The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-10
POLLS.
"Thc Concert

One of the most clever and subtle
comedies produced in recent years by
David Belasco, THE Concert" served
last night to introduce Edward Mackey'
,.the new leading man of the Poll ray
ers, to stock devotees. In response TO
the insistent demand of capacity au-
dience that he step out Of the play long
enough to give an expression of pleas
ure in his new position, Mr. Mackey
informed those who waxed so entnusi-
Rs.ic over his capable performance last
night that his present engagement rep
resents his first appearance IN STOCK IN
this city, a fact which would make the
ovation rendered him last night by the
patrons of Polls Theater seem some
what remarkable demonstration to those
who were not given the pleasure Of
seeing his finely shaded characterize
ton of the genius inflicted Gabor Arany.
During the two years run which THE
Concert had in New York, Leo Ditrich-
stein. who is responsible for the Ameri-
can version of Herman Bahr's comedy,
PLAYED the leading masculine role, in
which Mr.. Mackay is seen this week at
Poli's-the role of the music master, who
accepts the adulation of scores of SIM
pering women because they happen to
be his pupils, and also happen to keep
his Golfers filled, an attitude in which
Helen Arany, the musicians wife, SYM
pathizes until she learns that his fire.
quent flights to his bungalow in the
Catskills are not all for rest and in
spiration, as he claims.
Arany's wife is informed by jealous
pupil of the musician that he has taken
as companion in his latest search for
= inspiration the silliest of all his pupils.
Flora Dallas. Through the same
source DR.. Dallas. the devoted husband
of the genius-struck girl. learns of her
elopement with the musician. 1t Just
so happens that the wife of Arany and
the husband of pretty Flora Dallas are
quite practical matter-of-fact folks,
utterly bereft of genius and capable
of realizing that temperamental in
fstuations are nothing more. The two
yet out for the Adirondacks, where
they find the clippers in Gabors lodge
and speedily bring them to a realiza-
tion of their folly by giving them a
little dose of their own medicine.
In their effort to prove TO Arany and
Flora Dallas that they could never be
happy save in the companionship of their
lawful mates, the doctor and the mu-
sician's wife are responsible for the
flashes of delicious comedy and the de-
velopment of many laugh-invoking incl
dents in THE Concert"
The story centers about four principal
figures. the musical genius, his wife. DR..
Dallas. and Flora, into which Mr.. Mack
ey. Miss Jewel, Mr.. Kent, and Miss
Gertrude Rondhill fit with an ease which
assures the smoothness of the per-
Torrance and the tense sympathy of the
audience.
It was a delight last night to see Miss
Jewel in another role which again proves
that her versatility is uneXcelled, her
charm that of mate ability. her mag
netism unaffected by months of varying
and exacting roles, as well as her in
defatigdble energy, and remarkable VI
tality. Qualities which have won her an
enviable popularity and regard with the
clientele of Polls Theater.
And if one may take Mr.. Mackey's in
itial stock characterization in this city
a prediction of the future it is safe
to say that the Poll management has
found in him a leading man whose sin |
certify and finesse assure Miss Jewel of
most capable support, for Mr.. Mackey's
Gsbor Arany was drawn last night with
Cameo-like distinctness and fine dis
elimination.
Little Miss Bondhin deserves much
credit for her portrayal of the silly
Young wife Of DR. Dallas. which repre-
scnts her best effort since her connection
with the Poll organization here. She
paints the portrait with just the right
touch of coyness and sentimentality to
Keep one from being disguised with her
doctor husband who puts her happiness
before his own pride.
Mark Kent. in the role of DR.. Dallas.
departed last night from the decided
.'haraCter types which We have become
accustomed to see him portray with I'M
failing Candor and accuracy, assuming
straight romantic part. which made
strong appeal to-the disabilities of his
auditors.
In the first act of The Concert a bevy
# prettily Eowned young women. who are
Satiated with sentimentality. give the the
'orrect atmosphere to the studio of the
lionized pupil of Listz. To Miss Lottie
Linthicum falls the thankless task of po:-
traying the jealous writer of the anony-
nous letter which informs DR.. Dallas of
his young wife's whereabouts, and the
dubious pleasure of carrying the same re-
pert of her husband to Mrs. Arany. An
other prominent characteriZation of the
first act is the role of Miss Mark Arany's
distinctly plain secretary who goes the
love route of all other women whose lives
touch his. somewhat overdrawn last night
by Miss George Woodthorpe.
The second act, which brings us to the
lodge in the Adirondacks, gives us an
introduction to Pat McGinnis and his
faithful spouse, both capably portrayed
by Frank Shannon and Miss Helen |