The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-24
MAN FROM BLANKLEYS"
PROVES FINE COMEDY
Mr.. Hawtrey's Audience at
National Laughs Heartily.
SOCIAL TYPES WELL DRAWN
English Actor in English Play a Pro-
nounced Success-AmeTicanS Inter
ested in London's Vulgar Rich.


based upon a wen-known story by Fe-
lix Anstey. was acted at the National
Theater last night TO the gleeful satis-
faction of all the men in a large audi
ence. The work vas called The Man
From Blankley's," retaining the title Of
Mr. Anstevs book, and was presented
by Charles Hawtrey and a comDany of
English actors. 1t met with the recep-
ton IL deserved-which is TO say that
it was entitled by manifest right 10 un-
ceasing laughter and that last nights
audience entered heartily and willing
~ into It's spirit
1t has been noted that the perform
ance evoked particularly the whole
souled laughter of the men who saw it
acted. Few women present enjoyed it
so greatly because society Is entirely
too serious a matter TO all women save
a few. Half the contretemps which
marked this one episode for The Man
From Blankley's" found parallels or
seemed TO ind them. within the social
experience of every woman present. and
the pictures they suggested were too
painful for light laughter But the men
did not care. Perhaps they even enjoy
ed the development OF the plot the more
because occasionally il came close 70
home
Types Universally Familiar.
Any man, however. who survived such
a dinner as that of which this play
chiefly consists would be entitled TO all
the humOr ne could find in the recollec-
ton OF it The CHESTS We're a fine array
Of types-not types indigenous 10 Lon
don, but types of social ambition
wherever there Is any society open to
the few and denied TO the many 1t is
not necessary TO give names. although
perhaps .Tidmarsh." "GilWattIe,' Bod
iish." Flinders. and 'Bugle'' might
have value in suggesting personality.
These roses By any other names would
smell as sweet There was the lady who
loved her parrot and looked ike a wet
crow Near her sat the long, whiskered
gentleman whose knowledge OF science
dealt chiefly with details utterly impos-
sible for discussion IN mixed companies
Across The table was the ebullient youth
whose hair was plastered down TO a
wonderful smoothness in front and
stuck out behind like a ROSTERS comb
Near him were the scientists wife-a lit
tie fat woman who zas Of course night
ily proud OF her husband-and a mild
spoken gentleman whose conversatio
touched only on the iamentable nervous
ness OF his beloved partner for life The
host and hostess were precisely the peo-
pie 10 assemble such kI-joy gather
ing In truth. no one else could do Il
particular direction was given the
airy persifage of this party By the pres
ence at the table OK two persons gently
bred and genuinely refined. one was
the governeSs Of the Tidmarsh house
hold, admitted 10 the entertainment TO
break the DOrtentous number Of thir-
teen The other was a member Of the
Scottish peerage. admitted TO the party
ia a London fog as the suppositious en-
ploye Of an agency. sent. according TO
order. to iii a vacant place. These two
are the outcasts. but eventually they
are privileged TO do some casting cut
OF their own, and with that reversal of
the social tables the comedy is mainly
concerned II is sufficient for the pur-
poses OF a review 10 say that the events
10 that end are entirely reasonable. that
they add to the comedy rather than di-
minish II. and that the disclosure Of
more detail concerning it would let the
cat ont OF the bag.
Well Done and Well Received.
Critical analysis of this play reveals
that, like all good comedy, its success
OF well-developed and ni-adapted charac-
tiers, and the events which such an as
ISOLATION you'd probably - tall Thus
It is with 'fhe Rivals" with "Pickwick
Papers" and with the story out of
which Mr.. Anstey has made tllis play.
Like the Kaleidoscope. the stage can ar
range such an assembly into unnum-
bered patterns. but all viii have form.
design, and color. This is an element
AIRY truth in dramatic construction. but
az is NAM times more often preached
than practiced-
AR HawtFey and his company act the
comedy wel.. All the actors keep well
within their parts. a ftne achievements
FOR such characters as these, and they
contribute about equally 10 the result.
The chief roles are given 10 Fanny
Brough Al4ce de- Winton Henry
Stephenson. Fred Thorne and Mr. Haw-
trey and all are taken with unusual sat-
isfaction 70 tiie audience. But the others
all earn mention also-Maude Sheitc n.
Adie Burt Lydia Rachel Mabel Herry.
We're Gerald. Beatrice Terry. William r.
Owen. r. A. Plumpton. Holman Clark.
Herbert Ross and Arthur Piayfair IL :
a good company and well cast
"A Message From Mars. good play
as Il was. had its patronage limited 10
those who ould reflect the spirit OF
Dickens Christmas Carol. This other
Offering BY Mr.. Hawtrey will find q
wider hearing surely; because il ought
20 include everyone who has ever had
an unexpected guest 10 dinner. who has
ever been an unexpected member Of q
1inner party. who has any rich relatives
who knows anywhere a spinster with "a
proclivity for parrots. or who has ever
looked through society's scrub pines %
see landscape rolling. beautiful and
peaceful with cupid for It's guardian
spirit That last clause would seem 10
include women as well as men and il
Is only fair TO admit, here at the close.
that they also laughed heartily at The
Man From Blankiey's." A y. A