The Washington herald., 1915-04-18
1 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
49, s sJ1MEs S:9aSa4


New York April 1.-THE circus idea
becomes prevalent in the spring time.
The "all-star" cast is the circus idea
applied to the theater, which in one
way accounts for the spring revivals
OF former successes that have come
to be almost an established theatrical
institution. Another reason for the
"all-star" revivals at this time of the
year is that many prominent actors
have closed their regular seasons and
are open for engagements that will
span over the time before the sum-
mer vacation time begins.
Hence The Celebrated Case" with
a numerous cast of well-known actors,
whom it would have been difficult to
assemble at any other time of year
Messrs. David Belasco and Charles
Frohman buried the managerial
hatchet, for this enterprise, which is
clearly a fine example of the circus
method OF exploitation applied to the
legitimate stage. 1t has been done be-
fore frequently, and the public always
falls for it. The first essential is a
play with a reputation. The next is
an aggregation of a number of pop
ular names on the program, regardless
of the special suitability of the actors
for their parts.
RevivinE an Old One.
The Celebrated Case" is a play that
vas exploited in this country almost
fifty years ago. Produced first at the
Union Square Theater. then at the
height of its fame, the piece was given
a western vogue by it's production at
the McNiCkar in Chicago, and its sub
sequent use by stock and travelling
companies. In those days we had few
native plays, and anything that was
brought from Europe and Endorsed by
New York was sure of success almost
without regard to its intrinsic merits.
Produced today in New York with
out an "all-star" cast and with only
Its own merits to recommend it, "A
Celebrated Case" would be laughed at
1t is costume melodrama of France,
century or more ago. In plot and
incidents ii is so old-fa shioned and
primitive that the enlightened school
girl of today, educated 10 plays that
deal with the life of our own time,
would be bored by ii despite it's 70
mantle prctensions.
The alluslOn to the circus idea will
he better understood with the state
ment that the New York cast includes
Frederic de Belleville, Otis Skinner,
y. c. Goodwin, Helen Ware, Beverly
SitgreaNes, Robert Warwick. Ann Muir
dock. Florence Reed, Minna Gale
Haynes. and Elita Proctor Otis. This
looks Ike 4 tremendous bunch of tai |
cnt, and when the ordinary theater-
Goer sees such collection of we'll
nown performers in one cast, TO be
seen at one price of admission. he or
she. aud especially she hot-foot it to
the box office or the Spectator to get
tickets regardless of whether the play !
FGn il 1,
people are properly cast. 1t is the old ,
circus proposition of seeing much for I
little. and II gels over quite as well ,
IN the case of the 'all-Star' revival
BY Way of Comparison.
II is almost impossible to refrain
from comparing the revival of "A i
celebrated Case with that of ''Trilby."
The latter has, in the first place, the
idEantaSe of years. "Trilby" dates
Jack only twenty years in comparison
With the others half century. "A
celebrated Case" is highly artificial
nd theafrlc. while "Trilby' is a study
rom real life. getting its picturesque
leSS from the Bohemianism of the
tuulo and baSIng its interest on
redItahle mixture of art. youth and
Owe The play relies on genuine SEN
lnent and the appeal TO the sentiment
nat lives IN the heart of even the
iost hardened theatergoer "Trilby,"
Il course, needs to be well played.
nd could have no drawing power
I'm an unsuitable cast, no matter
hat the celebrity of the players
lnost any one can make some kind
l stab 1T the artificial characters
Il a Celeb rated Case" This does not
nPiy that the French play is badly
C'ed or that II is uninteresting re-
"TH'd only as theatrical attempt
he sensational 1t is worth seeing
: a relic of bygone days. as a SOU !
cnir OF what is now a rather remote I
ne" triral past. Regarded simply as
rama and an exhibition of acting as
khoW the art today. it is not '
"rih the price at which the specula- !
y" fraternity, always keen on a sen
iona! success, holds the tickets
Return of Favorite.
MArSAret AnElin, always popular in
'M York, comes back to US with a =
IEht comedy. which after having
rem called THE Desert Island. md
ne balance is finally produced as
1"Ncrly's Balance The play is far
ON pr"tentIous. II details the expe-
'h'eN "I Young southern gentle a
"iihh' VINO has come to New York | +,
make her living. Not PROPERLY =
lnlnped for any kind of n business or
oIeSslonal career. having failed even
show lady and chorus girl she b
'"S h"rseif finally in the capacity of h
professional correspondent in A di- h
'Fce case She starts on the careerI Z,
'hdlcapped with good breeding and g,
'oh manners which eventually lead g
surprising complications.
>ketchy As is the little pIay-it finds 7
.rd work 10 fill out an evenings on Vi
F'hlhinent-It has lot of cleyerl "
les ana amusing situations. Ii gives | ;,
Il Earel AnGin delightful opportuni- "
= 10 display her abilities as A COM n
i'nhe' ana she seems to find per- r
idi enjoyment in taking advantare
every one of them. Played in that .,
u ~ her enjoyment is shared by the fc
uieh"e thoroughly. Her small COM 81
ny Is good one. and rises to its CT
portunitics for funmakipp -,
Margaret Anglin, although entirer, o,
papie IN emotional roles is one of III
" "'iShed condolences left on our us
She mas an agreeable vehicle re
r This line of work in "ReverI,.s NJ
lance 1t is just ENOUGH i, Il ~,
~ OF play to suit the rso,,ra n,
'nts of that considerable .1s,,, 90
'ohg New York playgoers who W.T. ne
y little theatrical entertainment lis
tween the time when thew enish m
sir dinners and the going on 70 tn
inevitable dancing without which m
amusement is complete. in
just a Taste of Ib.. in
The Reicher family is fairly wall pl'
OWN on the American stage throurb q.
ious appearances of Frank az,