The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-29
BelIe1D Returns With Good
Company, But Poor Play

Eyrle BelIew returned To the Col
umbia last night at the head OF an un-
usually good company bat with "a talky,
tedious play. BelieW has Deen uufor-
tuuate ia his plays recently "A Mar
TIage of Reason is scarcely an inn
UTOyemcur ou "Brisddier Gerard iu
which lac was seen during the holiday g..
The urst act drags; the SECOND aC,
ends any doubt one might have as TO
what is going 10 happen. and the third
and fourth acts are given over 10 max
ing il happen. The play is entertaining
in spots, but they are the spots where
il is the least natural
The story has been outlined several
times aITeady-that of a rich American
sisl and a ruined English earl who er-
ter into "a marriage OF reason and
then fau l love with one another. The
proposal scene is amusing. though the
brutal honesty Of the bargain is "A biz
revolving Apart from these two there
Is the earI's divorced wife, his son and
hers. the other woman who has always
loved him and her Jealous husband, and
the yOuugstrr who is genuinely Ia love
with the American girl
Beuew plays Delc0mJe with his usual
p
lew partrr the English gentleman pt
nigh a-gree-polisled. cynical, but win
Il heart under his veneer. ~ calls III
play all his extremely ornamental man
ueT, all his exquisite preltluess-iutr l---
fortunately IL d0esn give much scope
Tor his really capable acting. Ana, III
one might hazard suggestion Mr. BEL
lew makes up too olu FOR Tie part
or, perhaps one should say d1rsA Z
make up young enough. As / under
stand it, lac is playing man lu the
uelghboThOOd OF forty. lie looks about
ufty-uye. And he doesn't have TO-
Beuew can easily looA inifty-h'rs II Ae
chooses.
Miss Ward plays Rita Forrest. the
American glTi VINO marrlrs ulsi ana
loves afterWaTd. Although lu common
with several other members Of the com
paIy, she was last night paipaDiA HrlN
Gus, she bangs VIVaclll and sitil7l
freshness 10 tnc part Anr part ii7viL
IL rather a cdEIcalure.
CHICAGO hrlTesses OF course, have
hearts OF gold, ana luminous soH4 sense
all % TErT. but they generally are
reasonably Well bred, ana, above all,
Adaptable" The local co!or-and tAr
Western JWaug-sre laid on blu loo
heavily. In her lighter scenes, especial
ly those with her lille step7uh- MISS
Ward is delightfully."- crisp Hue sure. hHl
there are moments That need d Lli-c
more dignity and uUlse than she brings
IN them. Master Richard Storey plays
the child delightfully."-, sturdy SELF
reliant little chap 10 ls, and done easily
ana pleasantly. ana with "a pretty pstl1s
Lhat won him a WeIl-deserEru curtain
call on his own account. The a-s-deliL
To- this child al the end of the second
act. and Captain Lllisou's revolt against
his domestic ufelIcity. are really the
most human and sympathetic incidents
IN the play.
Frederic de Beleyiue plays Captain
Ellison in his usual mastery fashion.
II is not pleasant part-tlat or "a
sturdy, heavy. plain thinking. plain feel
ins EngLshmau, rather brutal and fairly
maddtued by jealousy and las wife S
indifference not q pleasant
narat but such as IL Is. DE Beileyile
does IL beautifully. Conway Trdr!e plays
the poet the delightfully."- serious, Dies
perately smitJen, romantic young fool, .
with good effect,
Julia Dean. who was last here as The
Little Grey Lady plays Lady Rat
clInr. the divorced wife, emotional. rc-
sretful. lul OF tenderness for her child. .
and of remorse for the folly JhaJ
wrecked her life. ana plays il very well .
paints very truly the portrait of "a 2
rather artificial woman. Miss Margaret /
Fuller does the best she can with the
part of the lady who always loved Del .
combe, but married Ellison
Indeed, the company IL excellent. II
plays with intelligence and understand I
.nZ. That IL is not convincing is more .
the fault of the play than the players. .
The custuming is eX-elleuL-if one as .
part Of the character, and the stage set F
rings. especially the library of the last
two acts. an that could be desired
n Med. .