The Washington times., 1915-12-26


Stepping Heavenward." which you re-
ceived for Christms, was sent by your
grandmother.
FLORENCE E. YoDER.
National: "Sybil," a New Musical
Comedy With SaRderSOR, Brian, and
CawthOrn. 80
W AS"tsG11S pf.ts' %S:,. s.s:s;:' sD%:S;S TSs
" serious forms of entertainment
will doubtless get just what
they want along these lines, in "A large
and generous dose at the National
Theater the coming week. Charles
FrOhman's big three-ply stellar combi
nation, Julia Sanderson, Donald Brian,
and Joseph Cawthorn, will present for
the first time in America ''Sybn," a
work that comes to us from abroad,
where 1t achieved what is termed ex-
traordinary success. The book is by
Max Brody and Franz Martos. who
concocted The Merry Widow" The
music is by Victor Jacob, composer of
The Marriage Market" in which Don
aid Brian formerly starred, The stage
direction has been intrusted TO Fred q.
Latham, an expert In producing mu-
sical comedy, assisted by Julian Mitch
ell, who Is unquestionably the most
adroit and artful inventor of "girl num-
hers" and ensembles in which the
nymphs OF the chorus display their
Establishments. "Sybir will doubtless
show the onward strides made in this
field of stage art during the past sea-
son.,
Thsre is. OF course, some sort of plot
TO the new musical play. 1t concerns
an intrigue involving a young Russian
officer who deserts from the Cars pail
ace to follow a beautifuf prima donna
and win her heart and hand. 1t is only
through a shrewd ruse OF Sybil Renaud,
his adorned one. that Capt. Paul Petrow
escapes exile In Siberia. Sybil is mis-
taken by the governor of the province of
BomBk, where the action transpfres,
for . certain grand duchess. who is eN-
pectSd to honor the town a visit. The
complications that ensue save the life
Of the young officer and involve every
body more or less, in all sorts of i'm
broglios. But the plot of musical play
is a secondary consideration. OF prime
Importance is the music, and the score
OF ''Sybil' is said to abound in allurlng
waltFes, snappy tangos, dreamy love
duets and every conceivable style OF
composition beloved by patrons OF this
form of entertainment. Miss Sanderson
VIII have the title role of the bewitch-
ing prima donna. Donald Brian, whose
THE Merry Widow" will again be at
home in the portrayal of a scion OF no.
bility Mr.. Cawthorn has a charac cter
shaped especially for his whimsical per-
sonality
BelascO: William Faversham in
THE Hawk" American Adoption of
French Drama.
wv LILLIAN FAVERSHAM comes
'" to the Belasco Theater next
" week in modern drama
entitled The Hawk" begin
ming with a 1rst performance tomorrow
night, and with the .mid-week matinee
on Thursday.
In his present incarnation. Mr.. Faver,
sham, supported by an excellent com.
nany, is seen in the role OF a gamester
New York and Chicago have already
given the production unstinted prais,
both from the viewpoint of a drama ant
from the cons deration Of The role oI
The Hawk" as a bit of Mr.. Faver
shan's genius.
The Hawk" tells a story OF moderr
IRE and was written by Francis d;
Croisset, the translation by Marie Ear,
Taylor, while MIR. Faversham adapted
ana staged the piece II came to pro
Huctten originally at the Nouvei Am
blRu, Paris, and scored n genuine sue
cess, and on its presentation in New
York last fail proved one OF the big sue
Cesses Of the year
The Hawk Is Hungarian of goo,
hlrth, llasetta by name, who has Yer,
limited resources. Deeply I'm love will
mis- wife, he ynmbles 10 satisfy her RV
trRvagant tastes and she helps him A
his cheating. a Young diplomat fails /,
love with the wife, and she responds &
his passion. lie catches her cheating
she confeSses that II has been
regular practice. and promises To Te
form. When she tries TO make her nus
band stop his suspicious are arouse
and he forces a confession OF her low
for the other man.
A scene ~ thrilling powers in whic
&c husband leaves the wife ana frien