The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-29
ADJUSTMENTS
Forbes Robertson

By many "The Light That Failed" is considered Kipling's best story and it would be hard to conceive of more impressive and deeply moving perform ance of his masterpiece in which the great lights and shadows of life are blended. than that of Sir J. Forbes beginning at the Jefferson theatre last night. There are few characters in fic- ton that command more instant sym pathy than that of Dick Heldar, the British war correspondent, who typi- fies the best of his profession, a hard and exacting mistress who lays a heavy tribute on her subjects, but a tribute that is gladly paid, even to the sacrifice of life itself, and what may be even more desirable than life -the power to see
 The shadow which gradually creeps over Heldar, following an injury re- ceived in the Soudan. keeps pace with the growth of Maisie's love for him. for the play has a happy ending, with Maisie and Dick brought together. thanks to the kindly offices of Dicks s chum. Torpenhow. There is not a mo- ment while Forbes-R Robertson is on the stage that his personation of Dick fails in it's direct and powerful ap- peal to the sympathies Even when re- spending to curtain call he does not step out of the part. He is Dick Hell dar, with all the characters overmas- tering love for Maisie. his proud inde- pendence, even when helpless and blind, and his poignant sorrow when 1t seems that the doors of hope are closed to him. In the climax where Dicks blindness becomes total, Forbes Robertson rose to a magnificent eli max. one that electrified everyone who sat beneath the spell of his genius and in less emotional parts of the play he was equally effective. always the great actor. the artist without a su- perior on any stage.
 There are not many great moments in "The Light That Failed" The na- ture of the story does not permit them yet Forbes Robertson by the indefin- able something, which. for lack of a better name, we call personality, brought out all the sorrow of it and all the joy of it in the end. For man of his genius playing Dick Heldar is relaxation! And yet his performance Is superb, without a single false ges- ture or tone that does not ring true.
 
 breathless audience last night to see the extent of the actors gifts. There were to be seen the strained, intense faces that betokened utter absorption. Dick Heldar his living embodiment was there on the stage and the trag- edy of his life was real tragedy. No finer tributes could be paid an artist than that Forbes-R Robertson received last night. when a pin dropped could have been heard as Dick groped for the hand of Maisie in the last act, or in an earlier act realized that dark ness was descending upon him forever. to blot out the light of day and the face of the woman he loved.
 If the star was himself beyond crit icism Miss Laura Cowie ably seconded his efforts in the art of Maisie. She not only has youth and beauty In her favor. but is an actress of marked ability. In personal charm and his trionic gifts she compares favorably with any leading woman seen during recent years at the Jefferson. She was particularly affecting in her determine ton to become Dicks wife in spite of his wishes. her love for him overrul- ing and sweeping away his bitter pro- tests that he would be only a burden "a dead man.
 Ian Robertson played Torpenhow. one of Kipling's most 1ovable charac- ters. with sympathy and convincing imparting those qualities of loyalty and affection which sometimes bind men together. The other mem bers of the company had but little to do and their pronouncel English ac- cent occa sionally made this little rath- CT unintellg gible. but all in all, 1t was the kind of performance to be stored up in the treasure house of memory.
 Forbes Robertson will be seen to- l. f. A.. A. D in which part he is conceded to have no equal