The Washington herald., 1914-10-11

Yet The Ham Tree drew the CroWos
while the best melodrama that has held
the boards Of local theater during tne
four years that I have been writing
dramatic criticism for The Washington
Herald. as well as the most consummate
skill in the matter OF acting that Wash
ington has seen in many day. went
abegging.
Included in the latter category is not
only the cast presenting Birds of Prey
at the Columbia last week, but the play
ers who offered The Secret" headed by
Miss Frances starr, at the National
Miss STAIRS Installation Of Gabrielle
Jannelot, the woman who Henri Bern
stein saw fit to obsess with a passionate
and revolving jealousy in his powerful
drama, is the highest form Of dramatic
art 1t is the hawless gem in her bril-
liant career And the players supporting
Miss Star in The Secret give per-
fornance which is alone worth the price
of admission. Add to this the master
touch with which David Belasco has
staged the drama and we have consum-
mate skill in every quarter OF its produc-
ton. Yet The Secret was but sparsely
attended by Washington theater-goers
last week.
In the face OF such a fact what, may
ask, is the incentive to producers TO
bring the best Of their offerings to the
Nations Capital?
What to keep the rest OF the country
from feeling ashamed of us?
Scarcely less excuse was there for
the meagre attendance at the Column
bia last week, where A H. Woods did
tribute to our judgment by giving US
the premiere last Monday night of
Willard Mack's melodramatic master
piece, Birds of Prey" superbly acted
by Miss Jane Grey and John Barrymore
in the leading roles.
Somebody had the temerity to suggest
that the new Woods production did not
draw larger audiences because It came to
US first, having no long run elsewhere
TO its credit.
Stun and nonsense
As I reminded the commentator. Miss
STAIRS exquisitely modelled portrait OF
Gabrielle Jannelot had brought her
metropolitan ovation during the long run
CT The Secret in New York.
And what about "A Pair Of Skies"
which came to the Belasco the week be-
fore last, after the most successful run
OF a solid year in New York?
The piece was as clean and clever a
farce as any one could ask to see, and
yet its record Of success elsewhere made
absolutely no difference to Washington.
And it is all a great pity, which, some
how, ought TO be remedied.
There are plenty of folk in Washington
who enjoy the theater and are fortunate
enough to have the price Of seats. Yet
the majority of them will never see Miss
STAIRS perfect piece of work in THE
Secret" because she is shortly to begin
rehearsal for the new drama in which
Mr.. Belasco is to present her in Decem-
Der, and will not come back to Wash
ington in the Bernstein piece.
And Birds Of Prey goes directly from
Washington to New York. where it has
every promise of an extended run, 50
that those who missed seeing il last
week, through indifference or inappre-
citation, or whatever reason, are likely 10
be severely punished; for they are not
likely TO have another chance of seeing
the gripping and very human story pre-
scented again on a local stage with the
present company Of exceptionally fine
artists in the cast.
A. H Woods, the former purveyor OF
low-priced melodrama has within recent
years developed such an unerring in
stinct in the matter Of picking successes
that he is fast becoming a distinguished
figure in New York theatricals. There !
are TO his credit three of the biggest |
dramatic successes of last year, viz: |
within the Law" The Yellow Ticket" |
and Potash and Perlmutter," and right |
now he has three stupendous hits in |
Forty-second street, even before he adds |
Birds Of Prey" to the number.
The dominant ingredient Of the thest- |
rical hash OF the current week is musical |
comedy, High Jinks." coming to the |
Belasco and My Best Girl to the Co.
lumbia, each with an enviable record of /
success in New York and elsewhere at |
tached to its announcement
High Jinks" began its career on /
Broadway the 10th OF last December, an
occasion which was Of more than usual |
Interest because it marked the debut of
Miss Elaine Hammerstein, the daughter
Of the producer.
Miss Hammerstein Is no longer with
the company, and, indeed. only one mem
Der Of the original cast IL to be seen
this season in an important role, although
the present company is an excellent one
for all that Miss Ada Meade, whose
fine voice has been heard here with the
Aborn Opera Company, is still playing
the part Of Mrs. Thorne, in which her
singing, dancing, and exquisite Partisan
gowns have all won the unlimited en-
thusiasm Of both New York and Boston 1
Miss Stella Mayhem is the chief merry
maker in High Jinks' this season, and
Miss Elizabeth Wood is said to be an
other bright spot Of the musical comedy /
Rudolf Frinl, whose THE Firehy' we
al liked, IS responsible for the music,
much OF which is already familiar In Il
and Otto Hauerbach Is the
author Of the book. II
In MY Best Girl Victor Morley will II
BE- the featured fneunber NJ fha -s.+ - ,