Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-29
New National.

The fact that David Belasco is 10 pre-
sent play. no matter by whom written,
or who the actors may be. is sufficient In
itself to call out in Washington its most
representative audience, for David Belasco
is the one American playwright and pro-
Queer who has absolutely no rivals IN ms
wonderful art. But when the occasion
offers not only a play OF his own con-
struction and the one actor, perhaps, VINO
more than all others, has maintained
Belasco fame that Is unique, ana wren
that play deals with the great yearnlns
and struggle of the human soul to master
the desolation Of death and prolong Ire
beyond the grave, it is small wonder tnat
a capacity audience Of Washington,s most
discriminating theatergoers shoulo ac-
| tually clamor to see It,
THE Return of Peter Grim, play IN
three acts in which the central hgure Oh
interest is impersonated by David war
| field, was presented at the National Thea
ter last night and created a profound
| impression. 1t Is easily the greatest at
! traction Of the current season. That !.
| was staged with the consummate skill
which seems to be Belasco's, alone goes
without saying. That the company which
presented it, from Mr.. Warfield down to
| the humblest character in the cast, was
magnifcently adequate in every particular
| is a fact that few, if any. will care to
deny.
But above and beyond it all. the theme
| is one Of overpowering Interest. with
Belasco daring it goes beyond the grave
| for it's >>Seal. Peter Grimm, grun
and stubborn, but lovable old bachelor,
| who has amassed a fortune In raising
| flowers. not for the sake of the money.
| but from the pure love of the good ana
| the beautiful that is in him, has also
reared an orphan baby to beautiful
young womanhood. Catherine, his pro-
! tege. has become everything to him that
| a most devoted daughter could be, and
| she idolizes him to the extent even
49,. Iowa ~ he
end to marry beloved but unworthy
nephew, that they may realize his dream
| of having little children play around
| his knee.
he has taken to love and care for that
| the doctor has said he cannot live. And
with all the fervor of his soul he forces
| from Catherine promise to wed Fred
| erik, the nephew, although her heart is
already given to James Hartman. his
secretary. Almost in the instant of the
betrothal death comes to him. Ten short
| days suffice to show his confidence in
the nephew has been misplaced. and that
| the promise he exacted of Catherine is
| a mistake.
| Before his death, simply to please his
rugged old physician who has an abiding
| faith that communication with the spirit
world is possible. he promises to come
| back and make himself known. And
| SO he returns. Again he takes up the
| tangled web of life that enmeshes his be-
loved Catherine, and his pitiful efforts
| to make himself known and felt and
understood make up a story pathetic in
| the extreme and yet wthal not grue-
some or morose. Through the little child,
William, Ibis charity as the program
describes him, he finally completes his
communication, saves his Catherine and
restores her to the man who loves her
and whom she loves, and in the end
| takes little William with him to the
| world beyond.
| Whether or not Peter Grim be the
greatest effort of Mr.. Warfield's career
does not matter. Certain it is his Peter
| Grim is a role that will never be for
gotten. Just as .the play will stand as
| a masterpiece of the playwright so the
impersonation Of its great character will
4 be remembered as a masterpiece Of the
1 actor.
| To Janet Dunbar. the tender, loving,
submissive little Catherine, will always
| go the honor of sharing in the remem-
brance of the play. She was ideal in the
| part. And the rugged old Scotch physi-
| clan. DR.. Andrew Macpherson, too, will
| always furnish a happy recollection, for
| it was through him that Peter Grim re-
turned. The part was superbly played
| by Joseph Brennan. The cast through
out was one of rare excellence in its por-
! trayals. 1t included Walter D. Green, as
Frederick, the nephew; Thomas Meighan
| as James Hartman, the secretary; Will
| liam Boag, as Rev. Henry Bartholomew
| the pastor; John F. Weber, as the law
yer; young Percy Helton, as William
| 1.-The charity; Marie Bates. as the pas
| tors wife. splendid representation;
Marie Reichardt. as Marta, the servant,
| and Tony Bevan, in the insignificant role
| of the circus clown.
The stage settings and lighting effects
are Belasco's handiwork and the play is
| presented under his personal supervision