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

| William Faversham in 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 THE Hawk" defeated, yet in
victory. the audience realized It had wit
messed a French play that was unusual
in that 1t championed reform.
THE Hawk concerns 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 a 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 Croissets play begins uninterest-
ingly. but does not remain so long. with
| the entrance OF THE Hawk" whose
retirement is followed by his wife's
coming things begin to progress rapid
IN the love making OF the wife
ana her admirer. Their first kiss fur
| nishes the finale OF the act.
IN the second and big act of the play.
' me over detects the cheating Of The
a"k, and the part played therein
| ny tne WIFE. His accusation OF her
awakens ner better side and she seeks
70 induce her husband to give up gamb-
| ing His suspicious aroused, THE
| itaWk makes his wife admit she loves
.mt ir.enu; and IN the climax. poignant
WIN thrills, the husband leaves the
| lovers.
| IN the last scene. ten months later.
The Hawk Is induced to come to the
! rooms of the American friend to be Of
| lered position IN Mexico and money
divorce He refuses both. but consents
! to the divorce Y his wife will make the
request. She does. and his affirmative
! response duickens the old love and In
| C tation Is effected
| Tho acting OF the play is competent
throughout. Mr.. Faversham I'm the chief
part gives definite CHARACTERIZATION
| WIN tne detehtfut 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-
| ier defeated in health. but still strong
IN love. his work in the final act was
| WIN brilliancy that was compelling
MISS Arleen Hackett as the wife. does
most erective WORK in q 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 the
/ 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 admira bl y
brought out what little humor de
! lroisset supplied as the American
Others prominent in the large cast
| were Miss Grace Henderson, Miss Elsie
oldham. and Edwin Cushman.
| The settings. particularly the combna
! tlons 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.