The Washington times., 1914-11-24
AT WASHINGTON PLAYHOUSES THIS WEEK
BELASCO.

The kinds of thrills that grandmother
and grandfather used to get from their
theatrical entertainment, with Bart
lev Campbell type of virtuous heroine,
Tom Robertson kind of virtuous hero,
and a Dion Bouccicault style Of deep
dyed villain-just that particular kind OF
thrill accompanies the presentation OF
each of the ten scenes in the four acts
of Walter Howard's THE Story Of the
| Rosary" which the author and his
company of English players produced
at the Belasco last night. There never
| was a group of theatergoers who took
their theater more seriously than the
last generation but one, and there has
| never been a group of players who take
tneir play more seriously than EngIsn
actors and actresses who present real
! lnelodrama THE Story Of the Rosary
| is of a kind that would make both
groups shout for joy. BY the same
token It made a large number of lovers
of genuine unvarnished drama fairly
| revel in the glory of real. honest-to-
i goodness, Observation-Disclosures, war-and-
1estilence ue-and-wickedness melo-
/ drama last night. In these days Of
| erotic stage problems 1t Is very seldom
that a real sample of the original style
| If plays of this sort comes our way
And we must confess that We enjoy Il.
We like to see the hero and heroine go
! thl ough all the struggles to attain a
| happy ending that they go through in
| these plays, and we like to see the
| villain meet his just end in the last act
/ Just to carry the thing bit further,
We get these spinal shivers that grand
mother and grandfather used to get at
| exactly the same prices that grand
| father and grandmother used to pay in
| ''The Story of the Rosary"-which
might not be the least Of its attractions
| in this age Of the high cost of thrilling.
"The Story of the Rosary" Is the
| on the eve Of going into battle; is
placed under arrest for failing to re-
port for duty at the proper time; IS
released from arrest to lead his troops
! in a great charge; is reported left
for dead on the battlefield and his
dear one is to be forced to marry the
villain or. go into a convent when he
shows up at the proper time and beats
I the villain and cheats the convent.
| This rs the bricfest possible way of
family friend who watches over the
destinies of all concerned; a weak,
gambling father In the tolls Of the
villain; a comedy pair to relieve the
tense moments, and q big battle scene.
| The play has been produced in a very
effects are the modern touches that
go to show just how good old melo-
drama could be improved mechani-
cally If there were. only a few Bartley
Campbe1ls or Tom Robertsons to write
them.
Walter Howard, the author of the
play and its producer, plays the part
Of the faithful family friend in a
very painstaking way. A little stiff at
times, Mr.. Howard gives a studied
picture of the English gentleman
ranker. Alfred Paumier is the very
robust hero and makes the most Of
his opportunities. Mr.. Paumier is an
excellent actor and his work is of a
very high quality. Annie Saker, as
the heroine, is effective in her big
scenes and her work is always in
keeping with the big idea Of the
piece.
Wyndham Standing gives the part OF
the william that sinister touch that Is
needed George Desmond and Marjorie
Day have the comedy parts, and han
,, die them in a very capable way. MIR.
Desmond proved he is no mean come
dian by the manner in which he OBJ
tained s26 for n handsomely dressed
doll which he auctioned to the audience
between the second and third acts, the
money to be devoted to the Belgian re-
lief fund.
The performance at the Belasco last
evening was a benefit for the Belgian
fund, which is being raised under the
auspices of Countess Dumas and her
associates. The house was crowded and