The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-02-22

! tour of twenty-five weeks In .sThe High
Road. and viii return to her triumph In
lighter vein until May. t-V
The dramatic history Of America has
known no other career 50 artistically
varied as that of Mrs. Fiske. Nearly all
the great names Of the stage have been
Identified with some particular character,
| or some special line of endeavor-Booth
with Hamlet" Jefferson with rip Van
Wrinkle" Nelson with Juliet-but Mrs.
Ftske has touched almost every phase of
stage portraiture, and she has handled
nothing that she has not adorned. Nor
does she confine herself to one style OF
play. The range she has covered has
been remarkable. including the strictly
psychological drama, and even the broad
est farce. The searching soul analysis
that she bestowed on the Ibsen heroines
has had as its antithesis the brilliancy of
her Cynthia Karslake." or the mirth-
compelling abandon of Mrs. Bumpstead-
Leigh. Again what could be further
apart than her Tess and her Becky
SharpT' Decidedly she has shown a YER
satility Of which we have not seen the
Ike! And the feature that gives us most.
pause Is the artistic perfection that has
marked its every ramification. Her work
mas always shown an interpretive anal
ysis OF the character in hand and with
the power OF analysis has been linked
the power of INSTALLATION. She has not
only been able to think, but has made the
result OF that thinking SO apparent to
her public that her brilliant achievements
form the lode star of our drama.
And in her long list of dissimilar role.
there Is none SO filled with spontaneity,
none so effervescing with clean and clever
humor. as her fiawless portrait Of Mrs.
Bumpstead-Leigh."
But let US not forget in contemplation
Of dramatists and stars which have long
doomed large on the theatrical horizon,
that the current week brings us also the
springtime at its dawn in a little maid
but newly arrived" whose personality
is as sweet as drifting apple blossoms
Miss Ruth Characterization Henry Mn!
Ter viii this week raise to the position of
stardom in a play which will have its
premiere in Washington, at the New Ma
tional Theater, at a holiday matinee to-
morrow afternoon, being a romantic
comedy which the discriminating actor
manager has made out of Miss Jean Web
ster's quaint story, entitled Daddy Long
Legs" which ran first as a serial in the
Ladies' Home Journal. and afterward at
tanned great popularity In book form.
Little Miss Chatterton, who will create
the leading role in the new production,
@4oS P4oSSN ool N~o TOleS since she grad |
uated from her first brief stage experience |
with the Columbia Players of this city |
several years ago. She was seen in the |
ingenue role in The Great Name" with |
Mr.. Miller, and created Cynthia" in i
that irridescent piece called The Rain |
bow" which had its first presentation on |
any stage at the Columbia Theater in this (.
city about two years ago. at which time |
the dainty girl. who was such a youth |
ful leading lady, quite shared with |
Mr.. Miller the honors of the beautiful !
production Since then her frank young |
smile and winsome ways have wriggled |
themselves into the hearts of thousands
OF folk from coast to coast
Mr.. Miller has just been waiting to find
a piece in which the leading feminine role
would be sufficiently youthful, fresh, and
sweet to suit Miss Chatterton's delightful
personality in order to place the little
lady's name in electric lights over a the
alter, and when he read Miss webster's
story OF the quaint and original Judy"
he feit very sure he had found Just the
outlet for Miss ChatteFton's ability. He
lost no time In arranging with Miss Web
ster for the dramatization of her Daddy
uong-Legs," and so here we are facing
a premiere which will undoubtedly be
marked by all the artistry of a Henry
Miller production.
Miss Webster and Mr.. Miller will both
be present at the initial presentation of
the drama at the New National Tbeater
tomorrow afternoon. and throughout the
week.