The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-24
POLPS.
"The Call of the North,


George Broadhurst's tale Of the Cana
olan forests. The Call of the North. =
which served Robert Edeson as star
ring vehicle. is the melodramatic offer
ing of the Poll Players this week, pre-
senting the first real opportunity Ed
ward Mackey has had since he Joined
the Poll company to prove the stun OF
which his art is made
opening two weeks ago in THE Con-
cert. Mr.. Mackey was seen in a semi
serious character role, while last week
presentation of The Woman" threw him
largely In the background. This week
however, Mr.. Mackey as Ned Trent, the
son who has come TO the post of the
Hudson Bay Company's territory in ar
enort TO avenge a criminal wrong done
MS father. is the most vital figure
throughout the four acts which serve Ia
tell story desMng with the prtmevaI
instincts OF men in the country where
might is right and no other law is rec
ognized. His portrayal of the exacting
role was imbued with rugged strength,
sincerity and a mastery OF the techni-
cahues of his art which won Mr.
Mackey the high favor of an audience
winch not only filled the regulation seats
IN 'ne popular Avenue theater last night.
out was crowded into chairs placed
within the orchestra rail as well as along
the sides OF the house
When young Trent is CAPTURED for
trespassing he is offered his freedom by
Galen Albert, the Factor" whose cruel
VIII governs the country, provided he
VIII promise never TO return. but Trent
search for the man responsible for his
fathers ignominious death is too strong
10 permit him to give such a promise
Hhereupon the Factor DEGREES his ban
lShn1anr IN ~ ba v1-frb
one days provisions, but without weap-
ons wherewith he may defend himself
against the savage beasts of the north
woods.
To gain a rife Trent decides to make
love to the Factors" daughter, who
so completely ignorant of the ways
IF the world and Of man that she falls
'eadily into his trap. But the man meets
IN obstacle upon which he had not cal
>ulated-for not only does he win the
owe and trust of Virginia Albert. but
inds his own heart responding TO her
emotions, and in the light of his awak
sning he declares that the thing he had
intended to do is the one thing no man
can do. and so he fails to ask her aid
when he knows she would give il at any
cost. The girl. learning by accident the
meaning of Trent's going, volunteers the
lid he could not ask of her. Trent's es-
Eiveness are brought about through
succession of highly dramatic, If not
altogether logical, scenes, in the last of
which We see the sudden regeneration
of old GaIen Albert, the Factor" and
the hero rewarded with the hand of Al
bert's daughter.
Izetta Jewel is, of course, Virginia AL
bert, a girl whose simple characteristics
are in exact antithesis of those she por-
,r11, Of 10
Kelley, the telephone operator in THE
Woman" Miss Jewel distinguishes the
picture she paints of the unsophisticated
North Woods maiden with admirable SIM
plicity and sweetness, making her quite
worthy the admiration of young Trent.
Mark Kent as the Factor" failed last
night to measure up to his usual high
standard of excellence, the blame for
which may perhaps he laid at the door
Of the dramatist. who drew so incon-
sistent a character as Galen Albert, and
Graham Velsey's pink and white pretti-
ness was hardly an asset in the role of
he deep-dyed villain OF the piece.
Frank Shannon and Cecil Bowser gave
faithful portraits of two Scotchmen who
had sworn to eternal celibacy until
charming widow, in the person of Miss
Linthicum, came their way.
Harrington Gibbs gave an inane per
Torrance as DR.. Cockburn: Thomas Will
Jams was excellent as the Rev. Archi-
bald Crane, while Dudley Hawley as
Achille Picard, Theodore Hardy. as Me-
en-Gan. and Gertrude Bondhill, as Julie
Bagneau rendered capable support.
While The Call of the North" does
not measure up to the standard of many
others of the plays presented by the Pol
management, il is. nevertheless, an ir-
.eresting diversity in the hands of the
weIl-balanced company which tenants
the Avenue playhouse, and is particu-
larry well staged.
The third act, which is laid in the
deep recesses of the Canadian forest, is
most beautiful and realistic.
&c MANI