The Washington times., 1906-05-08
NATIONAL.
First Production of "The Emba1ass-
ment Of Riches

The Embarrassment of Riches" with
a good company headed BY Kathryn
hlooer ana Bruce AIcRae. was produced
hrst ume on any stage''-St the New
National last night The audience was
a large one, and evidently prepared to
be friendly. but there is no doubt that
there were moments-too ms nv Of
them-when they were Just a wee bit
bored Il is hard 20 say lust why. 10
lay ones finger on just the wax spot
in the play, which is by Louis Kaufman
Anspacher-a recent recruit 10 the ranks
Of American dramatists.
There's some mighty good character
drawing in il, amusing dialogue. ana
neat epigTams a-plenty, a good enough
love story, a novelty in the introduc-
ton OF the settlement" a factor in
modern life which the dTamatists have
rather ignored, and an all around capable
and well-rehearsed company. which
made this first performance move as
smoothly as II they had been playing j.
a month. and Yet II dragged There
were no visible waits, but the whole
Ihlns moved slowly IL was placid and
philOsOphic like a HOwells' novel, rather
Ihan dramatic.
Kathryn Kidder played her part Of a
ten milliOn-heiress' who is tired OF for
tune hunters and goes into settlements
work IN the guise of her own secretary
lLat she may be met merely as a human
Deing. with a dignity and simplicity that
ieaVe little 70 be desired. Bruce Nc
rae, looking as much like Mayor Nc
Slellan as ever, does the businesslike
! out enthusiastic young head worker al
| the settlement 10 the life. OF course. the
unfortunate pOssessOr of ten millions
( fa!ls N love with him. and he in bliss
/ fui ignorance. equally. OF course. OF her
I identity, woes and wins her believing her
/ 10 De her own private secretary.
There is an English duke who believes
I that providence was specially created
! 10 look after his creditors % well played
/ IN drawing, imperturbable, not-sio-big-
-a-fool-as-h fashion by stanley
DARK Naturally he is after Elizabeth
Holts fortune. but failing 70 get IL de-
cllneS Sracefully on the lesser fortune
l and. 10 him, greater charm OF Alma
/ Goodwin, played By Eva Dennison.
The climax Of the play comes at the
end OF the second act. when John Rus
! sell (Bruce McRae) and Eleanor Holt
I 1hathryn hidcerl. supposed 10 be Miss
Phelps. her secretary, are peacefully at
I work over some settlement reports. and
the gambling house next door IS raided
A party OF Elizabeth HOlt's society
1 friends on a stunning expedition are
I caught IN the raid and climb Up the
FIRE escapes into the settlement house
| IN their efforts 10 escape. There they
have Mysteries all over the place. and
are eventually bundled on in a patrol
wagon.
The company as whole was unusual
" good. John ". Bunny is rather bet
ter as the talkative. iTrcpressible butler
than as the ward boss Scott Cooper
as William Gildcrsleeve-self-ma soft
hearted, hard-headed-is capital IN the
4 last act MS enjoyment OF the society
Z bunca's' recriminatiOns on the cold gray
dawn OF the morning after" is the most
ENJOYABLE thing in the play Dudley
Hawley, as his son, IS the pretties-
thing on the stage. far prettier than
any OF the women. barring Nellma
Beryl. who plays the adventures and
i as pretty as a picture The others
were the victims OF bad makeup, par
ucul9rly as 10 the eyes. which were
so very much made up as 70 make the
women look very nearly crosseyed.
which distinctively diminished their
natural attractiveness.