The Washington times., 1906-03-04
Belasco-"Before and After"

BelaSco-~BefoTe and After"
Before and After Leo Ditrichstein's
latest laughter play. will inaugurate
week of merriment at the Belaseo The
ater, beginning tomorrow night This
new work by the author of Are You
Mason? WAS quite unanimously con-
sldered sparkling and altogether
charming comedy along farcical INES by
the New York reviewers, and the fact
that the play remained for lG nights at
.he Manhattan Theater in the height OF
the season is perhaps the best attesta-
lion that may be furnished of its powers
"a nlease That il did please New ORR
ers nightly as quite beyond qucSttlOI.,
for many OF the plays s DTlShl "a ms"
were coined into the language OF hi he, -
wav during the long and successful
metropolitan run -,
'Befofe and After now comes 10
Washington under the direction OF koD-
ert Hunter. with the entire original Ne"
York cast. and. in fact, the entire pro-
duction precisely as presented through
out the New York run.
Leo Ditrichstcin. the author; Frltz
Williams. and Katherine Florence VIII
be seen in the leading roles. assisted py
such admirable players as George =
Boniface jr.. john Flood, John Daly
Murphy, George LawreneS, kenyon
Bishop, Minette Barrett, chapman foTd'
usual, both in the individual strength or
the members and for rare balance OF the
east as n whole. Before ana AIIeI
has been provided with an elaborate
scenic equipment and each detail OF
mounting. however seemingly Inslgnln-
cant in esscntialness, has been carefully
developed, that this fine organization or
players shall have background appro-
priately artistic. A pleasing feature OF
the production is the gov rs worn b.
the numerous pretty WOmeT OF the cast.
These represent the best endeavors %
several leading mOdistes in the recog-
n!zed centeTs Of fashion, both here and
abroad, and as the stage Is commonly
accepted as the pTesent-day school OF
fashion. the cOstuming Of the feminine
members OF this company Is offered rs
a more than interesting sartOTial lesson
Mr.. Hunter has gathered together per-
haps the most noted American delinea-
tors Of legitimate farce, and each part
has been assigned with a laudahie view
To the personal fitness OF the player. as
well as the most exhaustive display Of
his or her assured talents Both Brook
iyn and Baltimore have indOreed the
Judgment OF New York in decIarInr
Before and After" 70 be uproariousIv
funny. but the play has other charu1a
beyond its fun making qualities II .-
with all a smart and well-brei pl t-.
presented by q company Of smart play
eTs, and several episodes IN the action
AFFORD pretty. through brief touches OF
convincing sentiment
II would be manifestly unfair both
to the playwright and potential specta-
tor: 10 outline the whimsical and absorb
ingiy entertaining story Mr Dltrich-
stein unfOlds. so aboundine IS II in s,Ir
prises- Unique, though wholly human
and real situations. crowd thick and
fast from the initial rise Of the curtain
uhtll us nnal descent. all making for
laughter and innocent arnuaarnar,t ,y-1
dialogue fairly sparkles with wit and
numor, and the swift action never FLAGS
from beginning TO end Broad smiles
are Ehe only quiet intervals between
spontaneous laughs Like NJ ni4rf,L
stem other successes along farcicsI
mes notably. Are You a Mason p
ana an on Account OF Eliza. 80 ssBefora
ana ana Atter is clean and wholesome. and
~, uyS5eheu leSeu 10 meet the requirements of
az lovers OF fun in this its hopniesf his
trioniC expression. 1''I7' MS