Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-28
Relasco.

So great an interest is always mani
tested by Washington in anything r.
II. Sothern may have to contribute to
the stage that a large and alertly eX-
pectant audience at the Belasco last
night was a foregone conclusion. Later
in the evening the audience attested a
sratifed fulfillment of expectations by
demanding that the curtain be lifted
ten times or so. while the players con-
cerned in the presentation bowed their
Acknowledgements of well earned trie-
ute. The hope that Mr. Sothern had
added the preparation of curtain
speech to the cares of presenting an
English comedy with the fineness OIL
detail essential to its KIND was not
realized. Having scored a success, ~
the close OF the third act, the star did
not linger to lecture on II. but devoted
himself to contributing to the remain
ing scenes. the discerning enort neces-
sary to vi,alize their action.
The two virtues referred to IN the
play by Alfred Sutro are charity ana
chastity. The moral lesson is very
briefly set down. 1t has been Wen
learned long since, II the theateT
efforts can suffice to make the world
more generous in its judgments.
The role of Jerery fanJon, the rich.
unworldly student OF history, Is one OF
extraordinary exactions. Jeffrey Is de-
dearest, quaintest, most exquisite!
10 be sure. these terms OF admiration
are those of woman deeply moved o!
mingled affection and gratitude bue
at that, the specifications suggest din-
culties for man OF serious lntellec-
tual features attired with conventional
taste and with no pose for mannerlsm
to invite effusive SentiInentallty one
OF the chief ideas of the piece is a
travesty on sentimentality. which the
H,, a6 N q
ccntradicting the simple deilcacy OF
nature which Iuily entltle the role 10
the adjectives quoted.
Jeffery is n representative OF the type
OF man who regards the customary
sentimental experiences as a sort OF
social duty, and who cherishes a por-
trait a glove and n rose with the most
scrupulous formality. When the orig
inal proprietor of the glove and rose
appears any suggestion of renewal
of romantic relations is fraught with
embarrassment. The task of rescuing
the lady's husband from the clutches
of a designing adventures is wei
come contrast to the possibility OF seri-
Gus entanglenent ana MS discoVer9
that the adventures is a sweet and I'M
worldly woman, well worthy to be MS
wife, is quite sufficient as climax or
interest to a story whose CHIEF charm
is its polished evenness.
The play of imagination in the piece
is not sIrong, nor are the characters
drawn with any physical exaggeration
except in the case OF the MARI ed adg
Of the glove and rose, who chtrped ana
fIuttered through the play with touches
OF ErotesQuerie to which the audience
gave unmlstakabie approval
An incident OF the rareSt cnarm was
the playing of Miss Haidee Wright,
who as the supervising sister OF the
gentle literary plodder finds 1t her
DUTY to preserve the elegance of pa
trician calm under conditions OF Pc
culiar evaporation. 1t is upon her
role that the responsibility OF pictur-
ing the worlds uncharity rests, ana
she does it in a manner which explains
it candidly and without odium slight.
~ feline of nature, she Is social
lioness and not the traditional society
terization is that of the lady with the
past, by Charlotte Walker, whose
gentle and winsome individuality is as
convincing as it is attractive Pauline
Whitson, in addition to a conscien-
tious and energetic portrayal of Mrs.
Jervoise, moved by lingering senti-
rnents harmless as they are intense,
displayed some costumes OF .eccen-
trically striking effect. The gentleman
whose desire to recite his poetry to
appreciative feminine ears threatens
his domestic peace is well portrayed by
Orlando Daily. The other members OF
a company distinguished by efficiency
rather than by numbers did all allot-
ted to them without seeking to create
artificial opportunities.
The play harks back to the days when
Mr. Sothern made Lord Chumley,
'Letterblair," and their like, ideals of
polite and intelligent comedy to wh6m
recollection still turns with grateful
appreciation. J.