The morning times., 1896-12-22
PLAYS OF THE WEEK.

Caroline Miskel Hoyt last night began
her season at the National in her hus-
bands comedy, "A COHtcnted Woman"
The audience was large and the interest
| marked, for the comedy had not before
| hern seen in Washington.
The Hoyt comedies defy criticism, not
only in their provoking OF mcrriment
with means Giametrically opposed TO all
tile canons OF criticism, but more specific
ally in Il note at tie head of the program
which has come to be looked upon as an
institution with Mr.. HOyt Last night the
Program said that the sketch > was Ian
attempt TO furnish material for ali even
ng's entertainment"
Woman in politics is the theme. IIOyt
always chooses a human or social weak
Eess for the shafts OF his satTical fun.
Not mere comparison, but antIthcsis at
close range, is his favoritc weapon. In
"A Contcuted Woman he brought his
lesson home literally as well as dgura-
lively. He introduces politics into the
| home and exhibits the spectacle Of a wife
| running for mayor OF Ienycr against hcr
| own husband. But she is a very sweet,
| and, what custom Is happily pleased to
| call, a ''wouaGly' woman, and having
| been elected finds she doesn't want the
| office. The dcnOucmcut is matter for
! investigation at the thcater The process
! OF nomination and election constitute tie
| play.
ConstrUCtively this is one OF MI Hoyt's
| most logical comedies He dcvOteS more
| time to his story and less 10 specialtieS
| and character exhibition, though there Is
much of both. In the third act those who
! are not entitled to vote ''anuse themselves
| in the interval in good old conventional
| sing and dance -a-little style. The new
| political woman in her most virulcnt type
| is introduced we'll Us the cSpOuSed VIC
| tim thereof, aud the political gang Is intro
| duced in a trio reminiscent Of the famous
| raZZle dazzle trio.
"a Contented Woman is a good even
| iug's entertainment 1t lags more than
| most of Hoyt's pieces because he has COM
| promised between his usual method Of
| making an outand-out roarer and gen
| teel society comedy to fit the refined per-
| sonality OF his pretty wife.
| As satire the piece is trenchant as
| only Mr. Hoyt's pen could make it.
Beautiful Caroline ei-Hoyt played the
! devoted wife who was driven into poll
| tics by a misplaced button. She has in
| proved markedly in her acting, 1t We're
Impossible for her to have been prcttier
| SO it is superlative as possible 10 say She
| is pretty ~ ever She acts with appreCia-
tion and grace, but She does not speak loud
| enough ana her enunCiatiOn is often, Un-
| fortunately, ''ridikilOuS"
Assisting her are Amy Ames as a pOliti
| cal woman, George Ober as the down
| trodden husband, " II. Curric as the nus
| band candidate, and Frank Lane appeared
| as a sort of interlOcutOr or male Greek
| chorus up-to-date He was present every
| moment, bot did nothing and had no part
| i'll the story. At intervals he fed the
| others or gave voice TO Il platitudc. \
! half dozen girls did some fair singing The
| scenery was good. Daniel Frohman, Bron-
| son Howard and Sir Julian PaunCefotc
! gave the outward gns Of amusement from
| their boxes. Half dozen floraf orna-
| uents were passed TO Mrs. Hoyt after the
| third act