The Washington herald., 1915-08-31
Polls Autumn Opening
Proves Brilliant Affair
Capacity Audience Divided Be-
tween Praise of Refurbished
Theater and Delight in the Re-
turn of A. H. Van Buren. Who
Gave Last Evening a Remark
able Demonstration of Intensive
Character Building.
By JULIA CHANDLER MANI.

1t would be a difficult matter to find
a play available for stock presentation
that would so exploit the qualities that
have been the paramount builders in A.
H. Van Buren's enviable success as The
Ringma ster." the four-act heroic drama
from the pen OF Olive Porter in which
Mr.. Van Buren, created the role of John
lie Baron jr., when the piece had its
premiere here at the Belasco Theater
some five years ago under the more IL
Eliminating title of His Fathers Son.
Closely resembling in both theme and
development .'The Man of the Hour"
THE Lion and the Mouse" and other
melodramatic stories, builded upon Wall
Street corruption. The Ringmaster'
fight for the thing that Is right, with
the merciless greed and Implying sell
fishness of the ringmaster and his CO.
workers against him.
Young lie Baron, returning from
abroad on fair May day, seeks the
woman of his dreams in her home,
but finds her unchanged in her opin-
lon that he is a dwadler because he
has elected to avoid "the Street" which
claimed his fathers energies before
him. The Only Girl is Eleanor Hillary
the daughter of The Ringmaster"
She inherits Hillary's ambition with
pies Upon lie Baron's yacht, in the
second act. the girl he loves assures
him of her support in whatever big
thing he shall undertake provided he
fights for the right, little realizing
that she is spuring him to dethrone
her own father from his place of high
financial power.
Stirred to his depths by the right
eousness of his fight for the protec-
tion of the dependent from the
wheels of the great Jug
gernaut of the stock manipulators, LIE
Baron fights TO the point of personal
ruin and the loss of the woman he
loves before the brave battle is won.
the mists cleared, and a happy con-
effected.
In the heroic role of John lie Baron
Mr.. Van Buren finds ample opportunity
for that remarkable revelation of char
acter building Of which he is SO capable;
working to his big climax with a cumu-
lative power that keeps his audience
still with tensity. The picture he drew
last night was a finely studied and care
fully weighed Characterization, consist
ent and virile throughout: serving to in
crease the ovation which was ACCORDED
him, and which doubtless would have
been extended regardless of the sort Of
play chosen for the occasion of his re-
turn. for we are all perfectly aware that
every stock organization which Mr. Van
Buren has headed in this city during the
past five years has profited by the dig
nifty and character of his personality, as
well as the high quality of his art. 1t
is therefore no matter for surprise thar
his return for the reopening Of the re-
furbrished Polls last night was the cue
for gala celebration. for unlimited en-
thusiasm. gracious curtain speeches,
beautiful floral tributes, and an altogeth-
er happy reception.
Florence Rittenhouse, playing opposite
Mr.. Van Buren, made a favorable i'm
preston in her initial performance be-
fore Washington audience, turning her
in the Wall Street story