The Washington times., 1903-12-15
ALICE FISCHER SCORES
EVEN IN A POOR PLAY
whats the Matter With
Susan2" at the Columbia.
AN UNSATISFACTORY PLOT
Personality and Talent of the Star Re-
deems the Performance From
Utter WEAKNESS.

Another of the seasons new produc
tons was disclosed locally for the first
time last night at the Columbia Theater
in Leo Dltrichstein's play. What's the
Matter With Susan" with Alice Fischer
in the principal role
The play is a comedy having for its
chief character a woman, big-hearted
and sentimental. but hiding both these
characteristics beneath the memory of
an early and unfortunate love affair
She domineers her brother-in-laws
home, mows down sentiment and sends
everything flying before her from. the
dust in the kitchen corner to a lieuten-
ant in the United States Army. She
finally falls In, love with the lieutenant
after record of refusing seven desira-
bic proposals within a year
Mr. Ditrichstein has written a number
of plays for the American stage Most
of these have been comedies, but
What's the Matter With Susan?'
stands alone. Its plot to begin with, is
impossible Its characters are unhap-
PLY chosen and falsely drawn, and the
material is put together so crudely that
one almost doubts Mr.. Ditrichstein's
even remote association with Susan
Wrong From the Start.
Should one attempt a rair,t1te analysis
of the play there would be no end to
the dissecting process. for it is wrong
from the very beginning. 1t is pure.
clean. and good as far as its tone goes,
| but hopeless in the construction of it's
story. Mr.. Dltrichstein. despite his long
residence in America, has not fully IA
miliarized himself with American Gus
toms. This is particularly noticeable in
| one instance. when he allows the lieu
/ tenant to rebulCe a country editor for
I calling him (the ieutenant) Mr.. Kelly
and not lieutenant" 1t is common
knowledge among Americans. that an
officer in the United States service hold
/ ing a rank beneath that OF captain is
! always addressed as Mr." and not by
/ his rank.
One great redeeming feature of Mr.
Ditr1chstein's play is that # represents
70 the local public Alice Fischer, breezy
and healthful as when she scored the
hit of the Inflated ''Unleavened Bread
/ in her Characterization OF a typical
club woman. Miss Fischer was here
/ last season with Mrs Jack" and. de-
! spite that embarrassing play added le-
/ glons- TO her lecal admirers. She came
/ again last night and achieved another
personal triumph.
Won Hands Down.
1t seems something OF a pity that a
/ player like Miss Fischer cannot be sup
piled with better vehicles for her his
4 trionic talents. When she was on the
4 stage last night everything went with
such refreshing dash that one forgot
I'LL Oh H.. -,
bered that a happy. breezy. loving. and
lovable woman was there She played
as If she had made up her mind to win
whether Mr.. Dttrchstedh or her play
doler, Henry p. Harris. wanted her to or
not. and she won. hands down.
! William Harcourt an excellent actor,
adds nothing to his stage record in the
role of Lieutenant Kelly. That. however.
Is the authors fault. and not Mr.
Harcourt's. His speech on tactics
| was given in quiet. effective. and i'm
pressive manner. Charles Wyngate will
replace Mr.. Harcourt In the role later
in the week. George Fox was excel
lent as the young stage aspirant, and
scored one of the hits of the evening.
i Esther Tittell brings to the role OF Mrs.
Knox, a gay widow. the unpleasant
mannerisms of Lillian Lawrence, and
red parasols and things that tantallze
ones sense of harmony when brought
into contact with flaming red hair.
Helen Lackaye has been engaged for
this role. and viii join the company
during the local engag cement.
Should one answer the question.
What's the Matter With Susan
which Mr.. Ditrichstein has propounded
TO the local public, IL could consistently
answer: Everything, but big-hearted.
breezy Susan herself and a few of her
/ friends"