The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-03-13
CAPACITY HOUSE
GREETS MRS. FISKE
Noted Actress and Company Give Re
markably Fine Presentation of
Drama. Wake Up. Jonathan.

Brattleboro theatre patrons feel en-
riched from having bad the opportunity to
see the great American actress. Mrs. Min
ME AIaddern FiSke, in the Auditorium
welcomed enthusiastically this famous
star of the American stage. who appeared
in child's part at the age of three years.
who became a star at L.. who achieved
fame through her Interpretation of Tess
Iof the D'Urbervilles. Becky Sharp and
the Ibsen dramas. and who now mt the
age of ~ years. shines with lustrc that
dramatic art in this country.
Mrs FiSke was surrounded by n COM
pany of exceptional capability. and the
performance was the most brilliant seen
here in many years The medium
through which Mrs FiSke and her sup
porterS revealed their talent was the dis
|tinctively American play. Wake Up.
the acts taking place in the living room
in Jonathan Blake's house on Christmas
eve.
The head of the house an unsympa-
thetic American millionaire whose wor-
ship of Mammon has caused him to sub
ordinate his home and family interests.
returns home after an absence of 10
wears. during which he has amassed
great wealth. and announces to his wife
his intention of being the dominant factor
in the household and Of moulding the
tastes of his children along the lines of
wealth and power like his own. His
whole attitude is repugnant 10 his family,
and he is forced finally To abandon his
matcrialistic conception of life and Is
brought to his senses.
As the firm but patient woman of the
house Mrs. Fiske a. Jonathans wife.
Marion Blake gave full play 70 her his
tronic powers. TO the great satisfaction of
her audience. The genius which has
made her the peer of her contemporaries
was manifested in innumeable ways.
Charles Dalton as Jonathan Blake was a
character that has many prototypes in
everyday life. One scarcely could have
come nearer perfection in that part than
did he.
Another member Of the east whose work
was of especially high rank was Donald
Cameron as Adam West. the dreamer, To
whom Mrs Blake refused her hand 2O
years before for Jonathan and who by
chance was ut the Blake home when
Jonathan returned. From the appear
ance of West in the prologue with Fred
die GoOdrow as Jean Picard. litfle
French orphan whom he befriended. until
the end Of the play this stirling actor
gripped the audience with his splendid
work.
Special admiration was aroused by the
Holt as Helen Blake. Herbert Hodgkins
a. Junior Blake Lois Bartlett as Peggy
Blake. and Edith Lawson a. Chippy
Blake. also by Freddy Goodrow as Jean
Picard who spoke in French dialect The
work of these children. considering their
years. was nothing hess than marvellous.
Richard Abbott aS bernard Randall a
school teacher who lives nc the Blake
home. and Walton Butterfield aS Doug
Las Brent a civil engineer who seeks
Helen'S hand hut is beaten by Randall
added much interest to the plot and per
formed their work i'm a pleasing manner
while Nora Sterling as Jennie. a maid
did satisfactorily all that She had oppor-
tunity TO do. At the close of each act
the company was recalled several times.
The scenic inveStiturc of the play was
harmonious and pleasing. The company
left here yesterday for Brooklyn, where il
begins an engagement tonight That Man.
ager T.. j. Fenton of the Auditorium was
able to book Mrs. Fiske and company is
a matter for satisfaction TO himself a>
: well as the public.