Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-03-04

Charles Dickens in washington
Of three performances-that of ]
and night-Mr. Williams should
In no less time is it possible
rich delight of Williams pro-
gram. England's master actor,
with Dickens as his author, pro-
vides perfect entertainment in
his performances at LiSner Au-
ditorium under the joint spon-
sorship Of the Smith College
Club Of Washington and the
Hayes Concert Bureau.
This is q show with everything,
brilliantly conceived and beau
tifully brought OF, and COM
pounded of hilarity and pathos
in just the right proportions to
prove the virtuosity Of both
Dickens and his interpreter.
Like two other earlier speci-
mems, Don Juan in HELL" and
John Browns Body" Williams
proves that 1t is perfectly pos
sible for the superb actor to rise
above the dearth of good plays.
All that Is necessary is to sub
stitute good literature, to give it
the kind Of reading Of which a
skilled and magnetic performer
Is capable.
This williams does with
amazing success by reading
Dickens as he has never been
read before, no doubt including
the reading which Dickens him
self did in Washington IS years
ago.
In the six excerpts from Dickens
which he reads in the costume
and makeup Of the author, be-
hind q desk that is a reproduce
ton Of Dickens own-WilliamS
portrays a total Of a. characters.
In approximately two hours, he
implantS more of the authors
work and the creatures of Dick
ems imagination in consciousness
than the well-intentioned reader
Is likely to get in a lifetime.
More. indeed. II no one minds
the comparison, than many an
able college teacher can bring of
In two semesters. The difference
Is in the matter Of method.
y \ \
It is the mixed program which
Williams is reading on this
highly popular tour.
It is divided into three parts in
which the major emphasis,
thanks to the actors theatrical
adroitness, is upon comedy. Yet
while he is most pleased to show
the authors biting humorous
estimate of the nature of hui
mans, Williams accepts his re-
Sponsiblity to show the full range
of his literary flavor. Dickens
honest pathoS, his indignation
and his relish of the eerie in
human affairs also have their
place in this amazingly compell-
ing reading.
AS the first item in his pro-
gram, scenes from Our Mutual
Friend" Williams does as dex-
trous a job Of editing the work
into dramatic form as he does of
initiating the Veneerings, the
Podsnaps and the others when
he begins to read. It is a drama
tic piece expertly conceived to
convince the audience that it has
nothing to worry about that one
man Is going to mimic so many,
including the women Of the story.
The soundness of this piece of
showmanship is UNDERSIGNED in
the second selection. paul"
from "Dombey and Son." This is
the programs first dash Of
pathos and 1t is handled with
the same sharp relish which Will
liams brings to the merrier read
ingS.
4 \ \
It is not reasonable to single
out any item Of this Dickens
cavalcade as best, but a safe
choice would be "Mr. Bob Saw
yer Gives a Bachelor Party
from the "Pickwick Papers" AS
acted by Williams playing the
host. all the guests including Mr.
Pickwick, and the landlady, her
husband, and the serving maid.
this becomes one of the most
unforgettably hilarious social
evenS of all time.
This one is counterpointed by
the single ghost story that is