The Washington times., 1905-10-31
VIOLA ALLEN AS
BETTY SINGLETON
Presents a New Play by
Clyde Fitch.

Miss Viola Allen with the assistance
of an exceptionally capable company and
n typical Clyde Fitch play succeeded in
taking her audience at the National
Theater last night, back to the eight
centh century and the London play
houses of that period.
The plot, while not a new one, is skill
fully handled. Betty Singleton is intro
duced as the idol of London theater-
goers and the play opens with her final
appearance on the stage which she is
deserting to marry the Duke of Malms-
bury. The Fitch touch is discernible in
her valedictory. which is delivered TO the
real audience before curtain dropped
upon the greenroom scene. Betty bids
long farewell to the King and a pre-
sumably brilliant audience. She retires
10 the wings-the curtain rises again
on the greenroom, and Betty reappears
followed by a shower of flowers and
lover, who staggers toward her
thoroughly intoxicated as a result OF
too enthusiastic celebration OF the ap-
preaching nuptials.
Marriage Proves Failure
A year passes. which gives Betty's
noble husband time to convince himself
that he is not In love with his wife, but
with his cousin, Lady Charlotte. He
has been dissipatins pretty steadily.
but suddenly decides to reform, and
vows 20 the cousin never again TO in
dulge in the liquid that cheers. Mis-
tress Roxana, who has succeeded Betty
a popular favorite calls to see her.
ostensibly to secure advice a
play. but in reality to continue a firta-
younger brother ana incidently fur
nis.l him with the address of a jeweler
who has costly trinket for sale that
Roxana needs In Eer h,.s!:.esSs
Betty becomes enthusiastic over the
play, which has plot that suggests
her own plight as an unloved wife. The
duke chances in as she is giving an en-
thusiastic reading of the lines. He
loses his temper, and telling her she Is
driving him 10 drink, pours out gen.
erous potation from a handy punch
S bowl. Betty tries to stop him. He in
sists. and at the psychological moment
Lady Charlotte happens in and reminds
the liquid on the floor and smashes the
glass. This establishes to Betty's salts
faction that he cares more for for his
and Betty. telling him he must choose
between Lady Charlotte and herself,
and finding him stubborn. brands her
rival as her husbands mistress and
leaves the house
Another year rolls by and Malmsbury
being made 10 see the error OF his ways
her establishment on the Thames and
attempts a reconciliation. Betty loves
him and accepts his overtures with
rapture But finding that duty, not love.
has brought him TO her, she Will not
return TO his home and declares she mas
become the mistress of a Lord Phillips,
a former suitor for her hand She does
this as q pretext to enable him to Sc
cure divorce and marry the woman he
loves.
Betty Disappears.
Two more years pass and Betty is re-
duced to a poor lodging house, where
she Is slowly starving to death, being
unable to secure an engagement at the
theater Malmsbury has changed his
mind and decided he loves his wife, but
cannot locate her. At the end OF the
play he receives word OF her condltlon
and. accompanied by Algernon, climbs
the stairs TO her garrett Betty IS deilr-
fous and fails to recognize him. She Is re-
hearsinS some of her former plays ana
while he stands stricken with grie1 aho a
rerrorse at her pit.ful condition., she
goes through the fareweii speech OF her
last night on the stage and repeats heT
JOYOUS anticipation Oh the happy MAJ iaa,
r.ed life she is to enter upon. AZ the iast
she appears to have iaint SEfnmer ol
recognition and as the final curtain IL
rurg down she calls Malmsbury name
md he catches her in his arms with
broken words of repentance.
..The Toast OF the Town requires
strong cast. and has it Miss Isabel Irv-
irg. rs Mistress Roxana. makes an ex-
ceilent spoiled beauty. and her elever
work elected enthusiastic applause
Hassard Short. who is intfeste1 WIZ 4.
the part CT Lord Algernon Fairfax. Is
a nofent factor in the success OF the
niay and scored a decided hit. MI
hnso,, as the Duke or Malmsbury, was
well ,lp to the standard. and the other
members OF ;i.e company were geheraiiS
Tl,e stage settings and costumes were
NOT only In thorough keeping with the
nsriod as might be expected from Clyde
Fitch's knowledge OF stagecraIt' oN'
oa.,t.r a n nnd
PccaIls Beau Brum1nel.
Miss Alien. as Betty Singleton. has a
role that gives hersan excellent oppor-
tunity TO display her talents The play
is not rs good as several or Clyoe
rstch's former successes. and does mol
enable Miss Allen TO arouse the en-
tr,siasn she created in either The
Cbristian'' or In the Palace OF the
Ring Nevertheless IL Is wei worth
seeinc. and should prove Il success TOT
one season. Last night $ auaience it ia,hs .hs
in n .,ew play deserved-partic1Ia -
g., yseur OF the fact that Ine roast OF
a.. T"x,,si.' came 10 Washington Wei
reco-nrre rded by even the uneheiusl-
astic critics OF b.ase Fiiii'eue,oI,, 'I,, we'll
rrhe audience contained many NelI-
l,ro+s,n Washingtoni-us NJ and MRS
George Howard entertained Mss Aice
Pooseveit with box party. ne guests
were Mr.. and Mrs. Miiehei; nr Mr: aiio M
and AIRS w. y. Hibbs. and Miss Hlops;
OFFERS In .he audience were Baron ald
-aroness Moncheur, Commander tnd
Mrs.. Hodges the Minister from ie til
and Madame Leger, Nhs dla T. and Ms
a,,s,,stns Wor;hington, and Miss
Fstcrence WoYthngton.