Evening star., 1915-04-06
New National.

Louis N Parker's brilliant comedy
-Disraeli," with George Arliss. VINO
has made the title role one of the mod
ern masterpieces of dramatic art, is al
the New National Theater this week
FOR a farewell presentation" as the
advance notices announced. But with
all due Difference to managerial plans
it seems doubtful if SO splendid an
entertainment can be shelved pei
order in the face of enthusiasm such
as was shown by the largo audience
last night, and which began with the
arst curtain call and continued Win
increasing vigor many. many times
afterward. Few plays and fe"er piay
ers, indeed. have won so many recaiis
in the memory of the Oldest theater-
Soer. and, be it remembered, tnls Is
the second visit of Mr.. Arliss IN DIS
raeli' TO Washington, where one week
stay ordinarily is considered sufhcient
TO exhaust available patronage.
The unmistakable approval of Wash
ington's discriminating theatersoers
having thus been manifested, 1t seems
necessary only for the benefit of those
who, perchance, have not seen the play
or enjoyed Mr.. Arliss' masterful crea-
tion of character in It to say that,
although doubtless a fiction from
historical standpoint. "DisraeH" never
theless serves to give a satisfying
glimpse of the way big things are done
for big nations by big men. AT this
particular time its revelations arc
especially interesting. for the main
story deals with the farslghtedness OF
a great premier and the monumental
ANTIQUITIES he encountered in vindlcat-
ing the honor and maintaining tne
glory of his country and her sovereign,
also the strange means employed -
detect her enemies, traitors and spies,
and the instruments employed 10 eoun-
teract their work.
Disraeli, the great premier, IS pre-
sented in the play at the time Wnen
Russia was employing every supter-
fuse to outwit England in acquiring
control of the SueZ canal, when TO the
~tolid upper classes France and Ger
many were beneath contempt, and yet
the security of the great Indian en-
pire was trembling in the balance.
The premier saw, but the nobility did
not, vet undaunted he strove, ignoring
snub and even insult, until the mo-
fnemt of his great victory when, lnsu-
perable obstacles overcome, he could
crown his sovereign Empress OF India
aud compel virtually the idolatry of
people who would if they could have
Gladly spurned him before.
In SO much of historical interest is
the play educa tional, and yet 1T is not
q
contrary, il is filled with the brilliancy
OF both the great premier and the play
wright, interviewer with a pretty love
story. in which Disraeli is injected
rith real charm and genuine human
interest
The play is presented as whole by
+ talented and capable company, not a
single role being sighted. Four
changes in cast have been made since
it's former presentation. the most no.
table of which is the substitution of
Ernita Lascalles for Violet Heming
as Clarissa, the heroine of the love
story. and one that in no manner i'm
pairs the performance. but rather
strengthens it with new characterize
tion. Vincent Sternroyd replaces Ocar
Ndye. now deceased. as Mr.. Hugh My
ers, the German banker. who comes to
the relief of Disrael when the presi-
dent of the Bank of England fails him.
There are also two changes in the
minor roles But a splendidly bal
1nced performance is given and last
nights large audience unhesitatingly
declared the fact.