The Washington herald., 1907-01-22
Miss Grace George Well Received al
the National in "CIotkes.n

the National In Clothes"
Miss Grace George was very cordially
received by a large audience at the Ma
tlonal Theater last night. in play by
Avery Hopgood and Claiming Pollock
called Clothes"
It is a society" play. dealing with that
order Of society in which the superficial
tiles. the frivoliues. the mere empty show,
the Clothes in short, seem to count for
everything, and the essentials Of life and
society for so little. And the play Is un-
mistakably written by young men who
view even this phase Of society through q
theatric medium, and whose work as
result, has a strong theatric flavor. that
the same scenes might not have if they
were the product Of writer's less immersed
in the atmosphere Of the theater, who
come more in contact with the large sec
ton of human nature that labors and
lives and has its being in the open air
and the sunlight, instead OF under the
blue-white glare Of the electric lights
But despite its artifciality, the play is
interesting.
The story is Of a girl Of real worth and
seriousness OF character brought up in
this artificial atmosphere She falls
victim to the passion for clothes that
besets all about her. The means OF graf
flying this passion falling. she is per-
suaded that a rich marriage is her only
means Of social salvation. As she is on
the point of making this unworthy
match the man whom she believes she
really loves, and whom she had regarded
as her only true friend. reveals himself
in a new light that at once disgusts her
with him and, with herself and her pro-
posed marriage. She rejects her rich
sutton. only to discover that in reality she
loves him, and when she wins him back
by proposing 10 him in turn. her happi-
ness Is again threatened by the revelation
from her former friend. bent on marrying
her himself, that IL was he who had sup
piled the income on which she had lived
since her fathers death. He claims her
for himself. and her fance seems on the
point Of reIinquishing her in disgust,
when there is, of course, a shift in the
situation, and all ends wen.
This story IS developed with much
cleverness by the authors. but not in
way that can be called convincing. It's
essential artihciality cannot be hidden.
but its scenes afford Miss George, never
theless. many opportunities to show her
unquestionable emotional power and
artistic accomplishments. The scene at
the end OF the second act. when she re-
jects her rich lover, was capitally done,
and deserved the warm and sincere ap-
plause IL received. In the scene in the
third act with the drunken friend and
her fiance. she went through the trying
ordeal with great cleverness and self
command. The last act was also decided
~ well done by the star and Mr.. Haines.
Miss George and the other ladies of
the cast wear several very stunning
gowns. that worn by the star in the third
act being a dream Of richness. Most of
Miss Georges associates in the play are
reasonably well fitted to their parts, but
few OF them succeed in making them
really convincing. Miss Cutting, Mr.
Halnes. Mr.. Worthing, and Mr.. Stanley
are worthy Of mention. The setting of
the piece is notably fine.