The Washington times., 1903-10-11

explains how he came to marry Mrs
Desbrook-a silly, empty-headed. senti-
mental sort OF a woman, with a shrew-
ish mother. who had brought about the
match. The admiral tells Mrs. Auberton
that he had never loved his wife, be-
cause, fifteen years before, he had lost
his heart to a mere slip Of girl
Here is the one weakness in the story.
AS soon as the admiral commences to
talk of his early love affair with a slip
of girl, experienced theatergoers know
that in a few minutes Mrs. Auberton
logically should arise, bow, and say:
Fifteen years ago 1 was that very
girl"
A Weak Situation.
AS a matter of fact. this is precisely
what does happen, and the double coin
cidence is so remarkable that 1t offers
an opportunity for adverse criticism.
1t is almost uncomfortable that a man
and woman, mutually deserted by their
legal mates should turn out to have
been in love with each other fifteen
years before.
The second act shows a country farm in
| Devonshire where Mrs. Auberton Is rus
ticating after securing her divorce. The
admiral is near at hand Also with a de-
cree of divorce tucked in his own pocket.
/ He has almost won Mrs. Auberton's sue
cess to an immediate marriage, when
| affairs are complicated by the return
of Mr.. Auberton, thoroughly subdued
after a conflict with the shrewish
mother of his partner in the elopment
He is accompanied by Bromley Chilvers.
his penniless uncle. Mrs. Auberton
meets her former husband cheerfully,
says she is glad to get q bad bargain
off her hands, and asks him to spend
| the evening there. when she finds she
cannot get rid of him. He is shown to
the attic room. with his uncle. and then
Mrs. Auberton prepares to slip into the
garden and meet the admiral
Clever Character Drawing.
There is a ring at the door, and the
maid shows in Mrs. Desbrook and her
shrewish mother. Mrs. Madigan. Mrs
Desbrook's character is cleverly drawn.
When she is before outsiders she talks
!
her mother as "Madre mia" When she
is alone and her mother starts TO
reprimand her she talks plain Ian
guage, neither refined nor elegant.
Mrs. Auberton. having two more
guests suddenly upon her hands. shows
them to the second spare room. She
then calls in the admiral and drives him
of to town with her in the dogcart
The third acts shows the same scene
his uncle come downstairs first. Tracy
goes out for a walk. and the of1cious
uncle. anxious to make peace with the
friends OF Mrs. Auberton. decides to
plead with Mrs. Tullidge. the farmers
| wife. Mrs. Madigan enters and he takes
her TO be Mrs. Tullidge In an uproar-
iously funny scene, In which he refers
| to Mrs. Madigan as harpy and a
virago. he is totally unaware that he is
addressing the object of his remarks
Finally. the two couples are brought
face to face. Mrs. Desbrook and Mrs.
Madigan confront Mr. Auberton and
Mr.. Chilvers, and they agree to a COM
promise, by which Mrs. Desbrook is to
receive $1,000 from Mr.. Auberton within
three months after he has married his
former wife.
All then seems plain sailing for .he
conspirators until Mrs. Auberton and
Admiral Desbrook return from their
little drive. when they cooIIy announce
that they have been married. The cur
tain falls upon the CONSERVATION Of .he
conspirators. and the departure OF the
newly married couple upon their honey
moon.
Drina de Wolfe a Slavey.
This delicious little comedy has the
advantage of the quaint country atmos-
phere Of Devonshire. with types of coun-
try people contrasted with smart socie-
ty folks One of these country types is
servant girl named Tabitha, played by
Drina de Wolfe. The appearance of
Miss de Wolfe IN this role was sacri-
fee of beauty to dramatic art. In "a
Clean Slate" she appears in the sim
plest kind Of cotton gown.
Miss Millward's Work.
Miss Millward's work was in the same
bright, breezy. vivacious and charming
spirit as when she played Lady Algy.
Indeed. there is a strong resemblance
between the two roles. Miss MilIward
wears some stunning gowns. and as she
has the reputation OF being one Of the
best dressed women on the American
stage, her admirers Will know they may
EXPECT something out OF the ordinary.
Mr.. Gilmour scored a hit as the ad-
miral. The part OF the shrewish mother
was capitally done by Helen Tracy. vino
was the terrible Miss Minchin in THE
Little Princess" with Millie James last
year. Laura Lemmers looked pretty and
acted well as the clipping wife. George
Bellamy. an English actor, imported cs-
pecially 10 play the role Of the uncle.
contributed striking Characterization.
George Honey, another Englishman
played Tracy Auberton.
WILL A. PAGE.