The Washington times., 1919-12-01
Current Weeks Offerings at Capital Theaters
GARRICK.


A wonderful stage picture Of the
most memorable period and most re-
vered figure of American history-a
play that many Americans have tried
In vain to write-has been written by
an Englishman- John Drinkwater's
Abraham Lincoln" which had its
American premier at the Garrick last
night. is q drama that will live long
In the memory Of those who see tt
and one that will live long on the
stage.
1t Is safe to assume that its tre-
mendous popularity in London, where
1t is still running after two years.
will be eQualed on this side. And this
despite the fact that Mr.. Drink water
has played free with history, and
distorted facts to fit the dramatic de-
mands Of his play.
guished gathering as has seen a
first performance in this city, ap-
plauded with such insistence that at
the close of the performance the
author was forced to- appear. While
many may criticize the liberties the
author has taken with fact yet even
these must admit that Abraham Lin
coin" Is beautiful thing, and thor
oughly entertaining.
THE CAST.
=. Cnronieief. f.............Walter Connolly
cuffn.y. % . 1eorek..p.r rsam anom KscnS wiS
Susan. maid in Lincoln home.
Mrs. Mr. tnse!n. .............w .wlniired H.nisy
tucker. chairman Of delegation. ~
Forres. Davis
Pl,, R!nd, : dsl.s..s. .Thoma. ysiden
Macintosh, a delegate. .Penwood Batkins
White, Of the Southern commission,
Seward Duncan JSnI Penyfrdsn c,hrisn
Jennings. Of the southern commi.sion. ''A
William r. Randall
Haswkins' H' nrst clerk. Conrad Cantzen
MESSENGER. ser..............J. Philip jerome
salmon Chase. Frank e. Jamison
Montgomery Blair. Ernest Bostwick
simon Cameron. ......... Herbert Curtis
syTn.. Hook: william A. Norton %
Mrs Goliath BLOW. Mary Horne lseS aosrison MGo5e
w1i,, MTs; Othesrly;i Jennie A. Epstaee,
Stanton. anton '......TEs DAVID TEsd 1snasr Midiss
General Grant. Albert Phillips
Dennis. an orderly. Charles p. Bates
General Meade. Frank Ginter
General Lee. James Durkin
John nd Wilkes Booth. h.........J: Paul Jons.
Guests at theater.Mi.s Robinson, Miss Miss
Grey. Miss Barrie, Miss Seymour. Miss
LLasnston, Miss Osborne Mr.. Bowles, Mr..
sYNoPsIA
Seen Scene i-Lincoln's home At Springfield.
Scene .-seward's room At Washington;
Scene "a room at tho white House;
Scene THE Cabinet room at Washing
ton; about the same date.
Anss ssens sss5 "a ,Ts fsrmhouse near Appomatto.,
allowing for the lapse OF several hours)
Scene s-A small lounge in Ford's Thea
ter; the evening of April IA. 1865.
In the first episode is seen Lin
coins acceptance of the Presidency,
Tor that Is what the no onination
meant. 1t is a logical beginning for
such play as this Is. Then through
the six scenes is presented a chrono-
logical story of Lincoln and the civil
war. The mans steadfastness of pur-
pose Is pictured by the author in q
sweetly revealing manner-a manner
that Is but little marred by a shall
iowness on the part OF the actor who
represents the central figure. Physi-
cally and facially, Frank McGlynn
portrays Lincoln nigh to perfection.
But in his conception of the emanci-
pator's character the actor fails TO
present the picture which Americans
expect There is no more loved figure
In our history-and no figure about
whom our people have a more fixed
idea And IL Is this idea that the
actor, not Drinkwater, must over
come. But II Is a tribute to the lines
that this weakness in the leading
role did not in an appreciable degree
lessen the value of the play.
\ scene of rare appeal is that at
Appomattox, where Lees surrender
to General Grant is seem And the
nnal episode, showing the assassina-
tion Of Lincoln, while gross depart
ures from historical fact are essayed
to lend force to the scene, Is one
that leaves the audience stunned by
its tragedy.
The cast chosen to present this
play to American audiences Is excel
lent. The difficulties that were en-
countered in the search for a man to
play Lincoln must be considered in
judging that actor. The other char
acters were in many instances start
ling in their fidelity to the original
personalities. All were actors Of
ability.
The staging is good-not overdone.
to detract fro the effectiveness of
the play itself.
Abraham Lincoln IS eminently
worth seeing.