Evening star., 1914-03-24
Columbia.

The Bronson Howard comedy drama
The Henrietta" proved. after the lapse
Of years, TO be excellent entertainment
at tho Columbia Theatcr. 1t was a stroke
of fine enterprise which took this play out
of the pigeon hole. and its interest sur
wives the attentions of the rc-wrlte men
to whom in accordance with current Gus
tom. il was entrusted. The Bronson How
ard play stands stalwsrt and to"erhs
like an oak, on which crude desire iot
rustic immortality has led a number OF
people to attempt TO carve their halh''.
The assumption that the oak has oee'
improved by the attentions Of the JuFe-
nile iack-kuifc is on a par with the con
fidcHt theory that The Henrietta mas
been much improved by the fountain pens
of Nj. WincheIl Smith and Mr.. victor
Mapcs The characters and lnciocits
which make the play are well preserved
and it stands stanch and reliable as an
appeal to popular interest.
When Robson and Crane appeared IN
tho drama it was regarded largely as
Robson play Now ii is distinctly Crane
play The character of Nicholas Van
NIstyne is d realization of the sturdy OLD
Wall street type that went into the mar
ket and fought the battle of finance al
most as Il hand-to-hdnd conflict. mere
Il
in the character. a note which crane
brings out in me contrast to the reso-
lutte spirit of the stock manipulation.
Crane chuckleS in the old familiar way,
and when it comes to serious scene.
projects a quality Of strong sincerity
which prevents the play from tumblinS
at times in superficial farce.
The old "Bertie. the lamb. has quite
disappeared from the cast of characters
and in his stead We find Mr.. Douglas
E'..iy mi
curtain speech in which he says that
he never saw THE Henrietta" played
and this statement should be SUI
ficient explanation and apology. He is
compelled TO proceed on lines quite
apart from those laid down by Stuart
Robson and courageously develops
Characterization of his own that is by
no means lacking in agreeable effect
y physical imitation of Robson would
be absurd. and lapse of time might
prevent it's appreciation. even II cor
rect. Robsons Berthe was the youth
who has been Systematically breo 10
Idleness. and who. having no demands
his Intelligence, simply neglects to
exercise it. He is d creature OF environ
ment. The new BERTHE is merely type
Of overdressed stupidity. 1t carries a
grim suggestion Of heredity that would
cause the proposition to marry him TO
the heroine to be challenged instantly
on eugenic grounds. 1t is comic por-
traiture, largely obtained by physical
old story and contributed a share of
laughs that help TO make the audito-
rum a scene of exceptional enthusiasm.
Miss Amelia Bingham played the part
OF the widow whose Sraces recall the
old speculator from autumn back to
the sprinGtime of life, in thorough
harmony with the dashing and comely
spirit OF the part
Miss Patricia Collinge appeared as
Agnes with girlish spontaneity. She
a. "a
that calls her into view.
The part of Mark Turner, the reckless
and audacious speculator who undertakes
TO break his father-in-law in the market
by methods of black treachery. is we'll
played by Lyster Chambers. The role
has become largely a lay figure instead
of the psychological study that Bronson
Howard made it. He is now the con-
ventional stage villain. who. when ex-
posed, is generously dismissed by his VIC
Tins with a slap on the wrist. In The
Henrietta this character was an intense
study of the mania for speculation. and
the suicide, which terminated Mark Turn
er's career, was an exemplfication of the
instinct for speculation that knew no
scrupleS: that played to win stupendouSly
or else to lose everything. even life itself
II is a cast of character whose person
ne invites interest because of the. prom
inence OF its members as well as because
of notable instances of individual pro-
fciency.
The charm of The Henrietta" is po-
tently manifest and the Interpolation of
the adjective new does not exert i'm
portant effect as either an assistance or a
hindrance. The admirers Of tradition
found nothing serious to complain of in
the way of mutilation, and those who
made the acquaintance of the play for
the first time were perhaps assisted to
a sympathetic attitude by some of the
direct dialogue that has here and there
been substituted for the more graceful
diction of the original text.
A distinguished audience showed its
appreciation with unreserved enthusiasm.