Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-18

"A theatrical week in Washington
4 just closed Spectacular enter
tainment by the Montgomery
Stone-Janis forces a scale OF mag
7,iflceuce SURPRISING the old-time spien-
doris of the Kiralfy Brothers was Joyous
" and confidently In evidence. a GER
rain element of suspense attached 10 old
Reliable" the dramatization designed TO
.,ive Willis Sweatnam the big chance to
which as an entertainer of long and com
yetent activities he is so thoroughly en-
titled. Mr. Sweatnam is one of the few
men who make the American negro, AS
depicted on the stage. vital and genuine
human picture His comedy is droil and
irresistible; yet 1t is consistent and in
character entirely apart from the rornp-
ing, inpromptu responsibility ordinarily
associated with burnt cork. If all the
laughs Willis Sweatnam. now a veteran
of veterans has afforded grateful pub
Tic could be rolled into one it would be a
cyclone of mi.th great enough to sweep
every vestige of gloom from the conti
nent.
,,rte of the most seriously interestiuc
events of the season here was the presen-
tation of Dorothy Donnelly's new play
Maria Rosa. 1t is gemlike in its bril-
fancy and in its exactitude OF proportion.
\ poems in dramatic form, il throws out
blunt appeal to superficial sentimental
fty. Its story is told in the dialogue, in
the earlier scenes, often at the expense
of action 1t is not. like Madame y. a
melodrama for melodrama's own sake 1t
ts vtvisection Of human passion
search for truth with ruthless disregard
of pain. Its people are humble. Their
mental processes are apart from those
of social experience and conservative re-
straint. Maria Rosa is gil: of the peo-
pie, dominated by a fanaticaI devotion to
the memory of a dead husband. The ut
most exercise of Miss Dennelly's extraor-
binary art is necessary to bring the au-
ditor into sympathetic appreciation of the
struggle of a living love against the re
1ationship that has been almost supersti-
tiously enshrined and sanctifed Only an
Notwithstanding actress qualified to sue
coed Bernhard herself in some OF the
most exacting phases of he art could
hope for the wonderful results she AT,
tains.
With the temperarientai spirit of the
play the Enslish-speaking auditor is not
instincuVely in accord. 1t is Latin:
fierce, impetuous, demonstrative. The
play IS rustic tragedy and exemplifes
one OF the highest functions of the thea
Ter by making it the means of under
standing the thoughts and feelings OF
people of another world
ne performance is wonderfully cast.
Miss Donneily is a revelation of emotion
tor
Tellegen. who is new to America. pro-
vides contrast by his display of repres-
sion. 1t is repression tense and terribl.
repression of feeling so tremendous that
when at last it bursts into storm il
leaves behind it utter devastation. This
actors present appearance lays the foun-
dation for an acquaintance with the !
American public which viii! 10 doubt lead !
highly esteemed interpreters of standard
drama. He Is one of the few actors who
seem equipped TO endow the part of |
Romeo with actual youth. as well as !
emotional force and scholarly discretion |
lie Is a strictly classic type His per- |
sonaiity is statuesquely Grecian Every |
pose IS marvel of artistic precision
though he shifts from oae to another /
with the sinuous swiftness of a Panther |
Ills reading is so natural that il Seems !
To betray 4 world Of study in avoiding !
the falntest appearance of article. Cnl,
an actor of his discretion and force
could prevent some of the scenes of
Maria Rosa from remaining only super !
hcial cxtravagances of fancy. He gives
to all that he does the viIailzing thrill OF
human impulse.
II is a bold thing to offer a, the pres-
en-; time this drama, entirely poetic N
quality and purpose. 1t Is a literary in
ceEsity and must find its appeal among
auditors who are in the mood not for
casual interest. but for intense appre- !
ciation.
Throughout the country The theatcr is .
becoming more and more q localized in !
,titu,on The stock company. once an /,
Experiment, Is 4 steady and reliable !
actor In the amusement world. and the
rewards 1t offers are such as to inviye !
-he efforts OF actors of hne quality. The !
stock theater is the workshop of the !
drsss.a, a little world Of its own where |
"a IL il his time must play many parts. |
lie eforts Of these ORGANIZATIONS are
10 longer purely initiative The pat
q! rs .stt by eminent creators OF particular
ro.cs 10 10: prevent initiative and orig |
naltts and many pay dismissed a |
taiIure after try-out By regular pro- |
Iuciug managers has been revived in
stock with happy results
Moving pictures. which have been re- |
garded as more or less inimical to tue |
interests OF the legitimate theater. might I
be utilized as help TO the dramatic
producers. The one man who never gets
an exact impression Of his own work IS
the actor himself. Actors are conscien !
uous and sensitive and much Of the ,
criticism given them is far more mis- |
leading than helpful A dress rehearsal |
before a moving picture camera might (
save a production now and then by en-
aiding the players to see themselves as /
others see them, and so. perhaps. from |
many Q biunder tree them. Why not?
PHILANDER JOHNSON !
BELIEVES IN AMERICAN TRAINING. |
Florence Hinkle, the young A:neri an |
Uh J.,