The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-10-15
LIN the Spontaneous Hit OF "The
College Widow"
MIR. AIDES FIRST PLAY.
Supposed to Have Been econ
Quered in the P. R."
j. Il. McCutchron Was Member
Of the Company.

New York is fairly delighted over
the success of George AIDES newest
comedy, 1.-The College Widow" and
already there is more talk of the real
American drama and the force of ma
tive Wit and the birth of true Amer
lean writer's, and all that sort of en-
thusiastic thing, that springs naturally
from the pens of men who have faith
In their own country and their own
time.
Elfrid Bingham, in the New York
Mail, in a second reference to the
play, tells of one character that has
scored as great hit as did Sassafras
LIVINGSTONE in 1.-THE County Chair
man." also a written-in character.
Says Mr.. Bingham:
"When George AIDE wrote The Col
lege Widow the character of Silent
Murphy was a minor figure in the play
merely a slight satirical hit at the
practice of bringing athletic young fell
lows to college for no serious purpose
other than to build up strong football
teams. To play the part of the art
studying foundryman. George Marion
picked up a super, whose physique
filled the requirements. and who was
given one line to speak. The char
acter took SO we'll that the super, now
become real actor, was permitted to
speak his line over and over again
I
an accompaniment of awkward limp
and facial expressions of distress.
''Then both Mr.. AIDE and Mr.. Marion
became dissatisfied with the scene OF
the faculty reception, which toward the
end of It seemed badly in need of
acceleration. Go on and do some
thing said Mr.. Marion to Silent Muir
ply. So. inventing his own business.
the super slouched into the reception
room and began hurriedly gulping
down many portions of ice cream.
The audience laughed, and the next
time Murphy added a line to his part,
saying, Seem tight across the instep,'
at the same time feeling one foot ten
derby and gazing painfully into va
cancy. AS this brought down the
house, all the new business became
part of the play and Silent Murphy
was a character of importance because
he saved a scene. His acting is effec-
tive because it is simple A more ex-
perfenced player would probably
spoil it all by acting too much. trying
to make too much of the role.
zone line in the new AIDE piece falls
fiat. It is old Bottoms reference to mis-
having lost $1,000 a minute since
Steel common began TO go down.
Whether because the joke has already
been done to death or because the sub
the supposedly humorous speech does
not get a laugh.
There are some things too serious
to be 1oked about said one man about
n,
them. AIDE ought to cut that line"
Another writer, speaking of the
turn the AIDE wit takes in the new
comedy, tells of some of the char
Rcters.
''There is the seIf-possessed young
woman who coolly replies to a stu
dents Joke. I've met so many of you
college comedians that I amt got no
laugh left in me-
ITO an exuberant youth who catches
her arms by way of emphasis, she OBJ
serves, with an air of superior wisdom,
4 don't need no massage treatment
1.-THE freshman from the far west is
entranced by the ivy and moss covered
buildings at Atwater, which suggest
to him age and traditions.
"'Out our way, he explains to the
widow, everything is so new The COL
lege buildings all smell of paint and
plaster
"'And Standard On?' queries the
widow. However. the college chap
eron, a vivacious young matron, whose
husband is conveniently absent, con-
ndes to the maidens her notion of the
widows winning ways.
It's the same thing year after
year. she says. The young man
thinks that tomorrow he'll have her
tomorrow"
''The low comedy-the adjective is
used in its purely technical sense-finds
ample expression in the sayings and
tongued waitress, and Matty MCGOWAN.
a reformed pugilist who has been en-
ployed to keep the football team IL
training. BY virtue OF his office Matty
wends his way to the faculty reception
and hurls this warning at Flora, who
Is presiding over the refreshment ia
BILE:
Don't load those fellows up on an
gel calIel'
They won't get foundered at a fac
ulty reception is the scornful re-
sponse."
An old newspaper friend of Mr.. AIDES
has drifted back into the past and res
directed what he believes to be a bill
of the first play that the humorist ever
wrote. 1t was given on board a spec
ial car that was carrying a party OF
newspaper correspondents to the Mid
winter fair in San Francisco, and the
programme read as follows:
PULLMAN CAR MONADNOCK THE.
ATORIUM.
Conquered in the P. R.; or, Won
by Force" a drama in one act and two
scenes by Mr. George AIDE.
THE CAST.
Hogan. the West Side Chicken.
.....-....-..........M Mr.. Elmer BarteE
Tandy, the North Side Nobby One.
Mr.. Jefferson
Hogan's second. Mr.. ]. T. McCutcheor
Tandy's second Mr.. George Ade
Time-The present PIace-Chicago