The Washington herald., 1913-10-26
JUST A GLANCE AT
THE CURRENT WEEK
SOthern-Marlowe Engagement; Elean-
Gates Fantasy, and Taliafero Sis
tiers Make 1t One of Most Note
worthy of Present Season.
ny JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

vows smack of the superfuous. During
the Seriod of their artistic partnership
both Mr.. Sothern and Miss Marlowe have
done a great work-a work made all th'
more vital because its basic principle
has been love of it. They Joined theiI
gifts with the determination to revivify
Shakespeare on the American stage, q
task which was undertaken at time
when Shakespeare's plays were seen only
spasmodically because or the producer {
fear of financial loss. The accomplish.
ment of Mr.. Sothern and Miss Marlowt
of popularizing the classic drama while
winning fame for themselves is the most
brilliant and satisfying chapter in the
history of the American stage, for these
players have not only given to the pabliC
an intelligent and inspirational portrayal
of Shakespeareaa characters. but have
produced the dramas of the Elizabethar
bard with an artistry which borders on
the reverent.
A feature of this weeks engagement
Of Sothern and Marlowe at the Belasco
Theater will be Mr.. Sothern's revival OF
Justin Huntley McCarthy's romantic
play. "If 1 Were King" The piece was
one of the finest in Mr.. Sothern's list OF
individual productions, and as Francois
Villon, the poet of the Paris slums, he
has this season renewed his former tri-
umph.
Speaking of :If Were King brings
to mind the fact that Mr.. Sothern has
at least a dozen original plays which as
Yet have never been given production,
the actor having bought the rights to
them at various times before he finally
decided to devote his attention exclusive
Iy to Shakespeare. Among them is play
by Justin Huntley Mccarthy. Another is
the work of a well-known professor in
a leading American university. 1t is a
poetic drama based on Tennyson's treat
ment of Lancelot and Guinevere in "The
IdyIls of the King" This piece was once
put into rehearsal with Mr.. Sothern as
I.ancelot and Miss Marlowe as Guinevere.
The models for the scenery were ready
and the plates had been made for all
the costumes, but the production was
abandoned in favor of a Shakespearean
play.
Joan of Arc" the Percy Mackaye
drama in which Mr.. Sothern and Miss
Marlowe made notable successes was also
laid aside to make way for more Shakes
peare.
At the present time the co-stars are
presenting eight of the immortal poets
works-the most extensive repertoire of
Shakespearean plays ever offered on the
American stage.
The current week will be one of the
most noteworthy in our present dramatic
season, not only because it marks the
annual engagement of Shakespearean
stars but because it brings to Washing
ton 1.-The Poor Little Rich Girl" and
also presents the Taliaferro sisters in
their first co-starring venture
You have likely read a deal about 1.-THE
Poor Little Rich Girl and Viola Dana,
tbs Youngest star on the American stage;
Viola OF the -snaddwy hafrT w1ue, frank
eyes and voice so filled with poignant
sympathy as to have brought Broadway
the softening gift of tears when she
seemed to enjoy the pleasure OF learning
again that wonderful luxury of child
hood.
Little Miss Dana before She became
THE Poor Little Rich GirP' was a NOV
ing picture star. Klaw and Erlanger
found her through an Edison picture
play and Immediately contracted for her
services.
The fame of the Miss Gates delightful
play has also spread abroad. and Mr..
Frank Vernon. who came to America to
supervise the rehearsals of "MiIestones,"
is now negotiating with the American
producers FOR the London presentation of
the piece, which is very flattering to all
concerned in the present production.
specially to Miss Gates because of the
fact that THE Poor Little Rich Girl'
represents her first dramatic effort. Miss
Gates is Western product, having spent
much of her girlhood in 4 sod-house on
the prairie. She graduated from news
paper writing into that OF novels, being
the author of The Plow Woman" and
sGFrha RipprarhU nf a Prairia Girl -
For her play 1.-THE Poor Little Rich
Girl" it is claimed that Miss Gates has
not only accomplished the delicate task
of maintaining successfully the note Of
fantasy. but has written a real stage
novelty.
To return again to Viola Dana-well,
one has but TO pick up almost any maga-
zine dealing with the theater to find her
pictures, and very quaint and childish
interviews which she has given to scores
of critics. scattered through its pages.
Aside from all this Klaw and Erlanger
have introduced several new features in
this seasons production of the play, one
hcing the engagement of Maurice Mike
and his string orchestra for the rendition
Of William Furst's specially written incl
dental music, so necessary a setting to
the fantastical scenes of the drama. Mr..
Mike will also present a special program
Of violin solos between the acts.
At the Columbia we have Mabel and
Edith Taliaferro. who made their first
appearance as co-stars in Atlantic City
less than two weeks ago in a new piece
entitled young WISDOM" by Rachel
Crothers, under the management Of Jo-
seph Brooks, in association with Klaw
and Erlanger, where both the play and
its stellar players are reported to have
scored a tremendous success.
Miss Crother's story has trial marriage
as its central theme, and am informed
that she has painted humanity with an
brush, presenting her pic
ture in a delightfully."- farcical vein.
In the case of each of the Taliaferro |
sisters there was no necessity for choos- |
ing a career, since they were both on the
stage at an age when most children are |
playing with dolls. At the age OF seven |
Mabel was the best known child actress |
IN the country, appearing as Russ Why |
tall in Fair Virginia." which character |
zation was followed by Esther in ''The |
Children of the Ghetfo," in which she ap-
Deared in London. Her Lovey Mary in |
Mrs Wigs of the Cabbage Patch" was |
4 rare treat several seasons ago, and her |
of Dolly in Shaw's You Never /
Can Tell was as clear cut a classic as |
Dne would ever wish 10 see. Since her /
triumph in this role she has been seen /
IN ''The Little Princess with William |
Collier in this country and Australia; in |
'The Bishops Carriage" ''The Land of
Hearts Desire" Brownings "Pippa
Passes" ''Springtime" and in her delight
tul delineation of the title role in Polly