Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-17
ADJUSTMENTS


REMNANT which revealed Florence
Nash to Washington last night as \
portrAyer OF mingled comedy and
pathos. would come pretty near being
a sermon IL the big thought it pre-
sents were not illuminated by a con-
slant play of clean, genuine fun. Rem
nant explains something. For many
theatrical seasons we have had the
heroine whose home was the streets
and yet who remained sweet and
womaniy, worthy of the love and home
victory in the struggle for existence.
Remnant explains how II was
done. Her name comes from the com
ment of a judge in whose court she
had appeared; TOO much for a child
and not enough for a woman" The
girls innocence finds protection in
her absolute frankness with life. and
natural love of what is beautiful. Her
direct personal philosophy leads her
to avoid whatever repels her.
An implicit faith in Divine Provi-
dence is vindicated through her own
courage and sincerity. Her quantity
expressed logic attacks at the outset
any insidious insinuation and routs IL
completely. Her reasoning, close and
into a household that is drifting to-
ward the state which the old novelists
referred to as the Partisan home"
The play Is clearly from the
French" and illustrates the whole
some side of an art that has been dis
of the ocean in terms of farce and
revue. The dialogue has been very
freely translated and developed into a
natural flow of speech which sparkles
with terse philosophy. Miss Nash
brings to mind some of the most
charming representatives of this style
of delineation whose fame persists in
many memories. despite the fact that
they have passed far into the years
beyond Miss Nash's buoyant and ap-
pealing youth.
Good acting supports Miss Nash's
role. The production was made by the
manager, Charles Emerson Cook,
whose long association with Belasco
has evidently impressed him with the
Importance of scenic detail The story
calls for no spectacular effects. but
the rooms reflect the minds and cir
cumstances of their occupants and
the costumes give droli g1fmpses of
the elegances of Paris in 1910. Orrin
Johnson, as the man of the world,
contributes the role nearest to a viii
lain of any in the play. He is de bon
nair and withal good at heart. as he
is made to realize for himself when
COMPOUNDED by the honest simplicity
of Remnant. Walter Regain as Tony,
who has drifted on the rocks of pow
erty, with a heartless woman to help
along the wreckage. interprets the
role with a straightforward earnest
ness which swerves it we'll away from
the conventional stage lover.
An exceedingly pretty picture of
the aged scholar who teaches Rem
nant to read and write is made by
the veteran actor. Ben r. Graham.
Clare Weldon makes the selfish Ma
non sufficiently heartless to deserve
to have Lescaut as her second name
AS the wife whose home Remnant
helps to preserve and cheer, Dorothy
Cheston displayed grace of personal
ity and artistic sense. The story runs
along SO easily and naturally that it
seems wonderful that there should be
so few plays of this particular style
That the public likes them was at
tested last night. The audience was
enthusiastic in its appreciation. There
is no doubt that the new assem- blage
of critics from Walter Reed Hospital
Will md the play and players thor
oughly to their liking tomorrow aft
ernoon-