Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-10-21
A STAID, DIGNIFIED COMEDY.
@HER LORD AND MASTER"
AT COLONIAL.
Presented BY Miss Helen Granily
And Her Strong Company
Love Conquers All.

The performance given here last
night at the Colonial Theatre by Miss
Helen Grantly and her excellent sup
port was indeed a treat. Ii was the
most aristocratic, refined and elegant
production ever presented at the local
playhouse. Ii is TO be regretted that
aristocratic Annapolis did not turn
out in force, but il did not and the
audience was very small.
The play was Her Lord and Mas
ter, - comedy written by Martha
Morton 1t is simple. natural and de-
lightfully refreshing There is plenty
of plot, but there is no villain. no vii
lainess, no intriguing wi.e, no in
genue, no misguided husband and, in
day characters that go 20 make up the
average play with "a plot, - "Her
Lord and Master is refined in every
line, in every gesture, in every detail
There is not a single coarse word or
vulgar sentence, and not an inuuendo
throughout the entire four acts
The audience breathes the aristocratic
atmosphere of an English home where
the heart is not carried on the sleeve,
where all emotions are hidden and
finement even among the servants.
We America rs may call this dignity
stilted and affected, We may call this
lack of emotion, iciness and wane of
feeling, but we admire and respect il
just the same. The first scene of "Her
Lord and Master" is laid in Colorado,
at the bungalow of Mr.. Saltwater.
the father of the girl about whom the
play centers. The stage setting is
beautiful and the breezy western air
of this home is suggestive of the Wes-
tern girl whose spirit is to be conquer
ed before the close of the fourth act.
The other three acts are laid in the
home of the young English Viscount
Canning and his mother, Lady Can
ming, and the attractive stage setting
is characteristic of the dignity of
such home. The story is that of a
spoiled girl, Indiana Saltwater, i'm
peIsonated by Miss Helen Grantly,
the only child of fond parents, who
have INDUCED her every whim. She
has grown up to eighteen years be-
lieving that everybody loves her, and
that she can do exactly as she pleases F;
that her will is law and she knows no
master In her household are her
father, mother and grandmother
(Chazy Bunker) most unique char
acter, strictly American. All these
pet aud spoil the beautiful darling
who possesses q hot temper, but is
sorry after she has had one of cher
spells. /"
There is a young westerner who has
known Indiana all her life and who
loves her in true boyish fashion, and
whom she loves but only as a brother
He endeavors to win her, but her
young heart has gone out to Thurston,
Viscount Canning, young English
man, who, with Lord Stafford, is a
guest at the Saltwater home. The
Englishman wins the heart and hand
of Indiana and takes her home to his
English mother across the seas. 1t is
here the plot weaves itself into the
woof of the story. The young wife
is ''good" for three months. That is,
she curbs her Western breeziness, and
is quiet and dignified to please her
English husbands mother and her
husband, who thinks that she will
learn to love him some day as she
should.
Miss Grautly in her demore char
acter is very fascinating. She plays
her part exceedingly well, but now
and then her Western breeziness will
crop out. Finally she is given a sur
prise. Her mother, father, grand
mother and boy lover cross the ocean
to see her, and her great desire TO
spend an evening out with them at a
big London hotel brings her into
trouble. Her husband declines to let
her go, but her impulse to be with
her people is so strong she violates his
wishes She thinks he will come to
fetch her home, but she doesn't know
him. His proud spirit is unbending
and he will not go, but waits up for
her until midnight, when he orders the
butler to lock the doors. After mid
night the little wife comes in through
the window assisted by the faithful
English servant. She meets her hus-
band and there is a scene. Here Mr..
Ernest Richard is majestic. His act
ing is of the best type. He does not
rant but is strong and forceful. Miss
Grantley is also at her best in this
scene, for it is here her will is subdued
TO that of "Her Lord and Master. -
To be appreciated. the play must be
seen. 1t is exquisite and Miss Grant
ly is a beautiful woman and charm
ing little actress. Too much cannot
be said in her favor. She is graceful,
young, pretty, natural at all times,
has the sweetest of voices that is like
music TO the ear. Her support is ex-
cellent, everyone of the characters be-
ing strong and we'll cast. .'Her Lord
and Master is a staid and dignified
comedy that should be appreciated by
every man and woman. Although
man, in this comedy, is shown to be
the master, yet it is love that con-