Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-01-26


TOPICS Of concern in our own
country is manifest in Ihe
Governors Lady" While it has been Gus
tonarv to place but little emphasis on
Mr.. BelaSco's activities author in
the purely literary sense OF the term, II
IS noteworthy that the plays which have
his closest attention in writing as Well
as in presentation are most satisfactory
as studies in motive and character de
lneation The Belasco method is strongly
in evidence in THE Governor 5 Lady 1t
IS the method of Belasco the producer
rather than Belasco the playwright
It is in the epflogue that his distinctly
personal influence Is most evident The
eating-room scene is a picture whose
charm is in its fidelity TO detail. 1t re-
veals no extraordinary depths OF enoton
or human purpose. 1t Is the scene or
reconciliation which does little more than
strain a point in order to Crafty the IN
exorable popular demand for happy
ending While the play is an interesting
develor,nent OF a theme which has pre-
scented Itself from time TO time in the
daily news as a matter of absolute fact
the tStranSenlent of the husband and
wife who have progressed from early toll
and associations are no longer congenial-
the psychology of this particular story of
a man who progresses and a woman who
stands still is open To much question. HUI
man nature is a pretty constant quantity,
however curiously different combinations
of circumstances affect the conduct of the
individual.
The role PLAYED by Emma Dunn, and
played so well as to make il for the time
convincing. is that of a very unusual
woman. Creation IN its infinite POSSIBLE
tiles might produce resolute a devOtee
of toll and self-sacrifce. But however
much a woman might become Indifferent
t. social GayetieS. her love of refinement,
luxury and intellectual artistic ad-
vancement is trait that even the most
reckless molder of fiction's mimic
deStinieS cannot afford to leave out of
the reckoning. AS a rule the woman
is ambitious. determined and resource
ful in attaining the social advancement
and the personal luXurieS which the
Governors Lady resented with I'M
compromising ferceness. In real life
II is not until the woman has tried and
failed that the man. swept along by the
association arising from his business
career, is tempted to break away And
If the news items are not altogether
in the nature of irresponsible gossip
1.-The other woman" intervenes over
whelmingly as the motive that prompts
a diSloyalty which considera tons of
personal ambition alone would scarcely
make necessary.
In The Governors Lady" there is
diffidence in selecting the motive which
actuates Dan Slade in shutting his home
life away from his existence. Both the
woman and political ambition are sug-
geSted as motives, but neither is pre-
scented in a manner to indicate that the
author felt able to make it convincingly
reliable.
The presentation Of 1.-The Governors
Lady is SO complete demonstration
of craftsmanship that it pleases. even
while it does not satisfy as demon
stration of human nature. If there
ever was such a woman, unquestionably
she could not be different from the PC
ture drawn with such studious and in
telligent artistry by Miss Dunn.
Chauncey Olcott continues to sing the
bits OF melody custonarily described as
lifting. 1t cannot be denied that Mr. Oh
sistency with which he has developed a
particular style of play in which he ap-
pears to advantage, and his wisdom in Sc
curing the experienced supervision of
Henry Miller in putting together his en-
tertainments, brings him to attention as
Very good business man, as Well as a
Very good actor.
If there is anything that George Prim-
rose seems to enjoy il is playing little
practical joke the Oslerites He seems
10 derive great amusement from stimulat-
Ing some OF the youngsters who interpret
fancy dancing TO their best endeavors and
then stepping forward in rose-colored
satin clothes 10 show how the trick should
really be done. Lew Dockstader continues
to be the boy wonder in putting over
funny stories that appear to be picked I'D
on the auditors own doorstep. Dock
stader can learn more town gossip in two
or three hours than a policeman finds out
after six months on his own particular
beat. PHILANDER JOHNSON
y DREAM COME TRUE-Percy Has
well has a philosophy Of life. 1t Is pa
thence. She simply holds that patience
plus the powerful conviction that right
Will win form the winning combination.
Already she sees It coming true in her
life the public Turns to Shakespeare
for theatrical enjoyment.
Miss Haswells ambition, cherished
through stock days and one-niSht and
week-stand days. in season and out of
season, has been to devote herself com
pletely TO Shakespeare's comedies. She
has never lost an opportunity to play the
particular roles she loves. Above all Is
Rosalind, the maid of the forest of Arden.
Then there are Viola, katherine, Portia,
Desdemona and all the other fascinating
women OF the bard'S dramas.
Next season Miss Haswen will launch
herself as an independent star Her con-
viction is that art productions are to pe
the thing for the future This means the
rejection of the spectacular and realistic.
In her view prOd!gality Of production is
rot the treatment which should be ac-
corded the play The Rhinehart idea fits
her conception of the fitness of things.
This artistic scheme calls for the of
tapestries. draperies and hang -ngs in
place OF elaborate scenery. These. with
properly disposed lighting effects. would
suggest the locale involved in the &C
ION rather than purport to be fac
mile of the scene.
She viii! the Daily versions holding
hat the unabridged pays cannot be
irought within the time limit OF mod
m theatrical performance without max
IL necessary for a player To race"
h n ito l-Va..u sf<iv1 IN