The Washington times., 1906-06-10
COMEDY RULES IN THE
PLAYBILLS OF THE WEEK
Columbia-Guy Standing and John Ma
son in "The Idler."

Columbia-Guy Standing and John Ma
son in "The Idler."
The seventh week Of the successful en-
gagement OF Guy Standing and the
Columbia Theater company VIII be
ushered in tomorrow evening with a
notable revival OF c. Eaddon Chambers
brilliant comedy drama, The Idler,"
which has never been presented in
Washington. although II had long and
successful runs both IN New York and
London when brought out IN 1890.
John Mason. who has for three years
been Mrs. Fiske's leading man, has con-
sented TO remain over IN Washington
another week 10 take advantage OF the
opportunity that Will be afforded him
to reappear in the role OF Simon Strong.
which he created when the play was
given its original London production at
the fashionable ST. James Theater by
George Alexander. Mr.. Mason has been
specially engaged and Will be seen IN
his original role tomorrow evening for
the first time in this country. "The
Idler'' was given its first American pro-
duction by the Lyceum Theater stock
company of Daniel Frohman. With a
cast comprising Herbert Kelcey, Nelson
Wheatcroft, w. J. LeMoyne. Eugene Or
monde, Walter c. Bellows. Howard
Morgan, Georgia Cayvan, Fife shan
ION. Mrs. Charles Walcot, and Henrietta
Crosman. The idler is Mark Cross, an
.5nglishman Of leisure. who has not
always been idle, inasmuch as ne was
once unhappily married. has riayed
cards in Colonel Watterson's section OF
the United States. has suffered be-eave-
ment, and is a widower. His attentions
turn toward Lady Harding. wife of Sir
John Harding. NJ. p, a beautiful Eng
lish woman, who, in earlier " lrs, had
seemed to encourage Cross suit, but
changed her mind, and welded another
In seeking Lady Harding to explain
himself Cross meets Sir John, and tn
mediately recognizes in him an old
acquaintance who had been known as
Gentleman Jack" when they roughed
it together in prairie days-an associate
whom he knows to have shot and killed
one of his acquaintances in the western
part of the United States. While idIine
in the West Cross had saved the life Of
Simon Strong, a wealthy American,
thereby causing a warm friendship be-
tween Inein- STOSS aDpTlSeS Sir John
that Strong-the slain mans brother-is
at hand in England, bent on pursuing a
relentless campaign Of vengeance, and,
upon the arrival of the aYenger. the
idler urges Lady Harding to elope with
him on condition that her husbands
life is saved. To shield her husband
from danger she visits Cross bachelor
apartments in Picadilly where she
learns of her husbands safety and re-
fuses to carry out her bargain. While
locked in the bachelor quartz fighting
through an ordeal for her Eonor she
comes of victorious by appealing to the
sacred love that Cross bears his mother
and is about 10 leave when her husband
arrives, and she takes refuge on a bal
cony. Her presence is disclosed by the
discovery of a fan by her husband who
wakes furious, and challenges Cross TO
a duel without witnesses, but the ar
rival of Strong illustrates the encounter
Sir John admits his error. and the idler
asseverating Lady Hardings innocence
packs off with his valet to the North
Pole The usual matinees win be given
Thursday and Saturday. and there will
be no advance over the usual summer
prices.