Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-12-09
ADJUSTMENTS
OTIS SKINNER AND FINE CAST
IN EXAMPLE OF HIGH COINED,


IN EXAMPLE or HIGH COMEDY
because he IL Il great artist. Otis
Skinner appeared last night in II
comedy OF today and made OF il Il ro-
nance: because he is a great artist
n" emerged from his shabby clothing
of an organ grinder and stood forth
Il hgure OF chivalrOus grace: because
he is great artist, he invested :,
oriei ana inornatc piece OF craftsman
sup with giamor OF poetry and
beauty Of his own creation. The play
was Booth Tarllington's Mister An
tonic: the greater part or the art
that made It's performance memorials
was otis SINNERS. in that he elevated
bit OF clever writing to a plane il
"o"i" never have reached. never would
reach unless II were quickcncd into
lie by such an artist as he is And
there is no such artist. OH our stage.
Forbes Robertson and Arliss-,hcy are
also great. but neither could play
Mister Antonio"
1t seems to have become u sor, OF
FASHION TO say the Booth HARRINGTON
play is not worthy OF Mr. Skinner
why. IL is hard to say; except because
IL is episode. because there is no Ham
ing climax. because IT is homely In
all its other characters. because ii has
not the broad sweep Of Il 'kismct" or
the foreign flavor of Lavedan play.
or yet because it is devoid Of an OBJ
rionsly poetic guilty. All this is true
but what IL II Is" II is pervaded b.
the kccn understanding of men and
motives that has gonc to the making
or Mr.. TarkinEton's value; IL is touch
ell with philosophy that conceals the
mechanism of philOsorhizinS: it ia
deftly pointed with wholesome hunor:
IT IL sparinEly shaded with n pathos
that aches for an instant. and il tolls
a human story. The story may be thin.
frasmentary even. but II is credible
and. more than that. IT is cngrossinE--
even though II is light And il is high
comedy.
Above all. it provides Mi Skinner
with abundant opportunity to lavish
the grace OF movement and OF gcs-
turc. the rare and superb voice. the
expressive play OF mobile features
and tho wonders of his reading that
form his technical cauipment-ali i'm II
role adapted TO display them ut their
height. All. that il. except the cnun-
citation that makes his reading OF Eng
lish lesson in that ART. For he plays
an Italian organ Erindcr. and. of
course. always with an accent That
in itself adds color to his always pic
turesque playing and charm to his per-
Torrance.
In briefest form: II. saves from
being thrown out tough saloon in
New York the Self-SanCtihed Mayor Of
IL small town in Pennsylvania. merely
because Il fool inside OF heem" COM
pels him to help people in trouble
In tat 40 n tIrir r iSh fnN n
on his wandering. summer tour. with
his little donkey. his hurdy- gurdy and
MS witless protegc. and arrives in
time TO take a hand in a typically
SNUG proceeding. levcled against
servant girl in the Mayors house. SO
hare an outline cannot even suggest
the brave Eaycty Of this beloved vaEa-
bond. this troubHdour OF the dusty
roads. but the story is slight. and
telling more would spoil it's enjoy
rnent.
Mr.. skinner makes his Antonio an
apostle Of good humor. of cheer and
ot kindness. and he makes the sketch
cd character appeal not only to the
lighter emotion OF laughter. but deeply
to the sympathy. He comes with II
song, happily and with Il bit Of swag-
ger. as becomes man who lives in
the open; he takes the romance that
comes To him. and the ending Of il
with hint Of the happiness he will
find somewhere else: but because OF
his very manliness and unfniling spirit.
he compels sympathy the more So
that. when he starts his little caravan
again his happiness is not his--and
herS--alone
TO Mr.. Tarkington's nOnentary in
terludes OF pa thos. Eleanor Woodruff.
AS the servant girl. contributes a sim
pie and sincere performance that very
ma tcrinlly Increases their strength.
while Robert Harrison presents "a
OF the man with
visited mind that stands quite alone
IN memory Of considerable extent
When Mr.. Harrison speaks one Of his
infreaueni lines. he catches the listen
~ by tn. throat. and even when he
shoots his childish cap-piStols. one
must try to laugh or eISe-givc up
The mere sight OF his fine face hope
l"Ssly blank except when 1t smiles AT
some pathetic fancy, is Il study--pro-
vided one can remember il is only act
ing. The whole east gives valuable
each deserves word or two.
but il must suffice to say they all help
10 create and maintain the illusion,
throughout II delightful performance.
There viii be two psrforma to-
day.