The Washington times., 1906-07-15
At the TheaterS.

Tomorrow evening Guy Standing and
/ the Columbia Theater Company VIII en-
] ter upon the twelfth week Of their very
/ successful supplementary summer sea
/ son at the Columbia with a revival OF
{ Joseph Derrick's three-act eccentric far
cical comedy Confusion. Ii will be
next 10 the last week of the engage
ment which will be brought TO a con
clusion on the evening of the last Sat
urday in July. after which all of the
/ members of the organlzat tion viii scatter
/ 10 the summer resorts and country resi-
dences for their well-eaTned rest and
/ recreation.
/ Confusion" was first produced on any
/ stage a. an experimental matinee al
/ the Vaudeville Theater. London. May
/ L. 1888 At that time a notable COM
pany OF players was in the midst of the
longest run of Sheridan's Rivals on
record, which extended until July a.
1SS3. on which occasion the 226th per
Torrance OF The Rivals" was given
closing the regular season. and two days
later Thomas Thorne, the manager Of the
playhouse. inaueurated a supplementary
summer season with Confusion, which
had met with such great success on the
occasion of the one experimental mat
inee that had been given that 1t was de
cided TO make II the regular evening bill
following the classical comedy. II was
preceded on the opening evening. July
10, 1888. by a clever One-act comedy by
Henry Arthur Jones entitled An Old
Master" IN which Thomas Thorne and
Wtnifred Emery. now the wife OF Cyril
Maude. We're the principal players and
on that occasion the characters OF
Confusion" were distributed as follows
Mortimer Mumbleford, Charles GlennV.
Christopher Blizzard, Charles Groves;
Rupert Sunberry. J. r Crauford: DIT.
Bartholomew Jones. William Lestocq,
who was then a member OF the Vaude-
Vile company and had not written
Jane" until seven years later; James,
Fred Thorne. who was seen here several
years ago with Charles Hawtrey in
The Man From Blankley's:" Muzzle.
H Arkhurst; Rose Mumbleford. Miss
Winifred Emery: Miss Lucretla Tickle
by. Miss Sophie Larkin; Violet, Miss
Laura Villiers. and Maria, Miss Kate
Phillips.
The success Of the comedy was inn
mediate. II ran through the entire sum
mer and was still the regular bin at the
Vaudeville In the following October
Since then Confusion" has been regard
ed both here and In EAgland as ono OF
the most successful Of the farcical com
edies having permanent stage value
ranking III this respect with Jane. %
Pink Dominoes." and Charley s Aunt %
The fun Of the piece. turning as II does
upon the Misunderstanding created I'm
a peaceful household by the surrep-
titious Introduction of a bull pup and a
baby is OF the kind that keeps the
audience In almost continuous laughter.
The plot hinges upon the mixing OF the
baby with the pup and depends much
for its success on the duiclkness of action
and the dexterity Of the actors 4 mo-
ment's lag would ruin nearly every
scene in the play and an awkward actor
spoil the whole performance. The care
with which the various roles have been
asst gued and the general excellence of
the entire organization at the Columbia
give promise of a pleasing and mastery
presentation OF the comedy next week.
Guy Standing will be seen in the part OF
Mumbleford, and Miss Dorothy Ham
mOnd will interpret the character OF
Rose. his wife. George CASTOR, whose
representations of delightful comedy old
men characters has made him one OF
the favorites Of the Columbia organiza-
ton, will be seen in the decidedly hu-
morous role Of Blizzard. In which Henry
z. Dixey. J. W. Jennings, and Mckee
Rankin and many others have success
fully starred the country. The usual
matinees will be given on Thursday and
Saturday