The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-03
NEW YORK THEATERS.

sons output Of AIDE plays 20 reach Broad
way was ''Artie" which opened at the
Garrick on Monday as the successor Of
the unfortunate "Step-sister." Although
il is little more than a strlnglng together
Of sundry AIDE fables 10 make four acts Of
drama. the unconventional and breezy
personality Of Artie Blanchard, a rough
piece Of Chicago self-made individuality,
exercises a peculiar appeal which may
help 10 boom the comedy into substan-
tai success. Not much could be judged
from the hrst-night audience, as 1t was
made up very largely Of professionals and
newspaper men, neither OF which class is
reliable weathercock Of popular favor.
II IS certain that no character has in
dividualized American pluck and audaclty
more graphically than this Artie of
George AIDE, as interpreted by Lawrence
Wheat Artie might be called a regular
Tommy Ross part. a second edition Of
Checkers without Checkers sentimental
side, or a younger Col Sellers. II Is
pity that behind the character itself there
Is not stronger story for a background.
b1; merely a flimsy film Of Harrigan and
Hart romance.
Artie is youngster earning {l4 week
IN Chicago real estate Office He falls
in love with Mamie Carroll az the annual
bazaar and ball OF the Woodworkers'
Union, introduces himself. gives half
dozen different names to as many girls.
and knocks down man in a chivalrous
act OF defense OF the woman he has Just
met. Then he gets line on the plans
OF a railroad company. which intends 10
Invade the section where Mamie Carroll
resides, secures an option on six lots by
giving his watch as security. gets into
trouble with his employers. who accuse
him OF betraying their plans and specu-
lating on information secured in con-
fdcnce. but ultimately wins the esteem Of
the manager. sells him his option al
pront OF $4,000, and wins Mamie Carroll
for hiss wife
II is cottagers' romance among the
Irish population OF Cedar street reveal
ing glimpses Of middle-class life. TO which
the majority OF playgoeTs are strangers.
But the life is depicted with just enough
OF the spirit Of exaggeration 20 make II
characteristic without insulting the intel
ligeuce Of the audience Artie is especial
~ well defined. He is young. well dress
cd, and agreeable, the sort that is b8fHed
by nothing and abashed by no form %
obstacle, embodied optimism IN its most
cheerful aspect Lawrence Wheat is as
II created for the part He is young and
go0d-lCoking, and he ratified of the bright
things that AIDE has given him 90 say
with a spontaneity that exhilerated the
house.
There is no sentiment TO portray and
while this may be an omission that de-
tracts from the interest Of the play. Il
kept ATtie from laundering I'm the shall
lows and hidden pitfalls Of the drama
of the heart which seems so horribly al
Turing 20 many Of our light comedians.
As I said before, it's a pity that there Is
rot more real drama IN the piece, but
though IL lacks the tenser qualities Of
theatrical interest. il absorbs ones at
tention completely by the artfuI interest
inspired by the personality Of the lead
Ing character and the illumination which
Il casts upon some phases 0f life whose
little romances and vanities are a hidden
chapter in metropolitan existence.
II adds little 20 the sum Of human
knowledge as a play. but it serves as an
admirable example Of a breezy style Of
writing. to provide a iaughable enter
tainment without strainiug for effect
Two good things dropped down upon MS
like mama from on high, and no one
was there on the opening night to ex-
tend a hand Of welcome TO them. One
was The Top o. the World'' AT the
Majestic. and the other is "Pocahontas"
at the Lyric.
When Virginia Harmed closed her en-
gagement in Anna Karcnina" at the
Majestic and went on tour. the Shuberts
reluctantly turned the house over 10 an
unknown show which had been barn
stormiRg somewhere on the northern
outskirts Of the continent. Il was "The
Top o. the World"
George Allison. Of the Shubert staff.
had seen il in Canada, ard was fun Of
enthusiasm over its freshness and nov
city. He urged that il be allowed 90
come In out 81 the cold but there was
no real sympathy for his suggestion in
the ShUbert Offices and IT was only by
dint Of confident insistence that they
finally consented 20 book Il at the Ma
jestic.
Now the Majestic. it is well known.
has llbl lltil Il genuine SUCCESS ELllEf mo-
Wizard OF OF" and Babes in TOyIand Pc
In fact, these are the only successes the
theater ever had. Strange 20 relate.
The Top O. the World" IS the third
This unknown and unheralded road
show. in which the regular press agent
would not even take stock, has actually
made a decisive hit. and IS proving a
source Of great revenue 20 the ShUherts
But it took the critics some weeks 10
md out that the show was in town
One by one they went 70 see II. and after
seeing it they came out in an abashed
sort Of way To chronicle their delight
Most eXtravagant notices were written
about il. though the public had found It
a good performance long before the
newspapermen. So The Top o. the
World" full OF music, dancing and good
vaudeville acts, is proving another
Wizard Of OF" and the salvation Of the
splendid Majestic
II never rains bur it pours So every
thing that the Shuberts are turning their
hand to this season Is turning to gold.
The above is one OF a number Of in
stances that prove the adage that every
thing comes to him who waits. Last sea-
SUM- "iiSH TIE oiiuoeItS were Trying ueS-
perately to uphold the banner Of indie
pendence in the face CT the terrible trust,
they lost money so fast that finally they
felt a vague sense Of comfort in being
swallowed hide and tail. This year they
are accommodating money faster than they
lost it. They are making it with Lew
Fields in The Girl Behind the Counter,
and at the Casino in "The Gay White
Way" they are making it with The Top
O. the World" and they are coming it
with ''Pocahontas'
The latter is a Boston musical show.
that succeeded "SapphO and Pbaou" at
the Lyric or Monday. II is the standard
musical-comedy attraction of respected
memory with tlInes reminiscent Of nN-arN-