The Washington herald., 1914-03-24
COLUMBIA.
.sThe New Henrietta,

When, seven years after its original
presentation at the Empire Theater,
Miss Maud Adams returned TO New
York in Barries exquisite fantasy
"Peter Pam" and vast audiences
focked to see her, Charles Frohman
EXPRESSED it as his belief that a new
generation of theatergoers is porn
every seven years.
A somewhat similar idea was ex-
pressed without the designation OF
any specific period) by William h
Crane last night when the large audi
snce in the Columbia Theater received
The New Henrietta" with uhstinted
enthusiasm, compelling both Mr.. Crane
and Douglas Fairbanks to express ap-
preciation for themselves and their CO.
stars.
That there were few present who had
seen the Bronson Howard comedy which
bore the name of THE Henrietta when
IL was produced in 1887. was evidenced by
the tense interest with which the au-
dience followed this exciting story, which
won the approval Of theatergoers OF
couple of decades ago when Mr.. Crane
and Stuart Robson helped make 1t
drawing card.
To the newer generation THE Henriet-
ia" is not a very illuminating title for a
dramatic pei Irmance, but it served to
ruin one marriage; almost wreck the hap
piness of two other couples, and cost
man his fortune Luckily the tangle is
straightened out in the last act and the
auditor goes home enthusiastic over
sparkling comedy filled with clever verbal
twists and tense situations. which are
presented by an aggregation of stars re-
markable for the unity which they give
the performance.
The results with Mr. Crane in his old
role of Nicholas Van Alstyne: Mr. FAR
banks as the impossible BERTHE, MISS
Amelia Bingham as the fashionable Mrs
Opdyke and Miss Patricia Collinge as
the sweet and dainty Agnes, is a most
happy one, while their support is of such
excellence and even balance that one
feels much inclined to include at least
Miss Eileen Enrol and Lyster Chambers
in the group of luminaries.
In remaking THE Henrietta into a
modern comedy WInchel Smith and Vic
tor Mapes have accomplished something
of feat in the matter of dramaturgy,
for there is nothing so difficult for
playwright as to pour old wine into new
bottles without disastrous results. The
New Henrietta" moves in lighter vein
and brighter spirit than the old. The
tedium of long speeches has been com
pIetely eliminated. while the suspense,
pathos. and serious moments OF the
piece have not been lost. In the Wall
street office of Nicholas Van Alstyne
when the ticker is tOlling Of the death
kncI of stocks in the Henrietta mines,
when brokers are running hither and
Won obtaining security from the rascally
son-in-law. the action runs fast. and the
excitement is capped by Nicholas pro-
posing marriage to the honey-haired wild
DIV when love is the least of his troubles.
BERTHE. the brainlcss, tcngue-tled hero.
is perhaps the most difficult figure in
the earlier comedy to imbue with plausi-
hiIitv according to modern standards.
After ample evidence that his brain is as
dense as London fog Bertie's quick
ANALYSIS of the situation which involves
the honor of his brother-in-law and the
rcace of his sister. his shouldering Of
the responsibility of iniduity not his own
while the girl who is to be his wife stands
ty in her wedding finery, is as improo-
able a. tho third act in which the elder
Van Alstync makes frantic efforts to win
a wife and save his fortune simulta-
neugsly. the former situation being saved
hv tho unique comedy methods of Mr.
Fairbanks and the latter by that nght
spirit verging On the farcical which is
pursued with most satisfactory results
throughout the production
Joseph Brooks. who was responsible Tor
the production of Bronson Howards s COM
edy in the original. is presenting The
New Henrietta in the writing of which
Messrs Smith and MapeS have displayed
remarkable skill. achieving dialogue that
is at all times snappy and sometimes
brilliant and characters that are indi-
vidually and collectively interesting.
JULIA CHANDLER MANI.