The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-23
HAPPY MRS. VIGGS
HAS CONE TO LIFE
Appears at National With
Rest of ''Uabblg4 Patch
A PLAY OF OPTIMISM
Mrs. Madge Carr Cook, at Head of a
Fine Cast, Fulfills Promise
of Book.

Book plays have been exploited by
managers more or less prominent and
have been attended by questionable sue
cess. but when optimistic Mrs. Wigs
Of the Cabbage Patch" was put into
dramatic form hundreds of readers who
had been made familiar with the good
| lady through the pages of Mrs. Rice's
! book. declared they did not care what
kind of play it made just so they could
/ see the cheerful little woman in flesh
and blood
! Theatergoers Of Washington were af
/ forded this opportunity iast night when
/ Liebler K Co. brought the play to the
/ National Theater with Mrs. Madge Carr
/ Cook in the title role. The audience
/ fairly reveled in the scenes Of the play.
/ Each has been impressed so firmly in
I the public's mind. and every little incl
dent in the story OF Mrs. Wigs and
"Lovey Mary made so familiar by its
true regard for nature that as they fol-
lowed each other last night those in
front sat and ughed-reioiced with
Mrs. Wigs in her optimistic view OF
life. commiserated with poor Miss Hazy
in her imaginery troubles. and wished
very much to help dump old Mr.. Stub
bins in the freight car when il backed
into the water tank at the Cabbage
Patch.
A Rich Field for the Stage.
Like scores Of other book stories Mrs.
Wigs" has suffered through its trans
planting There are so many good
things in both OF Mrs. Rices now IA
nous sketches that it is no wonder the
aGapter found difficulty in weaving them
into three acts of a play. The lack of
definite plot has forced Anne Crawford
/ Flexner, the adapter. 10 resu-rect Mr..
! Wigs. whom the good lady OF the Cab
bage Patch had buried with all his in
tellect and philosophy some years be-
fore He plays a prominent part in the
story OF the play ard bears rather an
unsavory character.
But. as it was said before, the people
who go TO see Mrs. Wigs" go for the
same reason they read the book-to get
better acquainted with some Of the most
interesting, cheerful. and best hearted
characters the field OF literature has
ever known. Mrs. wiggs' beautiful. rosy
view Of life should prove lesson 10 any
one afflicted with the slightest case of
blues II. in all the uninviting phases
Of her surroundings her many trials
and tribulations-for those Of the neigh
bors were added TO her Own-sne could
put up a bright smile, chirp a CHEEKY
word and bring sunshine 90 that old
tumble-down corner OF the earth. Their
il is no wonGer that last nights audi
cncc laughed long ard heartily and
LsuFreptitiesisly brushed away a Bit of =
tear. thanking fate and Mrs. Rice that
this good woman was known 10 the
world il only through the pages of
book and in the glare OF the lights Of
theater.
Mrs. Cook the Ideal Mrs. Wigs.
Had Iiebler & Co. searched over two
continents IL is safe 10 say that a better
inpcrsouctor Of Mrs. Wigs could not
have been found than Mrs. Msdge Carr
Cook. She is ideal in makeup voice,
/ nlaunerisms. and all the little character
touches necessary to the role. Her per
furmancc last night was a delight and
she was repeatedly recalled At the end Of
each act.
II a criticism can be offered in the
matter Of character portrayal in Mrs.
Wigs il is In the role Of Lovey Mary.
played by that clever young woman.
Mabel Taiiafcrro. one suffered bit OF
disappointment. but, strange TO say. #
reflects nothing on the young player
She is too refined in the part. but her
sweet personality could hardly be ex-
pected 60 contribute 10 the contrary.
Helen Lowell was about as doleful in
the role Of Miss HAY as even her most
ardent admirers could wish and she
contributed much amusement as the ola
pessimist Lillian Lee. as Mrs. EichOrn
one ~ the Patch's most bitter. suspicion
fimging residents. was excellent
MI. Stubbins Come to Lie.
VIII T. Hodge plays the role Of Mr.
Stubbins. the matrimonial bureau"
eaten who falls 10 the lot OF Miss Hazy.
Readers OF the book may convince them
selves that the real Mr. Stubbins Is IT
( tho National for a week for he does not
really stay away after being bundled
into the freight car by Mrs. Wigs,
Lovey MARY. and Billy
1 one OF the best performances Of the
evening was that OF Chris Hay. by
Taylor Granville lie succeeded admir-
ably in keeping the audience wondering
b whether ne really had but one leg
Some one once said that n certain yiaycr
. vas great actor because she did a
wonderful fall down "a long flight Of
stairs * such things count. then Mr.
Granville has a promising future for he
covered more ground ga less time on one
good and one wooden lex than 4 civil
war veteran could after all these years.
Argyle CambeH was q manly Billy
! Wigs and an the other familiar CHAR
I acters were tnere-Asin. Australia Eu-
ropena. little Tommy, and even Cubv
Mrs W.ggs is "A dear. soul. and I'm the
hands o. Mrs Cook The character has
, lost none OF it's charm. The lesson Il
/ teaches hrs been pointed our BIZ the
author herself ana when one actually
sees this gloorl-lulnug nature in all It's
! beauty one IS proud even as she her
self says. thGt one hasn't hair lip. 10
LARGE HOUSES APPLAUD