Evening star., 1898-10-04
AMUSEMENTS.

who have been wailing and lamenting the
fact that playwrights will not give us
something new in the way of comedy, will
have to take back seat and shut UP shop
now that "On and on is really on
While no farce is complete without the
inevitable mother-in-law, that worthy per-
son received an entirely new treatment In
Mr. Charles Frohman's presentation of a
French adaptation at the Lafayette Square
Theater, and while she Is partly the cause
of the trouble that so amuses the audience,
the particular offender is dead man, or,
in fact, two dead men, for both of the
charming girls in the play lost their
spective affinities about two years before
the action begins 1t is the continual ref
erence to these angelic creatures that
drives q poor fellow to seek to conduct
himself so that his wife may get q divorce.
He leaves his home to avoid clashing with
Benjamin. her first husband. who is
being constantly dug from his grave and
pointed out as shining example for
husband and son-in-law, and then George
GOdfray makes love to n simple village
girl, tells her he is divorced, but when his
day of freedom from benjamin. is about
to come he finds that his other little girl
also has departed ideal, a poet with di-
vine eyes and stately manner His sins
and double-dealing are found out after he
has been compelled to stand by and see a
man whom he had impersonated make
love to his wife and to finally see this same
man, whose name by chance is also Cod
fray, win the affection of his village girl.
The second Mr.. Godfray calls on the first
to demand the latters reason for assum-
ing his position. The husband explains his
trouble with "Benja jamin,' and says that
he assumed the supposed position as sleep
ing car inspector in order that he might
be away from home and with his village
girl as much as possible. The wife hap
pens in and Godfray is forced to introduce
his visitor as boyhood friend. The latter
Is struck with the beauty of the wife, pro
cceds to tell her that her husband is de-
ceiving her and for the sake of arousing
jealousy she allows him to kiss her. Many
complications arise. The mother-in-laW Is
a believer in the supernatural and the SON
in-law secures a phonograph, which speaks
as ST Michael and tells the family to get
rid of him at any cost Georges supposed
friend. however, happens to get on 10 the
little scheme and by changing the record
in the machine causes no end or trouple
and amusement
In the final scene the truant husband is
bearded in his den, as it were, ms Wlte,
mother-in-law and father-in-law calling
upon him while he is one of his visits
to the village girl and her family. George
is shown up in his true cOlOrs before he is
aware of his familys presence, and a
scheme is entered into and carried out that
makes the poor fellow believe he is crazy.
This end is accomplished by change in
the personnel of the breakfast table every
time the unfortunate George leaves the
room. To discover if his mother-in-law is
real ne uses Il SeitZeF Sll)lOll Will ttliliiS
effect. Then matters are all Strengthened
out satisfactorily.
Such an amusing comedy, such entertain
ing dialogue and such clever and delight
full Interpretation of the different parts as
combined il the production rarely ever
seen on the stage The play is full of life,
and in the hands of the company Mr.. Froh-
man has selected its metropolitan success
is assured.
Mr.. f. M Holland as the son-in-law and
husband is seen in lighter work than usual.
and he accomplishes all that can be made
out of an interesting and most amusing
role. Mr.. Fritz Williams, another Wash
ington favortte, is the friend who gives
George SO much trouble. His comedy work
was very celver and he shared with MIR.
Holland the honors of the masculine side
of the cast. Mr.. Reuben Fax is given lit
tie opportunity to display his known tall
entS, while Samuel Reeds father-in-law is
new and we'll delneated. Miss Amelia
Bingham is the neglected wife Her beauty
and grace of action makes one feel like
chastising George for not appreciating such
a consort. Maggie Fisher is a character
istic mother-in-law, while Miss Katherine
Florence is a dainty and pretty village girl.
The cast includes Byron Douglas James
Kearney, Anita Roth, May Lambert. May
Gallyer and Augusta Close as well as
those already mentioned. The production is
remarkably well finished. Many amusing
situations and incidents are introduced to
entertain. The funny things are entirely
too numerous to mention, and as the cir
Gus agent would say, the play must be seen
to be fully appreciated.
NATIONAL THEATER.-Not a very
great many people went to learn Why
Smith left Home at the National Theater
last night but those who did brave tho
forces of Gen. Humidity were satisfied that
Smith had good and sufficient cause The
worst that can be said of the farce is that
1t Is eXtravagant, and the best that K is a
fun-maker. 1t is evident that both results
We're sought by the author, Mr. Geo. H
Broadhurst, and the audience braveIy
gulped down the improbability early in the
evening. and then gave itself up to the
cachinnatory convulsions that ensued. Still
farce without singing or dancing is very
much like brides cake without frosting
and there We're many in the theater who
wished that among all the other good
things provided there had beeen a dash OF
dancing and seasoning of song.
There can be no complaint that the farce
was not given every advantage in the wav
OF actors, costumes, scenery, indeed, every
thing-eXcept the stage properties, which
were poor in quality. Well-knOwn farceurs
interpreted the action-not the lines-and a
play that could not succeed with such con-
Summate artists in its cast would be Door
indeed. OF course, the humor of the farce
grows out of slapstick, rough and tumble
methods, minus nearly every element of
actually, and the characters are not Ge-
lineated so as to appeal to that unfailinr
source of laughter-Ones sense of the ridi-
culous. Nevertheless the laughter is inces-
SAINT from period a few minutes after the
curtain rises until its final fall.
Smith is played by Maclyn Arbucke, an
excellent actor, whose work is clean cut
and convincing even in situations the
hardest to work up. NJ. b. Snyder he of
old times in Washington, was a major
who never surrenders except to the fair
SEX" but his part is conspicuously small for
him. Mrs. Annie Yeamans ''mugged' her
way into immediate favor, and her COM
mand of by-play gave her greater promi-
nence than her role worth intrinsicaliy
She is a rare artist. Miss Dorothy Usner
was pretty and consistent the touch
irg" maid, and her character was the most
faithfully given of all impersonated. Miss
Sadie Kirby, bright-eyed and joyous SEEM
ed always pining for chance to kick up
her heels, and those in the audience who
knew how well she dances and sings We're
entirely in sympathy with her modest ef-
forts as the bride of day. Miss Blanche
Chapman was effective the old maid
aunt. Miss Marion Giroux is popular,
doubtless, but her work lacks sincerity and
she would seem to be a better emotional
actress than comic leading woman. Miss
Rose Snyder explosive but conven-
tional as Mrs. Billetdoux and Miss Jessie
Conant Elsie was seen but little, and
yet pleased.
There is reason why Smith" should
not enjoy its full share of the patronage of
the theaters this week. Two matinees will
be given.