Evening star., 1917-09-25
ADJUSTMENTS
Delssco.

1t was a play Of action that David
Belasco presented last night at. the
Washington theater which bears his
name.' The spirit Of the first night was
in the air as it had not been for many
week. Confident expectation always
asserts itself when Mr.. Belasco pre-
sents. The stage Is sure to be re-
vealed in beautiful pictures. 1t is not
matter of garish establishment. but
the assertion Of a sense Of precise suffl-
cheney.
The play "Tiger Rose" was written
by Willard Mack. and while a study
In sentiment. shares the vigorous char
acteristics OF his other works. How
ever opinions may vary as to merits or
defects in a Willard Mack drama, no
one VIII Venture to suggest that 1t is
uninteresting.
In Tiger Rose" suspense and sur.
prlses are interviewer. Both are Of
fered with a lavishnesg worthy Of the
melodrama which held 80 large share
OF the theaters attention before the
photo screen asserted Itself as a mo-
nopolist of thrills.
Tiger Rose" is the name given to
the girl, tempestuous of mood and
intense of affection, who hides her
lover from his pursuers and who brings
both wit and courage to his assistance.
This is Rose Bocion, whose life In the
remote Hudson bay country has left
her unsophisticated and willful. yet in
tensely loyal of heart and keen OF
brain.
The manner in which Lenore Ulrich
cos brief curtain speech: II am very
proud of this little lady" Miss Ulrich
brings to the stage a new touch. of
temperament. Her every utterance
seems to come from the heart. and some
OF the slightly familiar situations took
on new interest and significance as they
were vivified by her personality. The
rescue of a lover from the police by his
sweetheart is not precisely new to the
footlights. But the rescue by such a
sweetheart as Rose Bocion is a dra-
matte event. Her dialect. which tinges
English with Canadian French, never
wavers, and her occasional relapse into
the colloquial violence she has picked
up in the lumber camps is 80 true to
type that it does not jar. There are
moments when her acting compels the
mind to turn for a comparison to Bern
hardt herself
the demonstration of exceptional act
ing ability. Willard Mack took two
curtain calls: no more than his due. He
was entitled to one as author of the
play and to another for his impersona-
ton of a member of the Canadian po-
lice. hearted Rory O'More of a
chap with an inexorable sense of duty.
Mr.. Mack gave the role an irresistible
blend of comedy and dignity. He COM
PEELED sympathetic admiration for the
character which technically would fig
ure as the villain of the plot
Thomas Findlay made q happy i'm
preston as the big blond-bearded out
doors man that Imagination loves to
associate with the wilderness of the
north, and Fuller Mellish, as the gentle
priest who administers comfort amid
the loneliness was no less compe tent
than usual. which means that he was
competent indeed. Calvin Thomas rep
resents the lover, who. under stress of
vengeful temptation. has committed
murder. without attempt to magnify
it's possibilities by artificial demonstra-
ton. In fact, every bit of acting is
forceful and discreet. Pedro de Cor
doba. as one Of the rough diamonds OF
the camp, is a relief in that he not only
acts well. but when called on to play
the violin does not have to depend on
off stage assistance.
The locale gives MIR. Belasco con-
genial opportunities for his craftsman
ship in making the stage a scene of
Illusion comparable to nature herself
two settings which suffice for the pur-
poses Of the play-the factors home at
a Hudson bay post and deserted
cabin. They are elaborated with a
beauty which makes them masterpieces
of stage composition. He also unchains
tic that trace of apprehension swept
the audience that the torrent might not
keep to its own side of the footlights
1t was followed by study of skytints
lent expression of poetry. The story
regardless of theme and structure, must
compel interest by the manner of its
telling.