The Washington times., 1904-02-09
PRETTY PEGGY"
COMES TO COURT
The Irresistible Wellington
at the National.
MISS GEORGE IN TITLE ROLE
Star a Personal Success-Production
Remarkable for Mounting and
Novelty-GoOd Company.

The play Of Pretty Peggy" in which
Grace George has appeared as star
before the people OF various other cities
has now reached Northumberland was
presented az the National Theater last
night before an audience Of fairly large
proportions According to the type Of the
program, the chief figures of the pro-
duction were Miss George. Manager Will
liam r. Brady Robert Lorraine. her
own company" and. last of all. Frances
Aymar Mathews, the author. II happens
that for once the prepOsterous effrontely-
OF certain managers is justihed-tne
playwright has i'm this instance a proper
station at the tail of the procession.
Pretty Peggy" is a dramatic fabric
woven out of Peg Wofngton's rather
hazy love affair with David Garrick.
Many stars and many managers would
nave cut this fabric into a garment
woefully commonplace and deadly dull
Not so Miss George and Mr.. Brady They
nave made a mantle for the stars fair
shoulders, which makes the coat OF
the historic Joseph monotenous and pale.
An Extraordinary Mounting.
Another newspaper described the ef-
feet by saving that Mr. Brady had out
Dalyed DAILY. -Belascoed Belasco.
Barnum.' The epigram is more true
than false. Few plays of this or any
other period have been 50 faithfully ami
so beautifully mounted. Herein Mr..
Brady may. by virtue of the poets IL
cense, be said to rank with Mr.. DAILY in
accuracy and Mr.. Belasco in Iavishness.
But Barnum is beaten mile. The heroine
enters on a section of the menagcrie-a
remarkably intelligent donkey; the en-
tire first act takes place within the
dressing rcom If an Irish circus. and
in one of the several scenes which COM
prise the last act. the actors flood the
boxes. run up and down the aisles OF
the parQUet, and shout until our stald
Washingtonians actually imagine them
selves in old Covent Garden and turn in
stinctively to the rescue of their pretty
Wellington.
All this will not substitute, as might
be expected. for the substance Of a play
and this is great misfortune. as Miss
George has manifestly developed ability
as an actor. Five years ago her i'm
peFsonatiOn of Her Majesty rather
discouraged her well-wishers. but the
young woman persisted and fought
ahead until even in this hodge-podge
phlegm and pyrotechnics she created an
agreeable Illusion and fired her auditors
with the spirit Of real art. Next year
we shall hope to see this actress in
better play. Assuredly. all who be,
hold her accomplishments in this poor
work will give her support
Another Mr. Garrick.
Mr.. Lorraine. who was cast as Davio
Garrick, acted the man OF too many
loves. but created shallow impression
as Garrick.. a community which re,
members +. 5. Willard in the same
character cannot be put OF with cos
tunes, elocution, and high-soundine
phrases. There are half a dozen actors
conspicuous in the capable support
given Miss George-Agnes De Lame.
Norah LamisOn. Justine Cutting. DON
aid Maclarenn. Lizzie Conway. and Bert
Iucman. The company was distinctly
good as whole.
The difficulty with Pretty Peggy az
the play stands IS :nat Peggy's horizon
IS too limited; her gait too restricted b..
the order Of the playwright. hundred
young authors and a thousand anti
Quarians could do better offhand. Those
who made up last nights audi
ence at the National would unite. no
doubt. in urging this excellent young
actress TO throw herself at either group
She could not do worse than Pretty
Pcggy, and she might find a proper
medium for her ambition. A. D. a