The Washington times., 1901-09-17
AT THE THEATRES
The NationnI-"Foxy Grnnapa.v

The NationnI-"Foxy GrnEdpa.o
"Fcxy Grandpa" as played by Joseph
Hart and Carrie De Mar at the National
Theatre last night on the occasion of the
opening of that pIayhouses season. is
very agreeable and entertaining old gem
tleman with a decided fondness for play
ing pranlks with his grandsons and break
ing into song every once in n while. The
play. which is described as snapshot,
comes pretty near to being one of the
most unique offerings the local stage has
presented for long time. The work of
transferring the kindly old gentleman
from the illustrated pages of a Sunday
paper to the stage has been very effect
lively accomplished The playwright had
made q comedy that is much better than
most persons looked for, while the plot,
such as it is, is sufficiently coherent to
permit of three hours uninterrupted fun,
during which there are introduced a host
of specialties by a good-sized company.
AS a dramatic composition. perhaps.
Foxy Grandpa" may not come up to the
standard of the captious ones, but as
purely fun-creating vehicle In which the
two principal players. Mr.. Hart and Miss
De Mar, are allowed almost unlimited lati-
tude for the introduction of their clever
work, 1t Is in all verify a most substantial
success. one that will no doubt win good
deal of praise for the interpreters ana
add very considerably to the excheauer OF
the promoters. To those who like honest,
hearty fun, It will appeal most strongly.
Persons who care but little for this sort
of entertainment will do well to keep
away from the National during the occu-
pancy of the stage by Foxy Grandpa"
80, ..r,If fri
ever. this latter class of theatre patrons
are in such decided minority that Mr.
Hart and his associates are pretty sure
to attract a series OF big audiences uui-
ing their local engagement.
What little story there is to the play
concerns the dofngs of Goodleby Good
man. who has been affectionately called
Foxy Grandpa" by his grandsons, who
believe their ancestor is about the real
thing in the line of grandfathers. At the
time the play commences the Goodman
family is at a summer resort, where the
foxy member shows an inclination 10
dispose Of a portion of his millions py
paving the bills of everybody in the no.
tel An Italian widow rescues one OF the
grandsons from the water and therepy
incurs the gratitude and friendship oil 1he
old gentleman. which she promptly pro-
Goods TO use as an available asset, by
having him pay her hotel bill and give
her trinkets that are supposed to coma
from Tifany's. She commences chase
after the millions of Foxy Grandpa but
unfortunately for the fair one of the sun
ny south of Italy, tho foxy old fellow ov-
erhears her plans to marry him and get
his money and then desert him. An i'm
personator is secured to pass himself off
tl., ,tr-iI. .rgl
mistakes concerning the identities of the,
two men that follow are responsible for
most of the humorous situations that tend
to make the piece the great laughing sue
cess it is OF course. toward the end of
the last act. everything turns out as all
good plays do and Foxy Grandpa" is
left happy In the tried and true compan-
ionship of his two boys.
Mr. Hart has never had q character
that fitted him better than does his Foxy
Grandpa and he puts into the part
full reproduction of the original as made
known by the illustrator. In Miss De Mar
he has a valuable assistant. for she brings
to the part of Polly Bright, Grandpas
vacity and sprisht!insss. Her work last
night was full of vim and go and never
during her occupancy of the middle of
the stage was there any let-up in the
are admirably portrayed by George Mack
and Bobby Barry. two youthful players
who give remarkable promise. They sing
well. are nimble dancers. and speak their
lines with an intelligence seldom display
cd by even more mature actors. j. r.
Armstrong is good Horace Goodman,
a brother of Foxy. and Charles A. Bates
contributes a clever character drawing,
modelled somewhat along the lines of Hi
Holler of Way Down East" fame. John
F. keefe. famous for his Yankee comedy
work, Is the proprietor of the rural sum
mer resort. and Eugene Redding is the
impersonator who doubles up Foxy
Grandpa. The company Is large and in
cIudes a number of good-looking young
women, who add much to the general
gayety Of the piece. Fleurette. formerly
A vaudeville attraction of considerable re-
nown, speaks her lines with the conf
dence of the experienced actress and gives
a dance in the last act that is full of
grace and beauty.
The National will be closed Thursday
night There will be matinee perfor-
mances of Foxy Grandpa" Wednesday
and Saturday.