The Washington times., 1906-04-03
AT THE LOCAL PLAYHOUES
COLUMBIA.
Claiming Pollock's "The Little Gray
Lady" a Charming Comedy.


Claiming PoIIock's. "The Little Gray
Lady" as presented at the Columbia
Theater last night has all the elements
which constitute delightful evenings
entertainment and a pleasing aftermath
of memories.
The play deals with Washington
boarding house life. and the dramatis
personae are largely drawn from the
ranks Of Government clerks All of the
characters belong 70 the class which
finds in life a serious problem, and the
means of subsistence a factor TO be
taken into account upon every occas-
ion.
For the past few years the humber
walks of life have been ignored by the
dramatists. and the public has begun
10 think of the play as means of por-
traying only the more ostentatious
pleasures and disappointments. Its
characteriZations are above the heads
of those who toll, and the scenes are
in a realm unknown to the average man
and woman.
Mr.. Pollock's play. like oliver Cold
smiths Vicar of Wakefield" shows
that a story of the lives of everyday
people has an interest because there IS
an aIl-encompassing humanity and a
direct appeal.
The Mot of ..The Little Gray Lady is
not pretentious 1t concerns Anna
Gray ard Perriton Carlyle. who have
come from the West to accept positions
as Government clerks in the Treasury
Department. Carlyle becomes infat-
usted with the shallow. coquettish
daughter of the boarding house keeper.
He grows eXtravdgant and in order 10
indulge this girl he finally commits the
folly of robbing the Government. The
theft is of course discovered and Anna
sacrifices herself in order that carlyle
may escape. while the girl for whom the
erring boy has committed the crime, re-
nounces him as felon. Through the
generosity of a Secret Service man, who
has been an earnest suitor for Anna s
love all traces OF the theft are de-
stroyed and Carlyle and his savior are
reunited.
Julia Dean as Anna Gray gave
charming portrayal of THE Little Gray
lady" In the second act. when she at
tempts TO prevent Carlyle from taking
a fatal step which will lead to detec-
tion of the theft she evinceS remark
able emotional power. and in the third
act, when she accuses herself In order
that Carlyle may have time TO escape,
her appeal rings with a pathos that is
most convincing. Miss Dean gives an
added element of sympathy In portray
ing her love for Carlyle by developing
an affection having a suggestion OF the
maternal instinct of self-sacrifice and an
s,bliteration of personal happiness Tor
The sake of the object OF her protecting
love She establishes a double appeal
10 the audience. This phase Is handled
with great delicacy and discretion
Dorothy Donnelly, as Ruth Jordan,
draws an admirable picture OF the vain.
s.elf-centered young woman whose sole
ambition is to make a suitable match.
In developing the role she accumulated
certain mannerisms too strongly TO make
the characterization thoroughly arustlc
however.
Eva Vincent as Mrs. Jordan gave an
amusing and faithful portrayal OF the
inordinately curious and meddlesome
boarding house keeper.
William Humphrey as Samuel Meade.
Tho Secret Service man. gave an artistlc
iuterpretation to a sympathetic role
The remaining characters were accept
ably interpreted, and the play Is care
fully mounted.