Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-19
New National Theater.

Given a decidedly clever play and thor
ouehly capable players, and dehght1ui
evenings entertainment for the audlence
inevitably results. The truth OF THIS as
sertion was borne out in the performance
at the National Theater last night on the
accession of Miss Marie Tempests return
to Washington in the principal role IN Inc
Marriage of Kitty after an absence OF
a number of years. Comic opera was the
vehicle for the display of Miss Iempest
talents when she last visited this CITY.
Her return as a popular Coincidence OF sew
eraI successful seasons both In London ana
New York was welcomed by large au-
dience at the National last evening with
such marked demonstration OF approval as
must have been highly gratifying to the de-
lightful little actress and her supporting
company.
None but Frenchman could write The
Marriage of Kitty none but clever
Frenchman-or two persons of that nation
atty, as was the case. Fred Gresac and +.
De Croisset are credited with writing the
play and Miss Tempest's husband, Cosmo
Gordon-LennoX, deserves praise for his ex-
cellent adaptation. In The Marriage OF
Kitty the irresistibly amusing situations
and the clever turns in the dialogue are
all characteristic of the French farce, in
this instance that of the high class type.
The play is filed with sparkling comedy and
with the expected extravagant impulsive-
ness, but 1t is minus the questionable fea-
lures tndI are occasionally IOteu III COIl.
edies hailng from the land of the light
hearted and polite.
In order to evade certain disagreeable
conditions of his uncles will Sir Reginald
Belsize, at the instigation of his solicitor
friend, marries Kitty temporarily. with the
understanding that they are to be divorced
at the end of a year. so that he may become
the husband of Nine. de Semiano, a Peru
Wan widow Sir Reginald and the widow
his fancee. Immediately following his mar
riage, start on tour of the world under
the cbaperonage of the lady's aunt. At Inc
end OF year Sir Reginald appears at the
villa of Lady Belsize in order to consult
his attorney, kitty's godfather, relative
to obtaining the divorce agreed upon at The
time of the marriage. The complicated Sit
uations and entanglements afforded by this
visit provoke hilarious and boisterous
laughter, and last evening there were spots
in the scene where the mirth of the au-
dience actually dubbed over. Sir Reginald
has never seen his wife looking her best
until then. He becomes smitten with her
charms and when he is falling In love with
her the Peruvian widow, jealous and i'll
tempered, appears on the scene 1t is too
late to change the trend of events them
however and husband and wife fall in love
with each other and Sir Reginald leaves
the storming widow and elopes with his
wife.
Miss Tempest as Kitty is enjoyably vi
Vacious and acts with delightful brilliancy.
The role is one in which she is seen to
splendid advantage and seems thoroughly
agreeable TO her personality. and she won
instant favor with the audience last night
In the second act she sings little French
song which elected storm of applause.
Miss Ada Ferrar as Madame de Semiano,
the jealous and hysterical widow, gave a
splendid portrayal of the role and received
much praise for her creditable acting. Mr..
Leonard Bayne as Sir Reginald and Mr..
Gilbert Hare as John Travers, the solicitor,
both gave most creditable performances
and proved admirable supports to the star
in the piece.