Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-11

"a forth in competitive contrast
~ with a time-tried favorite in
the theatrical arena The big
chariot-race scene in Ben
I,,,r" has lost none of it's appeal. but
has acquired 4 familiarity which Will
prevent a repetition of the laughaoie
incident that led n sportive spectator
10 her on a sure thing" with his IN
sophis.icated friend. On that particu-
lar night 1t will be remembered by
those who follow the humorous chron-
,cles of the past, the machinery went
yv-ouc, MESSIAH won. and the con-
scienceless gambler met the retribut'on
which, in fiction, sooner or later must
overtake the wicked.
When Ben Hur" first came out as
drama the announcements paid more
attention to the horse-race mechanism
than to the play itself. It looked, for
the moment, as If the patent ONCE were
to he a consideration of more impor-
lance in the American theater than the
copyright division. But the sterling
worth of the play soon asserted itsei
and gave il a vogue commensurate WIN
that of the wonderful story from which
Il was derived. 1t affords remarkable
acting opportunity in the role of Ben
Iur, one of the few characters or classic
distinction open to the actor who Vaiues
- well as poetic prestige. A. H. van
Buren, proved. by his performance OF
the title role that his venture into tne
Roman atmosphere when he played
Marc Antony at Polls was by no
l..caus an idle experiment.
Another book play vastly different in
style. was offered under the sponsorship
OF David Bclasco. Alias has all the
distinguishing marks OF a CRIME play 30
oi.J dos, init
scterSF and incidents is concerned. YET
Il is in reality q delicate study of human
sentiment. The character, were he not
designated as Swiss. would be regarded
as q German. But the Swiss speak many
languages, and any accent, 1t may De
assumed. would be allowable in his Eng
lsh speech. 1t is 4 character study first
of all. yet the story of man suffering
adversely and sustained only by the hope
and love that his child has inspired mas
great appeal. Conrad as played by VII
lard Mack. both star and dramatist,
srouses deep and generous emotion Inc
play has double chance of success in its
career outside this city. 1t cannot so
astray If the public decides either that f;s.
Mr. Mack is another Warfieid. or that the
play is another Music Master
:: =
Vaudeville paid its tribute to the old
time spirit of the theater. Tho auditorium
applauded Nat Goodwin in monologue as
generously as it has aprlauded him IN
1TnftatlOnS long before Elsie jams we1S
heard of. and in extravaganza, long BEFORE
the F'ollies or the Winter Garden were
dreamed about. 1t welcomed him no less
enthusiastically than 1t did when. later,
he subdued his nlirthful ebullitionS sufh-
GENTLY to give him place as repre-
sentative light comedian in such plays as
An American Citizen and When We
Were Twenty One" Like all comedians.
Goodwin delights in Kipling. and for his
present tour has substituted Danny
Deever' for "Gunga Dhin.' In the limited
repertory to which the stage recitation
tst seems restricted at present Danny
Deever' asserts itself almost as an inno-
walton.
Mr.. Belasco will be the sponsor for
sill another drama tiZation this week.
and one of the stars whose fame is
associated with his will be in evidence
when Blanche Bates appears in Eleven
PM" The theater proceeds In tradi-
tional spirit the temptation OF current
themes being resisted by the snapshot
dramatists. who used to put up a melo-
drama on the spur of the moment. when
public interest was strongly agitated.
Complications that have been revealed
often by the plot makers continue to
unfold themselves with ingenious kinks
1hat sufice to give 4 touch of the I'M
familiar. But current event is moving
40 fast that no dramatist can under
take To keep up with the happenings
from day to day.
PHlLANDER JOHNSON.