nero's courtiel
and friend, he despises the tyrant
ruler. He loathes him, yet he is
Nero's friend Cd and courtier. Mr..
Serehs's satire is splendid. In his
portrayal of the character he never
forgets the kind of man Petroniu:
must have been, and even TO the end
when be dies with Eunice, the slave
in love with him, the magnifieence Of
his acting is sublime.
Quo Vadis (Whither goest 5hou?)
is photo-drama no one should mis-:
seeing. 1t must leave a lasting i'm
preston of those times when mem.
hearts had not been softened by the
love Of the great Nazarene, who gave
His life to christianize the worlC
and save il from just such tyrant:
a. Nero The greatest spectacular
feature of the picture is the burn
ing Of Rome, while Nero fiddIes
bat see it all for yourself tonight
and tomorrow matinee ard night al
the Colonial Theatre. See the pass