The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-28
WEALTH OF WESTERN COLOR
IN "BRUvvER JIRS BABY

There is local color" rs though II
were painted ION a ten-leaguc canvas
with brushes OF comets hair" and the
atmosphere is as encompassing as all
out-of-doors in Philip Verrill AIighels
Western comedy. in four acts, "Bruv-
yer Jim's Baby" produced for the first
Time on any stage at the Columbia last
night. But the denouoment is fatally
weak in that everyone knew the final
climax in advance There was lacking
from the first act TO the last any sus>
tense There was wealth Of pathOs
and considerable humor. but no throb-
bling feeling OF expectancy or doubt
'Bruvver Jin's Baby" tells the story
of a rough. lazy miner who rescUes a
white child from a band Of Indians. The
baby entwines its fingers around the
heart Of the uncouth. hardened men Of
the hills. and they pause IN their battle
Tor gold IN order 10 save the little
Skeelucks who has come into their
lives. Miss Doc. a sister Of one Of the
miners. has been led to believe that
her child had been killed by the Indians.
Her mother heart yearns for little Skee-
luckS, and she nurses him through Sc
rious illness. Miss Doc discovers that
little SkeeluCks is her own lost child
by means of a lOcket which jim pro-
duces at the proper moment Jim, who
has I'D to this moment been TOO bdshtul
20 ask Miss Doc 70 marry him. at the
thought Of losing little Skeelucks screws
his courage 70 the sticking point, and
Miss Doc falls into his arms,
The first two acts OF the Mighels play
are devoted almost entirely 10 getting
ready for the third and fourth They
are purely episOdical, and nothing is es-
tablished except the fact that there is a
supposedly motherless Waif in the care
/ OF a rude. lazy miner.
The btVd and fourth acts make amends
| for the earlier SHORTCOMINGS OF the play.
There Is plenty OF action and the 'i-
/ makes are well worked up. mere Is q
1 genuine thriller az the close OF the
| third act when Bruvver Jim forces the
/ address Of the physician, who can save
/ SllceluCks from the gambler and the
| fraud. The combat is reminiscent Of the
/ great fight scene in The spoilers.
! The producing company did Its share
| Of the entertaining admirably, as the
/ Columbia aggregation always does WI
| ton Lackaye was the Bruvvcr Jim. and
\ upon him rested practically the vStire
4 burden OF the performance. He vas on
/ the stage almost continuously through
! out the evening. He played the role
J with discretion and his portrayal was
4 sympathetic. His humor, especially IL
/ his love scenes. however, seems forced
/ Miss SpOng was cast for Miss Doc
/ Her Interpretation was entirely saustac-
! tory. and there was a wealth OF tender
ness in the scene in which she discovers
| that Slteeiucks is her own child. The in
| cldeut is melOdramatic. and IL Is muCl
10 her credit that she played the par
/ without OVERRIDING &C..
Miss Charlotte Walkers part that Of
! Kitty Floyd. was insignificant II seeTni
/ a pity that 50 capable an actress shoulC
be forced 10 waste her time and talent!
on such characterization.
Parky. gambler and all-arOund boll
bad man. az portrayed Dy Arthur r
! Spraguc. was one Of the most refresh
/ ing features of the performance As
I moral lesson. however. he was failure
! for his deviltry was more entertaining
/ and aroused more enthusiasm than tn
/ virtue Of all the other miners combined
/ Little Miss Elizabeth Edwards. al
! Skeeiucks. was most attractive.
| The minor roles We're in capable hands