Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-03
Columbia.

Love of humanity and sympathy for
| it even in its weaknesses rather than
a cold and heartless formality of re-
! ligious profession that finds its vent in
going to church and criticising the
neighbors is the theme that helps to
give charm to Clyde Fitch's little
comedy Lovers Lane" which was so
beautifully presented by the Columbia
Players art the Columbia Theater last
evening. The little rural romance also
helped to disclose that popular organi-
cation in new field where its versa
tlity was soundly tested. And the
manifest enjoyment of the capacity
house that saw 1t is the best evidence
of how we'll it was played.
Filled with numerous strongly mark
ed DEMONSTRATIONS. some of them very
exacting in their demands. even though
minor roles. it was made to appear like
a pretty sermon taught in a delightful
way. and yet fully to satisfy the human
desire for laughter and genuine enjoy
ment. 1t was beautifully mounted as
well, the little scene showing the par
scnage and the orchard in it's varying
beauties in spring and autumn being a
work of real scenic art, that had it's
strong contrast in the homely scene
showing the little village school, the
village store and the bill board where
on the lone theatrical genius of the
town posted the bills of its perfunctory
entertainment.
The Rev Thomas Singleton the village
curate, so loved mankind that he freely
AMI unhesitatngly offered all unfortu-
mates who came his way home in the
/ parsonage. He loved hiss church to such
| an extent that all his private fortune was
expended i'll it's various forms of useful
ness. lie had rescued wild little waif
whom the orphan aSylumS had discarded.
| He had given home to the sister of his
| brother-in- laws wife's sister, shelter and
peace to Aunt Melissa whom he had
| taken from the poorhouse. and to Uncle
| Billy. who had rung the church bell, TO-
| these many years.
But when he opened his doors to Mrs
Herbert Woodbridge, the church choir alto
singer. who had been repudiated by the
militant religioniStS of the little church
| because she had secured a divorce from
| a drunken, worthless husband, he
| brought down upon his head the wrath
| of the Sossiplng, soul-Ineasurng, scanda
| mongers of his congregation, and upon
the heads of those whom he had be-
| friended the wrath of irreconciable con
domination. The life and the lesson of the
| Master he served was lost upon self-con-
stituted Judges who sought to run the
| church as they ran their homes. And yet
| in the end. the smile of peace and love
and real happiness crowned all his efforts
and his sacrifice.
Mr. Van Buren,. it would SEEM after
his performance last evening, might cas-
| lily find a curacy awaiting him should he
ever desire to give up the stage. His inn
| perSonatlon was gem of artistic dis
| erection, SO natural as to seem actually
real in all respects. And Miss Bernard.
| as Simplicity, the waif rejected by the
| asylums, was all the ina gination might
| paint her. Miss Holmes was charming
| as the young woman who won the
| curates heart, and Miss Thatcher an
! ideal leader of the militant trouble
| makers in the congregation
| \ most effective bit of work was that
| of Willard Robertson. the worthless hus
| band. especially in his interview with
| his little child, when he had returned. a
| reformed man, in the hope that his di-
| vorce1 wife would give him another
| chance, and Miss Gendinning was the
| patient scf-Sacrifcing little mother and
/ the faithful wife that even the most SEN
| timental sympathizer would wish her.
/ a splendid bit of character work was
| made to give d Very minor part unusual
prominence by Everett Butterfield as the
| manager of the .'opery house, and Miss
| Drofnah brought to the role of the
| curate's housekeeper a talented imper-
/ sonation that made it iovable even though
| homely. Stanley James presented another
| striking character study, and Miss
Younge was at her best as the old lady
| from the poorhOuse, while Mr.. Kline
made a good village grocer. But they
| were all good. very good and Ella
| Michard, Peggy Ford. Donald Belman
| Blanche Sperry. Whitman Conn Gordon
Thomas, Louise Whtford and Pearl DAY.
| hof. every one of them, is entitled to
| share in the credit for a delightful per-
| Torrance.