The Washington herald., 1917-03-06
THE WASHINGTON HERALD TUESDAY MARCH g. 1917
Beerbohm Tree and Anna Heidi
Lead Theater Attractions
NationaI-"KinE Henry VIII"

National-"KinE Henry VIII"
Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and his
company gave at the National Theater
last night a noble performance Of one
OF the most impressive but least frequent
ly acted Of Shakespeare's historical plays,
king Henry VIII though dealing with
matters high, serious and working" as
the prologue states, offers a brilliant dis
play OF pageantry and Is crowded with
those scenes of vivid moving human in
terest so characteristic Of the master
playwrights genius. The bits of humor
that gleam here and there in the text
are carefully utilized and enlivened with
byplay In Sir Herbert's production, so as
to relieve what otherwise might prove too
prolonged a solemnity for US frivolous
moderns
AS Cardinal Wolsey, in whose character
Shakespeare has embodied the weakness
as we'll as the power of the typical
wie1der of statecraft, Sir Herbert Tree
draws portrait unfailing in dignity,
vividness and truth. His minute and
Illuminating depletion OF the cardinals
arrogance and cunning. and the strength
with which he handled the difficult Scene
of his humiliation and refuge In pity.
aroused enthusiasm In last nights large
audience.
In an Interesting impromptu curtain
speech the famous player and producer
referred feelingly to the cordial rela-
tions between his nation and the United
States. as emphasized by the conjunc-
ton in his thought of the great inaugural
pageant of the day with the historical
pageant OF the evenings entertainment.
Miss Edith Wynne Matthison's perform
ance IS Queen Katherine is. OF course
a sheer delight To hear Shakespeare's
lines spoken again as only she can speak
them, OF all actresses living on our stage
now that Julia Marlowe Is in retirement
should be made duty as a matter Of
education, by anyone to whom II Is not
already a keen pleasure.
Sydney Greenstreet makes King Henry
human. likable. and entirely credible The
splendid beauty and charming manner OF
Miss Elsie Mackay lend delight to the
part OF Anne Bullen. The entire COM
pany is thoroughly competent.
The stage settings possess the elaborate
old-fashioned beauties OF the Henry Irv-
ing School. untouched by the simple de-
vices OF the modernists. The entire pro-
duction Is splendidly devised and exc
cuted and deserves hearty support from
the Shakespeare loving public.
DcIhbCO-hnha heIo hCs'
Just before the curtain rose on Anna
Held In Follow Me- at the Belasco
Theater last evening a young man re-
marked with a pleased smile that It was
going to be a very naughty show
Maybe 1t was-honi soft qui NAL pense
it all depends upon the point OF view.
One thing is certain-Anna Held has
not forgotten how TO make her eyes mis-
behave all evening: neither has she per-
mltted uninviting lines to mar her coun-
tenance. nor unnecessary flesh to lessen
the lure OF her chic figure.
Follow Me" tells OF the filtration OF
the Parisian actress. Claire La Tour. and
the Marquis de Lunay. who showers
her with Jewels to win her favor. Al
an inopportune time. a string OF hand
some pearls is presented TO the marquis
wife, Laura, an American woman. who
later discovers the jewels are intended
for another woman: and to the actress
Claire. she tells her troubles. Claire
not knowing who the man Is. assists
the marquise to discomfit the husband
and the two women lead him a mad
chase for the three acts Of the comedy.
but all ends happily.
Principal in Miss Held's support is 4
drove OF dimpled darnngs. evidently tho
result of considerable labor OF a fine
eye in selection. They had endless
changes of costume and some brilliant
dance interludes-and as for their lines
nature gave them some very striking
ones.
Henry Lewis created much fun ir
nut comedy. His act is familiar here
Charles McNaughton also is very funny
George Lydecker sings beautifully, as OF
yore. as the philandering Marquis: and
Louise Mink is his devoted wife. Syl-
via Jason. the vest-pocket comedienne
entertains: Seabury and Shaw dance
neatly; and Edith Day. Paul Forecast.
and Wilmer Bentley are other principals
The music includes some very pleas
ant and catchy tunes. but. after all, II
is Miss Held and the girls. girls, and
more girls. arrayed in gorgeous clothes
that delight the spectator. The fashion
parade in the second act included more
than a dozen of Lady Duff-Gordon's most
ornate creations. Consult a physician at
once if-you don't enjoy yourself and
come away humming from Follow Me +"