The Washington herald., 1914-06-23
COLUMBIA.
The Rainbow" )"

II is difficult 10 know Just where to be-
gin writing of such a delightful play as
The Rainbow" which was revived by
the Columbia Players last evening. This
charming comedy exhaIes the spirit Of
springtime and the fragrance of flowers
some pain and some gladness gives II the
bitter-sweet flavor OF life.
II is worth while to briefly retelI the
story, which is this: Can a man alter the
course Of his life when he changes his
attitude? Neil Sumner has been led
astray by the glitter Of dross-his friends
are the men and women Of the fastest
smart set-and he lives their life. His
proud wife divorces him, hut. like the
ioyal-to-duty mother Of Julia Chandler
Nanzs excellent story. The Memory =
which appeared in The Washington Her
aid uf last Saturday morning. his heauti-
fuI little daughter thinks Of her father
with love and reverence because of the
teaching Of her mother
sumner doesn't So Cynthia again for
ten years, or until she is on the verge
Of wor1anhood. when. on her insiste nee,
she is permitted TO visit him, and he
has her for two wonderful weeks be
fore he- mother rends Cynthis from
his house. and he finds il is like tear
ing his heart out by the roots. for
her loveliness of character has opened
his ewes TO how low and mean a life
he leads and he realizes how unworthy
he is.
cynthia has, indeed, come into sum
ner's life like a beautiful rainbow. and
he resolves that life for him shall
never again he OF the empty cheap sort
II has been in the past. You see. Sumner
was not the victim of his vices. Temp
tations had not confused his vision OF
right and wrong. The things he had
lost slept with the dead and could
not lie recalled. yet what remained ~
life for him lay in the path of sun
shine and of truth.
The warm welcome extended \. II. Van
Rurcn on his first entrance showed how
large a place he holds in the hearts Of
Washington theaterEoers. He brings to
the role OF Sumner a rich personality
and his portrayal is most satisfying. Dor
othy Bernard is very much TO be admired
as Cynthia. She fits the part with such
nicety that the sympathy OF the audience
goes out to her at once. Cynthia is all
that a nice girl is supposed Ia he-swect,
high-minded. refined. gentle. and loving.
The interest of the play depends prim-
ariIy on the effective handling Of the
scenes between father and daughter, and
Mr. and Mrs. Van Buren's acting of them
is beyond praise.
Space does not permit of the tribute
which each member OF the cast we'll
earns. Carrie Thatcher is delightfully."-
witty Betsey. Neirs sister. who tries to
keen his ''bounder'' friends away from
the house while Cynthia Is visiting her
father. Julia Blanc gives a careful i'm
persOnation of the mother. Jessie Glen
denning is the Mrs. Palmer, who has
married an octogenarian for his money
and runs around with other men-and
there is Elsie Davis. another of the set,
much flasher than Mrs. Palmer and with
a reputation even shadier The whole
company gets well within the picture.
The sentiment is all very touching, and
makes one think how splendid men and
women are when they lift themselves
above the dross. the selfishness, and the
ppttiness of everyday life. We seldom
have an opportunity presented TO wit
ness anything so worthy as The Rain
bow"