The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-04-24
AT THE PLAY LAST NIGHT.

Old bachelors and young. headstrong
wards, love affairs and escapades are
nothing new TO plays nor plots but H
". Esmond's exquisite little love story,
When We Were TWenty-One. is
most pleasing arrangement Of the old
time characters and escapades into four
acts, but with more bachelors. new
plot and charming little love story
The play is sometimes termed a COM
edy but the most appropriate title that
is used is that Of love story It is a love
story. fun Of pathos and humor. senti-
rnent and reality and pleasures and sor-
rows just the same as the worlds love
stories are told in life And the senti-
ment and cOmradeship displayed by the
characters in the little love story of the
stage is the best of sentiment and the
truest of comradeship- It is pleasant
to see and yet it is not far fetched. for
bachelors are good hearted fellows as
rule and their word is an oath that
binds.
From the time that the curtain goes
up and shows the four old bachelors
Richard CareW, the guardian, Sir
Horace Plumley, Bart Col Miles Ora
ham. the soldier man. and Terence Nc
Grath, the doctor, gathered around the
table with cards and wine and tobacco
in celebration Of the birthday of Sir
Horace, Familiarity known to all as
fWaddy.' until the curtain falls on the
last act the story Of the bachelors and
thier troubles go on CareW is the
guardian of Richard Terence Miles
Audaine." commonly called The Imp
Inc GOGLgr man, the soldier ana WaQdX
make up The Trinity and Carew's ad-
NlsOrs- They are all interested in Imp
whose father died and left him to the
care of his old club friend CareW who
called upon the Trinity to help MIN. And
year after year the four old bachelors
have laid away a certain number Of
pounds Tor the use Of the ward They
have given up their horses. their hunt
ing trips and other Injuries in order
that the Imp might have a nest egg
when ne turns 2l The Imp is Obvious
to the love and generosity the board Of
governors have for him but he does
know that never a move was made by
him that the guardian and the trinity
CIV not conSllt a bout it as earnestly aSany
committee OF lords ever discussed mat
tiers of state He knows too that he
is expected to marry Phyllis Ericsson
and Phyllis knows it too.
Then the Imp falls in love with an
actress known as The Firefly'' and all
the troubles commence It's not the in
fatuation Of the Imp for the actress
that is the pretty little love story Of the
play. it is the love Of the four old
boy and Of Phyllis for Dick and Of Dick
Carew for Phyllis that gives the charm
to the play. Dick CareW does all he can
TO keep the fact that the Imp is in love
with an actress from Phyllis. for DE
thinks they are in love and Will we'd
and he tries to make Phyllis think that
it is he. Dick Carew. who is in love
with The FREELY Instead of Richard
The Imp All Of which ne thought neces-
sary beca use Phyllis found a very loving
letter signed by the actress and ad-
dressed to Dick. There We're two Dicks.
so the deception was a success. But it
was not a deception for Phyllis. who
loved CareW all the time. understood it
thoroughly Then CareW tries to rescue
The Imp but too lates he has already