Evening star., 1917-09-11
ADJUSTMENTS
New National.

SHucI tHe uiTeCLlOn OF klaw 0
LANCER and George Tyler, George Arliss.
whose histrionic ability commands the
interest of wide circle of admirers
here. presented at the New National
Theater last evening new play in
four acts, dealing with the life of Alex
ander Hamilton during the period of
Washington's administration. The play
is the Joint effort of Mr. Arliss and
Mary 2. Hamlin, with helpful sugges-
tions, as Mr.. Arliss stated in his cur
tam speech last evening, by Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge and Alexander Nc
Lane Hamilton. Jineal descendant of
the colonial statesman. A large and
representative audience manifested ex-
tfaordlnary enthusiasm. in which Sena-
tor lodse was participant. and which
uteW lengthy address, partly of eX
planation as to what had been done by
the authors in gathering material for
the play and with the curt apology to
those who might criticise the use of
.he heyholds scandal as the chief dra-
ihatlc theme, that, at any rate, it would
serve to revive in memory Hamilton,
who ought to be revived
iidHliiton, the play, is historically
authent,c In its incidents, Mr.. Arliss
stated, but the incidents employed ex-
cept the main theme. scarcely serve to
untold the character of the great
american statesman as many Ameri-
cans love to recall him. The author of
me federal Constitution that welded
'olollal states INTO a nation and gave
TO that nation its financial system and
poncV by which 1t quickly leaped into
power and rank among the nations of
me world appears in the dramatic per-
Iofmance as young man whose Won
derful attainments are revealed rather
by the other characters in the play
than IN speech and action of his own.
lie is graceful, affectionate, amia BILE
ana almost piayfully diplomatic The
a hy..t,
except IN a single discussion with Jef-
ferSon. Monroe and Congressman Giles
OF Virginia. Giles is "A figure that i'm
presses itself harshly, even as a reveIa-
tion OIL the coarser types with which
the ldeallSts Of the country's early de-
Nelopment had to contend Except for
incidents Of needful rugged contrast
the play proceeds with the grace and
charm of a later-day literary drama.
with its scandal and its happy ending.
peasant entertainments for an evening
and with no tax upon the memory.
Inc cast OF characters reads like the
indeN 10 an early history Of the United
states. There is Thomas Jefferson, who,
though played with dignity and finished
eHect by Carl Anthony. will seem to
the especial admirers of that statesman
moro OF demagogue than he really
was Count Talleyraud, as played by
LuF faVleres, was unquestionably a
Frenchman from whose lips the audi-
Hamiltonian policy which crept into
the play in no other way. Gen. Philip
schuyler is in evidence. genial and with
the Sout: James Monroe. Chief Justice
John Day. Robert Morris and others
familiar to the American schoolbov,
out with no particular features of char
acteTiZatlon to impress the memory
with their Importance as historic per-
sonages upon the nations roll of great
ness.
Instead. there is charming. WON
anly portrait OF Angelica Church fur
nished by Marion Barney: of Betsy
hamilton, the wife of Alexander Ham
l!ton, admirably played by Mrs Arliss,
and an artistic study of the character
OF Mrs reynolds, a clever adventures,
who almost wrecked the life of the
great Hamilton and even endangered
the administration of the first Presi-
dent of the nation, by Jeanne Eagels,
whose portrait is one of the memor-
able features of the play.
Mr.. ArliSS. as Hamilton, is careful
not to sacrifice pleasant and sympa-
thetc factor in Il dramatic romance to
the requirements of exact portraiture
OF great, historic figure There is a
splendid climax to the fourth act, when
Betsy Hamilton. who has been on the
eve of parting forever with her dis
unguished husband for whom her love
was Well nigh idolatrous. crushes her
own inner instincts and returns to his
arms.