The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1914-08-04
COLUMBIA

Although "Tha Senator" presented
by the Columbia Players lact night Is
some twenty-five yeats older than he
was when he first came to Washing
ton. he reversed the usual procedure of
Senators who remain in the city that
long by being quite as interesting and
as entertaining as he was when he first
appeared. Occasion has been tnken
during the last few months to refer in
these reviews to the class of dramatic
productions of a couple Of decades ago
as belonging to the hustle and b1sdce
school OF the drama And on these oc-
casions II has been noted that the corne-
back qualities of the plays Of that type
were on a par with the hustle and
basque of fashion. leaving the reader to
infer that until these peculiar modes
OF draping the person returned 10
popular favor the plays should be per-
mitted to remain dormant.
1t might be more than coincidence,
therefore. that several costumes that
were distinctly basque in detail and
workmanship were noted in the audience
which witnessed 1.-THE Senator" last
night. This fact enables the reviewer
to welcome the Honorable Hannibal
Rivers to our midst again after the
lapse of so many years with perfectly
clear conscience.
'aThe senator Is one of the comedies
that is different" and the manner In
Players is also different"
The most important thing about the
production Is, Of course, the Senator
himself When A H. Van Buren, was
cast for this part he was warned that
Cranes character was set firmly In the
minds of the people who had seen It, as
the complete realization of the part
because Crane not only put all OF him
self into II. but borrowed certain plu-
mage from a man who was then a dis
tinguished as well as distinctive mem-
Der OF the Senate to help him along.
1t was undoubtedly in the minds OF
most people who went to the Columbia
Theater last night. therefore, that they
would see an imitation of Crane trying
to initiate the late Senator Plum. When
the audience filed out It Is practically
certain that it felt that IL 1.-The Sena-
tor" should be presented as an imita-
ton again, the actor presenting IL
should try to initiate A. II. Van Buren,
rather than the idol Of quarter Of a
century ago. Mr.. Van Buren's charac-
terization had enough of the Crane
Plum combination in outward appear
ance not to outrage the feelings of the
people with whom such things are sac
red. but his development Of the part
was distinctly an individual conception
and an achievement which Mr.. Van
Buren, has not equaled in his entire
career In Washington. His Senator was
a most artistic bit of work well worth
seeing and enjoying.
Dorothy Bernard as Mrs. Hillary. the
fascinating widow, gave an entirely
new idea Of her ability, and added
another to the distinct types of pleasing
characters she has created this sea-
son. George Barber presented an I'M
usually thoughtful character study in
the part Of old Denman. the man with
the claim. Jessie Glendenning brought
to the part of Mabel Denman the grace
and sweetness it needed, and gave the
character the best work she has done
here for some time. The other men,
bers Of the company, including Elsie
Rizer, who appears for the first time
since the opening week, were well cast
and gave their usual fine performance
GARDNER MACK.