The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-26
May Irwin Keeps En- Going in Two
Farces at the Columbia.

May Irwin. that rotund purveyor Of
feminine jollity. was heartily welcomed
by large audience at the Columbia Thea
ter last night. where she entertained with
Mrs Wilson-Andrews, a lively farce
by George V. Hobart, as her principal
piece, proloaging the fun with sparkling
afterpiece by George AIDE, entitled Mrs.
Peckham's Carouse."
Mrs Wilson-Audrews'' is built exactly
to match Miss Irwins capabilities There
is q plot involving great compleXity Of
ludicrous situations, numerous pithy and
epigrammatic phrases. and plenty of OPP
portunity for the display of the stars
most telling accomplishment, the rendi-
ton of typical coon songs
Mrs. Wilson, whose first husband had
disappeared about seven years previously.
is about to unite herself In matrimony 70
Col Andrews. the law Of the State Of
New York declaring man TO be legally
dead after a lapse of seven years. Upon
the eve of her marriage, however, news
arrives to the effect that her husband is
still alive, and she is in great trepidation.
But at critical moment the fact is dis
closed that her first husband had been
also previously married, and the affair is
finished happily. after ii succession Of re
markably humorous situations.
Miss Irwin. through the medium Of the
character. Mrs. Wilson-Andrews. is able
to dispense hilarious fun in as potent a
manner as ever. From her first appear
ance on the stage to the last scene, an
almost unbroken wave of good humor
rolls over the audience, the power of her
! jolly personality, the effectiveness of her
asides, and her inimitable rendition OF
comic songs all being equally pleasing.
OF the latter. NO Wedding Bells for
Me" evoked the beartiest applause, with
"Matrimony" and Come to the Land of
Bohemia" not far behind.
George AIDES sketch is in his happiest
vein, opening in a Western town while
temperance crusade is at its height. Mrs
Peekham the wife OF a leading lawyer.
is a leader in the movement, while her
husband, who wears a badge for pur
poses Of domestic peace. is secretly salts
flying his occasional yearning for a drink.
He receives n bottle OF forty -year-Old rye
from Kentucky. and when about 10 treat
a friend is surprised by his wife, who
| accuses the friend of being drunk. and
| telephones to his wife.
The latter hurTtes to the scene, and
finds her husband in the private Office
with her Mrs Barrett's) husband. with
the bottle of whisky on the table between
them. A scene ensues, during which Mrs
Peckham faints, and two stiff drinks of
the forty-year-old are administered. She
becomes foolishly intoxicated the fault is
adroiUy put ON the young lawyers clerk,
and the affair ends in good-humored ex
plantations
Miss Irwin scores again as Mrs. Peck
ham, producing particularly acute at
lacks of hilarity by her stimulation OF mid
intoxication.
The supporting company is a capable
one, including Mr. Adolph Jackson. as
Col Andrews in the main comedy and Mr.
Peckham in the playlct Mr.. John z.
Hazard also does good work in both
pieces. appearing as Herman Schultz, an
eccentric German. in the first. and as
Thomas Barrett. the bibulous friend in
the second Miss Lillian Dix gives Il
clever character sketch as Mrs. Gilsey,