Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-16
Columbia,

A welcoming audience, limited only by
the walls of the Columbia, testified to
the popularity Of Mr.. and Mrs. Van Buren,,
who opened their return engagement last
night with Sayres comedy, Tom Moore.
Applause that had a heart-to quote the
latest classic-insistent curtain calls. and
flowers, and flowers and flowers. were
the outward symbols that expressed the
deeper sentiment of admratio for TWO OF
the Columbia's players who had gathered
honors while away, but were frankiy
glad to come home.
Apart from the plot, which takes IT'S
spirit from that period of Moores LIE
when by a gust of royal Juror. he was
transformed from penniless poet IN gar
ret lodgings. to an idol of London soclety'
the play fairly crackles with cleVerness.
Sheridan. the dramatist. ciashlne WIS
with Moore, the poet and dashlng irish
wag; Beau Brummel. the dandy of all Eu-
rope: Sir Percival Lovelace, violating
morals with the breezy villainy that MS
name stands for in history and romance,
Lady Fitzherbert, archly humorous
enough to retain her hold on royal WnlH'
all of them. as personated by the %
lumbia Players last night. were as reai,
almost-in their joys and sentiments, ano
intrigues and indications. as the Original
celebrities who peopled London century
ago.
Mr.. Van Buren,, with just enough
broeue to show for Dublin, made love
like an Irishman-on the uncontested
principle that the Irishman is the
worlds ideal 1over-and his glft OF
11ara ssn was vfsh the sndiady, who
came with clamorous demand for
rent and went off weeping at the
poets recital Of soulful verse. MRS.
Van Buren-not Dorothy Bernard. pa
her emotional and really beautiful
little speech of response to the flowers
in which she stood-knee deep in the
roses of June, as Bessie Dyke, the de-
mure teacher, and afterward success-
full actress. was as naturally en nna aas
as the original Moore could nave oe-
manded Of his original love-
George W. Barber portrayed IN ms
own excellent way the wholesome 1rleno-
illness of Lord Mora, and John M. hnne
sustained the dignity of the Prince OF
Wales. Carrie Thatcher was. as Carrie
Thatcher always is, convincing In her
impersonation of Lady Fitzherbert, ana
Jessie Glendinning was plcturesqueis
piauant in the one glimpse OF decelt1ui.
ness which provided the main troubles OF
the play. Willard Robertson, the lordly
Lovelace, who schemed mock marriage,
contrived to convey villainy without IN
the least marring his personal popularity
and Julie Blanc was downright dehsnt-
full as Mrs. Malone.
Everett Butterfield scored again, as ne
nearly always scores. in the character
type Buster. factotum to Tom moore.
George Darrell, as Robin Dyke; Joseph
MCCOY, as Sheridan; David Chase, as
Beau Brummel: Henry Bull. as Terrence.
and Theodore Hardy, as McDermott-tnat
publisher who tried his best.wnlch
meant his worst-to buy Moore's life tune
of brains for 41,O00-and George Marsnaii'
as the servant, were individually excel
ient-not counting Whitman Conn, Theo-
dore Howe John Metzerott, Edwin Tauly.
Bessie Maxwell, George Durno and other
pfg-tailed and bare-legged = youngsters
who won their share OF laughter IN 'he
country school -
with all proper reverence for Hamlet,
the play, despite its merit, was not the
thing, last night It was an occasion tnat
belonged entirely-almost entirely-to MI
and Mrs. Van Buren,.