The Washington times., 1906-03-06
BELASCO.
Before and After" Attracts Distin-
guished Audience.

Before and After" new three-act
farce by Leo Ditrichsteir, was an un-
qualified success at the Belasco last
night, and pleased unreservedly the
whole audience, including the President
and MrS. Roosevelt. who had with them
in their box Senator Knox and Miss
Carow.
The farce, which turns en- the troubles
of q happily married man who has put
himself In a compromising position and
whose troubles are caused, increased,
and finally smoothed out by various
doses OF his friends magic norve pow
ders TO himself and other people, is pack
ed full of action and iaughabie scenes.
DR.. Page has gone to a Saratoga hotel,
and there registers another woman as
his wife because the ErenchmRn, Colonel
Lariverte. has sworn that he Will make
love te Pages wife TO avenge himself
for Pages having kissed the colonel's
wife while Page was under the influence
OF one OF DR.. Lathams nerve powders.
Pages wife. of course, appears on the
scene, and the confusion is only worse
|confounded by James Jeffreys, who
thinks Pages wife Is his long lost
daughter. Finally. everything is ex-
planned, and Colonel Larivette IL put In
a good hunor by taking one of the nerve
powders. Such a plot. developed by Dit
richsteln, In a mastery way. gives no
end of amusement.
The author did clever work as Colonel
Larivette. Fritz williams, as DR.. Page.
has more work than anybody in the
cast. being on the stage nearly all the
time through the three acts. He put
up an excellent impersonstion OF the
nervous, self-important specialist, and
met every demand OF the action on his
talents in highly satisfactory manner.
George c. Bonifaee, jr., as james JET
frsys; John Daily Murphy. as Edgar
DriscoI1. and John Flood, as Dr. i~sth-
am. we're also excellent in their parts
Katherine Florence portrayed wen the
pretty. jealous wife. and George Law
renee as Odette de We're and Kenyon
Bishop, as Cora Bell, & former actress,
brought down the house by their good
work in the second and third acts. while
pursuing llT. Page
The evening was begun by a curtain
raiser by Mr.. DitrichstC1n n called noe
turnz," being the story OF gentle
man thief getting into ladys mouse
at night. The lady. after calling the po-
lice, decided to let him of The police
man Is sent away and the gentleman
thief makes dramatic departure
through the window with his valet. Mr..
Ditrichstein did the thief in this in nm
ished styie. joan Ncwcornbe as Mrs.
Hamilton and Minnette Barrett as Mrs
Potter were effective.
Among the prominent boxhoiders at
last nights performance were the Next
can ambassador, Senior Casasus and Ma
dame Casasus; the Belgian minister.
Baron Moncheur and Baroness Mon
cheur: the Chinese minister and HE
suite, the Haitian minister. Senior Leg
er. Madame L4eger, and their nieces. the
Misses Rourke: the Siamese minister.
Pyra Akharaj Yaradhara- the frst sec
retary OF the Slamese legation. Edward
II. Lotus. and Mrs. LOTUS; Lieut.. Col.
A V de Pederneiras. the military at
tache Of the Brazilian embassy, and
Madame dc Pederneiras; the Assistant
Secretary OF the Treasury. hon. II. A.
Taylor. and Mrs. Taylor; Lieut.. Com.
John c. Fremont. Mrs. Fremont. Miss
Fremont Miss Amy and Miss Town
ley, OF New York city; the Comptroller
of the Currency. Hon. William B. Ridge
". Mrs. Ridgely and Miss Ridgely; Mrs,
Alice c. Parney; Brig. Gen Hamilton
s. Hawkins and Mrs Hawkins, Hon. ].
e WIIkie and Mrs wilkie-