The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-06-17
COLUMBIA.

..The Prince and the Pauper."
While Miss Helen Holmes, the leading
lady of the Columbia Players, sat In
box and watched the performance OF
The Prince and the Pauper," at the
Columbia Theater, last night, little MISS
Helen HAYES Brown, in the dual roles
of Tom CAVITY, the pauper, and Edward,
Prince of Wales. wiggled her way down
to the very hearts Of her audience by
her delightful portrayal of the two little
figures made long ago dear TO the read
ing public through Mark Twsin's story
of the same name and the play which
was so successfully dramatized by Abby
Sage Richardson.
That this thrilling story of an adven-
ture in the life of one of Engiand's most
beloved Kings has been so seldom seen
since il closed two years run in New
York is due to the fact that there are
few children on the American stage
whose histrionic capabilities would prove
adequate for the portrayal of two char
acters the exact antithesis of each other.
That little Miss Brown would be able
to paint the respective characters of the
Prince Of Wales, and his physical. coun-
teIpart, Tom Ganty, the beggar, with
ease was not doubted by those who saw
this bright little star shine on the Co.
iumbia stage as Little Lord Fauntleroy'
two seasons ago, or witnessed her most
appealing characterization of Mary Jane
in Mary James Pa last summer
While this picturesque study of child
ish prank of young prince makes no pre-
lenses to historical accuracies, 1t loses
nothing of its gripping appeal on this &C
count, for the interest of the audience be-
gins with the pathetic leave-taking of
little Tom Canty from his mother, who
believes that the boy will fare better
at the hands of the world than with a
cruelty brutal father. whose chief pas
time is fiogging the lad, and continues in
tense through the succeeding four acts
and seven scenes in which the beggar
lad Yields to the within OF England's lit
tie prince to change clothes and places
with him, a prank which lead both prince
and pauper through many adventures,
which ali but lead TO the browning OF
Tom CAVITY as King of England.
The combined efforts of the beggar and
the prince, which are aided by Miles Hen
don, a Soldier of fortune, are but just
sufficient to restore the little prince to his
kingdom and the beggar to his mother;
but what does it matter, since each goes
logically to his own place a wiser lad.
\. II. Van Buren, as the soldier who
befriended the prince while he thought
him but Il mad bsggar again proved his
easy adaptabiiity TO far-varying roles,
giving a characterization last night as
likeable il was dashing.
Little Miss Brown is. of course, the
bright particular star of the Columbia
production this week. and thoroughly
earns the enthusiastic approval she re-
ceives for she makes most pathetic
and appealing pauper. and equally as
brilliant and delightful prince, keeping
the two characters separate and distinct
with an artistry which would do credit
to an artist of twice her years.
Supporting the central figure of the
story are many picturesque and con-
trastinS characters as the scenes shift
from the squalid abode of the Cantys'
in Ofal Court to Westminster Palace,
the most vivid of which is Willard Rob-
ertson's finely drawn characterization of
Anthony Gorse. a crazy peasant.
Other members of the Columbia Com
pany who are assisting this week in
making The Prince and the Pauper"
a distinctive success are Miss Frances
Younge. as Tom Canty's mother: Miss
Dorothy Bernard, as the beggar's sis
ter; john VI. Kline, who is excellent as
the brutal father; Everett Butterield, as
Hugh Gallard. John Canty's right-hand
man; Miss Jessie GIendinning. who paints
a most sincere and sympathetic portrait
of Princess Elizabeth; Lord Seymour,
Dortrayed by Arthur Richie; Stanley
James. as captain of the Kings Guard,
and George Barber as the Earl OF
Hartford.
The Prince and the Pauper' is worth
going many a mile TO see this week, IL
only for the sake of watching the win
some portrayals of the famous charae-
tiers by that most lOvable of stage chill
dren. little Miss Helen Hayes Brown:
J. c. MANI.