The Washington times., 1915-12-28
BELASCO.

William Faversham in 1.-The Hawk"
de Croissets drame OF modern French
life, opened a weeks engagement at the
Belasco Theater last night and was
made welcome by an audience which de-
monstrated Its friendliness by repeated
calls at the conclusion of the first act
and a silence that bespoke intense in
terest during the gripping second act
when the third act terminated and
showed 1.-THE Hawk" defeated, yet In
victory. the audience realized It had Wit
messed a French play that was unusual
in that It championed reform.
THE Hawk" concerns a man who
cheats at cards to give his wife luxuries.
and when he finds she is in love with
another man he gives her up and goes
away. The incentive gone. he abandons
cards altogether. and to find forgetful-
ness of the wife that was his he takes
TO drugs. He is brought back through
the efforts Of an American who ad-
mires the beaten man despite the fact
that the last illgotten gains of THE
Hawk" happens to be his money. Re-
quested to consent to divorce that his
wife might marry the lover. "The
Hawk" does so, thus sounding the
depths OF love, the strength OF which
wins back the wife. who goes out into
the world with him to find a new life.
De Croisset's play begins uninterest-
ingly, but does not remain 80 long. With
the entrance of THE Hawk" whose
retirement is followed by his wife's
coming. things begin to progress ra pid-
IN the love making OF the wife
nishes the finale OF the act.
In the second and big act of the play.
ne over detects the cheating OF "The
awk and the part played therein
Dy the Wife. His accusation OF her
aWakens her better side and she seeks
TO induce her husband to give up gamb-
ing. His suspicious aroused, 'The
ltawk makes his wife admit she loves
the friend. and IN the climax, polgnan Mt
win thrills. the husband leaves the
In the last scene, ten months later.
The Hawk Is induced to come to the
J rooms OF the American friend to be Of
| 1ered position in Mexico and money
considerations II he Will consent to a
divorce. He refuses both, but consents
to the divorce " his wife will make the
request. She does. and his affirmative
response duickens the old love and in
| scene that Is rarely acted the recon-
C iation is effected.
The acting of the play Is competent
throughout. Mr.. Faversham I'm the chief
| part gives definite Characterization
with the delightful art OF which he
Is capable. His work. in the second act
arises to all the heights of Faversha m
excellence. and as the reformed Ramb-
ler defeated in health. but still strong
In love. his work in the final act was
with a brilliancy that was compelling.
Miss Arleen Hackett as the wife. does
| most effective work in part that
! makes heavy demand on the technical
"bility OF the actress. She demonstrated
her equipment " meet the test admir-.
ably. though her rapid speech in tine
more emotional passages made her lines
at times difficult to grasp. The hum o:
| the theater is smothered when Mis-.
| Hackett mas her moments. Albert Ros.
| coe. remembered for his association
with Poll Players. achieved the recogn;.
! ton his talents deserve in the role o.
' the lover, and A. s. Byron adnnira bly =
brought out what little humor dc
| Croisset supplied as the American
Others prominent in the large cast
were Miss Grace Henderson. Miss Elsie
| oldham. and Edwin Cushman.
The settings, particularly the combina
! tions OF yellow, red and brown in the II.
brary scene, and the rich gold and
brown In the villa drawing room were oi
excellent taste.