Evening star., 1917-01-07

--T WAS good -old times week at the
: New National Theater, with the
: fond mother placing the lamp in the
window in expectation of the return
: of the wandering boy. And the
; boy returned. with fine Difference to
sentimental custom. just as the heart
less landlord was compelling the sweet
old lady to sign those papers before
grabbing the homestead and turning
: the little family almost penniiess upon
the world. Yet, familiar as the ma
: teriaI is II did not seem hackneyeo'
1t slipped away from the rural drama
: ..as she is wrote" by deft turning
: of episodes into a neat little crook
story. through which walked the ghost
of waIlingford and Blackie Daw
Genial ghosts they were turned back
toward the days of their youth ike
sone of those that haunted Scrooge in
s'The Christmas Carol" The piece has
all the points which are conventlonaiiy
objected to in the crook play, ana yet
. the moral suggestion conveyed u! tne
title is so deftly emphasized that the
usual sense OF exaggeralion In repre-
senting a crook as prosecuted crea-
ture more sinned against than SIN
ming, is lacking. The play has an IN
well as a remarkable flow OF comedy.
The crooks are not types OF innate
viciousness They are products OF an
environment that permits no legitihate
outlet for the energies and normal as
pirations of youth. They are examples
. of vitality gone astray, ana ther en-
thusiasm in grasping an oppoFtuhits
to live in an atmosphere that is cream
is made to seem as plausible as II IS
optimistic.
There is little doubt that his play
will be a success. The types OF cnai
acter IL employs are such that II "as
easily be interpreted by dupiicate
ance OF every role in the present o,
ganization. 1t has the underworiu
smartness OF the modern crime play,
but links with IL rustic idesi'sm tnat
makes IL worthy of association Win
THE old Homestead itself.
Annette Kellerman, as picture STAR
gave one OF the most interesting en-
durance tests seen her' III tne a.,
of a three-week run AT sSa'e =.
prices larger than those geheraIl! paiu
for fIm entertainment Daush'es
Of the Gods" is riot OF sceher! d.
well as Of the imaginatioh- IL shteh
alluring in the aquatic sceres'
Miss Kellerman in her SURPRISING ae-
complishments
sbakespeare is not to be neglected dur,
ing the current season. T. q. .Hail.e" ,
has supported the contention that shaS !
-reare and meIOdrama are cioSeiy ann
fv progressing by easy and natural steps
from popular romance into the cidssis
When as a young man m suppol.
Fanny Davenport. he stepped mo A h,,,.
car view, a blonde. square Jaweo. oiue
eyed straight backed young Scot. .ne
thea tricaI patronage proved anew tne
adare "Au the world loves a lover As
Loris ipanoY. In the Saraoo pay;
sor. Manteu won the envying looiatiy
of every swain who cherished IN his
heart the wish to rouse romanuc au
mlration. And critical attention couio H2fj
justly withhold from him the trnu5e ohn;c.l
dnish. The determination TO MAKE ms
way into the higher realms OF the drama
was early manifest. for. while ne was
PLAYING meiodramas, s suen as he was re-
,seryine an evening. from time TO time. Tor
an appearance in Hamlet ms ram !
let was appreciated. 1t was graSeiui
and sympathetic study. WIN h. ,ess rr,nt y, @
but full of the poetry OF youtn.
Manten has been regular Ys1orsSRn III
Shakespearean roles. There may oe @!
ferences Of opinion as to who rs amer. |
r..s Greatest Shakespearean actor, but IL
cannot be questioned that Nj Manteh rs
the bard's representative most regularly
to be relied upon.
The coincidence SO frequently naniiest
that brings attractions of like character |
into weekly competition, musical snow
AGAINST musical show and legitimate
aEainst legitimate, Is wholly averted IN
this weeks schedule. with Fair ana
warmer importing from the shores OF |
the Harlem river farcical relief from any |
too serious mood that may have been IN i
duced by the Bard of Avon. Contrast !
will also be offered by Polls. where kate
Fillmore will divide the week with the |
Boston Grand Opera Company. Both
Kate and the Boston opera are national
institutions each with loyal. though |
distinct following Fortunately FOR the
op~ra company. their repertory displays |
no ambitions in broad comedy Other z,
wise Kate would probably be found what
In technically known in vaudeville as "a /
PHILANDER JOHNSON.