Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-01-16

Id friends and new Joined to
maintain interest in the thea
ter last week. THE Lilac
Domino repeated its previous
triumphs: a thing of scenic
splendor and musical charm whose
attractions do not diminish on ac-
auaintance. Perhaps if the piece
were a little more definite in dramatic
form. with events which fixed them
selves in the memory. it would not bear
seeing and hearing so often. AS 1t is,
the Hghtsome gorgeousness of 1t con-
stitutes an inexhaustible appeal and
calls for that most substantial of all
encores. the return visit.
Mrs. Fiske was the new friend;
friend to every theater-goer who re-
sents the commonplace. and always new
because of the versatility of her art
Her present play, "Erstwhile Susan" is
different from anything she has done,
a native American comedy composed on
the lines of strict realism in action and
fidelity to type. 1t is first of all
group of characters, whose environ
ment and experiences are less impor-
tant in interest than the individuallsms
they sustain. Conventional standards of
play structure have been ignored. The
old, lingering thirst for poetic justice,
virtue rewarded and vice Inundated
will not be satisfied by "Erstwhile Su-
SAN" Those moral regalements are
left to the erstwhile melodrama. Su-
san makes her way through the story
oil nf1 oil
though pedantic, woman whose life is
an exquisite bit of Quixotic romance
and whose mission of benevolence is
fulfilled, even though she is not per-
nitted the privilege of gloating over
vanquished foes. As to heart interest
that hackneyed essential of the thea
ter-her own small love story was
failure, lived down before the curtain
arose on the first act. AS to suspense,
there isn't a great deal. The charac-
tiers proceed like plain human beings
without being overwhelmed by spasms
of magnanimous impulse. No extraor-
binary reforms are wrought. The dis
agreeable persons are just as disagree
able in the last act as they We're in the
first, with the exception of the Crouch
in-chief, who is dismissed into eternity
during an entr'act with neither re-
grets nor apologies. The mechanics Of
plot are employed only as they are
needed, without especial effort at in
genuity, and the result is a picture of
humanity interesting because of it's I'M
compromising verify.
''Erstwhile Susan" is in the spirit Of
.t 81, ht1
exotic in effect, because the community
chosen for intimate study is narrow
and quite apart from the common hu-
manity of our continent. The plot is
not a sociological argument, but Sc
ries of close observations whose results
are announced in the characterizations
with frank, artistic accuracy. All this
is new from Mrs. Fiske, who sermonizes
delightfully."- when she chooses to do so.
Her character analysis is perhaps the
more delft because it does not depend
TOO far on conventional artifice to rem
der it dominant in interest. Her audi
ences followed her performances dur
ing the week with unmistakable graft
fication.
Manager Berger succeeded in bring
ing THE Show Shop" to Washington
without waiting for the public to Sc
cure previous acquaintance with II IN
the hands of touring company. The
play is an inspiration of the theater
itself worked into dramatic form by
James Forbes. and more ingenious in
many respects than his Chorus Lady
The appreciation this novelty received
as capably cast by the Poll company
is an interesting reminder Of the extent
10 which the auditorium Of playhouse
has become familiar with the technical
processes of that once mysterious
realm, behind the scenes"
PHTLANDER JOHNSON.