Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-01-27
IT WASHINGTON THEATRES.
Wonderful Acting of Miss Keane at
the BelascO.
Doris Keane in Romance"


Romance" produced at the Belascc
Theatre under direction of Charles
Dillingham;, has charmed already the
audiences of New York and Chi
cago. 1t is easy to understand why
1t is throughout the very spirit, let
ter, and meaning of its title. 1t
writes in lines that are art and situa-
tions that are drama the story of Il
great love, a love so great that, in
order to show all its sweetness and
power, there is room for nothing else
at al! in the play.
1t is impossible to describe the
narrative adequately without using
all the words of Mr.. Sheldon. But
it concerns the love of a Young rec
tor in New York 40 years ago for
the golden nightingale" of that age,
Margarita Cavallini. And because
she returns his love, the action is
such as to prove that the best in
drama is what is really the best Of
life. love that is high and noble and
strong.
That is all there Is, Of it-a play of
love and music and song, and at the
end self-sacrifice. But this is play
within play. for Mr.. Sheldon has
written his story to show that the
young rector, becoma IN later years a
bishop, uses his experience to adj
wise his grandson . marry an ac-
ircss. In o,her wurds, the old Disis-
op. remembering the perfume of his
romance. brings to the young man
fresh flowers for his betrothed.
The acting of Miss Doris keane in
the stella role was wonderful. To
her Characterization of 1.-The Cavalli-
nj" she gives ali that she has of art
and personality, and she does it with
such success that she, perhaps, rea!l-
Zes that in it she has reached greater
heights than ever before. At all
events, never before has she so held
and delighted her audiences as she
does now. Her beauty, her voice, her
coquetry, and her power IN emotion
conspire together to prove her a
great actress.
Supporting her is Leslie Faber, as
the rector of st. Giles. Mr.. Faber did
excellent work in "Milestones,' but
in Romance he surpasses every
thing in his career. 1t would be easy
enough to permit the rector to seem
an unimportant parsonage, a light
ming rod upon which the light Of Miss
Keane might play. But he makes
the young lover strong, command
ing figure.
Others who contributed in great
degree to upholding the dramatic
standards set by Miss Keane, were
II. Nye Chart. Kenneth Davenport,
Miss Gilda Varesi, and Miss Mary
Elizabeth Forbes.
'"rhe Rosey Posey Girls"
"The Rosey Posey Girls" in two
act musical burletta are the attrac-
tion at the Gayety. NJ. ]. Kelly and
Irwin Gear comprise comedy team
that is hard to beat. They kept the
house in an uproar from the time
the curtain went up until its final
fall.
The show is one of the best on the
burlesque wheel and is filed to the
brim with fun and catchy music. The
entire company is above the average
seen in burlesque, Ruby Gray, Billie
Davis. Irene Gold ard Mabel Orell
form quartette of feminine artists
that win instant approval, both from
a personal standpoint and from the
dash they put in their parts.
Jeanette Mohr and Madge Sheehan
.both members of the chorus, are re-
Isponsible for the big hit of the show
The way in which they danced the
tango brought the house down, and
it was not until they were about tc
drop from exhaustion that they were
nermitted to leave the footlights. Ths
chorus is called upon to do more work
than is usual, but this proves one OF
the assets of the production. for it is
exceptionally we'll drilled. There are
mo less than fifteen musical numbers
during the two acts and the costumes
are daring ard startling in their ef-