The Washington times., 1905-09-26
TRUTH TELLERS
WELL RECEIVED
Martha MOrtOn's Comedy
Presented at Columbia.
BRIGHT JUVENILE ACTORS
Admirable Cast and Delightful Scenic
Arrangement-Audieuce Well
Pleased.
BRIGHT JUVENILE ACTORS

THE Truth Tellers,' the revivified
edition OF Martha Morton's The PHI
Erims," was presented by Fred Berger
at the Columbia Theater, last night. be-
tore comfortably large audience Con-
sdering that il was the first perform
Ance OF the play, il went with remark
able smoothness, and while IL did not
arouse strenuous enthusiasm, II scored
what they call in France success
d'estime," and suffused the spectators
with o sort OF homelike enjoyment
1t was evident that some managerial
interest centered in the presentation,
for. besides the authoress. the perform
ance was witnessed by Daniel Frohman
and Walter Clarke Bellows. the latter
in direction of the Lafayette Opera
House stock company when the original
Version was produced there few years
sso.
Interest in Children.
THE Truth Tellers'' is not a strong
play Perhaps its author did not in
tend that il should be such. but rather
something that would appeal TO placid
sentiment. AT any rate. whatever in
terest there is centers in and revolves
around five children whose chief dis
tinction is an ingrained habit TO call a
spade q spade. to resort 10 no subterfuge
opinions, and who thereby cause many
a '.mauVaise quart d'heure 10 The
worldly aunt TO whose care they have
been confided by their deceased father.
as we'll as 10 several other men and
women or the fashionable set, not the
least among them q parson with matri-
monial intentions toward the aunt.
Interviewer with these more or less
continuous ebullitions OF juvenile truth
iulness and candor Is the tender regard
81 Ernestine. the eldest OF the children
for one Kildare. an Irish patriot, whom
she assists in various ways to escape
capture at the hands of an English Of
ficer the latter the dissipated son OF
an old noblewoman intent upon winn,ng
finale presents the conversion or the
aunt to absolute remuneration or hei
worldly ways and also the acknowledge
ment. on the part OF everybody else
except the parson. who returns 10 Lon
don-that from the mouths Of babe:
they have learned wisdom.
Juvenile Talent.
The audience was altogether in love
with the children. the eldest OF whom
Ernes.ine, was impersonated by Mis-:
Maude Fealy, n young Lady with mos'
winscme features and captivating man,
ners. There was decided freshness and
SpontaEeity in her acting, which did not
fail to communicate itself TO her young
er associates and stimulate them in the
PARTS they had TO assume In the
scenes with Kildare. her Irish lover
she shows with perfect frankness hel
affection for him. and altogether Is as
lovahle Il specimen of sweet sixteen
as one could wish for
Sidney Carlyle as SirThonas Mortimel
her younger brother, but the head oi
the family. achieved Xeritable triumph
bS his yi6oyous and manly prsssnSati0I
~ a part wnirn might have seducec
many Juvenile actor into melocIamati'
Vociferation, instead Of the perfectly
consistent portrayal he offered Cora
Quinton and Leanor Powers, the young
er sisters, were as natural as possible
and Little Toy Georgia displayed
capabilities for such tot that argue
well for his future, If he remains on th'
stage.
Excellent Cast.
The adults OF the cast acquitted them
selves admirably Louise Macintosh a.
Miss Mortimer. the aunt. presented 81
excellent picture of an old maid in The
fashionable set who resorts 10 all th'
arts OF the toilet table TO conceal th'
rayages OF time and 10 whom truth /.
something TO be resorJed ID only wheI
S-sirely convenient. She carried on. witt
amusing effect, her --affaire du occur