The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-07-29
At the Theafers


4 VI
Long before the IDEA OF dabbfing In
popular Psychology ever sntsred the head
Of Augustus Thomas, he gave to the
stage . story OF intense dramatic vigos
in "Arisona." the piece which this week
serves to introduce to the patrons Of
Polls Theater Mr.. Robert Cain. the nav
leading man selected to succeed Mr.. Ed
ward Mackay.
Despite the since prolific work Of the in
veterate piaywrishts. Arizona" has lost
none Of its hold upon the affections Of
theater lovers. fact which was amply
demonstrated last spring when . revival
of the good old gun-metal drama was
made at the Lyric Theater. New York,
with Dustin Farnum in the heroic role
OF Lieut. Denton. and Elsie Ferguson a.
Sonita. attracting capacity houses r
the very reason that "Arizona" 10 an
American play that by sheer force of Its
dramatic strength may be depended upon
70 draw out the theater-going public.
While the well known story ID bit trite,
1t is thoroughly human story Of noble
sacr1hce-a play from which the red
blood trfckles-and that, after all 10 said
and done. is the thing that counts.
Mr.. Cain made his bow as leading man
of the Poll Players in the part essayed
by Mr.. Farnum, and created an impress
sion sufficiently favorable to extract
from his audience applause which per-
sisted until he had offered his en-
barrassed thanks. Certainly he left no
doubt Of the honesty and sincerity of
the much wronged first lieutenant Of the
United States Eleventh Cavalry. and
appeared to advantage in his scenes with
Miss Gertrude Bondhill, who made an
appealing Bonita. As leading man Of a
company composed Of such physically
and artistically vigorous players as the
Poll aggregation. however. 1t is to be
seriously doubted IL Mr.. Cain will prove
effectual. He is slight of stature and
lacks both magnetism and ffnesse. In
his scenes last night with Mr.. Frank
Shannon lwho gave an admirable por-
travail Of the austere Col. BonhAm), as
well as those with Mr.. Mark Kent, the
new leading man suffered through COM
making one wonder how in the
world SO experienced an officer as Col.
Bonham could possibly take So young
and inconsequentiai looking a chap as
Mr.. Cain made Of Lieut. Denton with
suncient seriousness to suspect his
pretty wife Of a laisson with him.
Miss Lolita Linthicum Is the foolish
wife who accepts Denton's sacrifice of
honor as a shield behind which to hide
her own well-nigh tragic mistake,
giving herself up to remorse with
satisfying abandonment. while little
Miss Bondhill takes first place this
week. even as she did through
the weeks production of Madame Sherry,
adding another feather to her CAP of
popularity through the sweet simplicity
and naturalness of her picture of Bonita.
Mr.. Kent is back again. obviously re-
freshed by his vacation. and giving a
strikingly capable characterization In the
role of Henry Candy. the ranchman,
while Miss Helen Tracy renders effective
support as Mrs Candy.
Mr.. Dudley Hawley gets in his deadly
work as Tony. the ''greaser," whose con-
fession Of the murder of Capt. Hodg-
man the observation-disclosures villain of the
piece. capably played by Mr. Francis
BelD. saves young. Denton's neck
Miss Ollie Cooper is seen in the role
Sergt. Kellar, her father: Mr. Tom Will
ANS is DIR. Fenlon; Miss Louise Whit
ford. the school-teacher: Mr.. Hardie
Meakin. the Chinese cook of the Candy
Messrs Craig Weston, George
and NJ. Bell are officers Of the
United States Eleventh Cavalry, serving
effectively in making the stock produc-
don of the Thomas melodrama a success
The intermissions last night taxed the
patience of the Poll patrons who had
oraved the heat to see Arizona" that
between the first and second act bring
ng a storm of protesting handclapping.
Otherwise the piece ran smoothly, and
vas well staged.
Augustus Thomas entered the moving
picture field last week when a new film
began making pictures of
lis play. which is the interesting offer |
ng Of the Poll Players this week.
]. c. MANI.