The San Francisco call., 1907-06-25
By James Crawford

Mrs. Lef1ngwelrs Boots" is a COM
edy of anatomical science. Through a
series of farcical situations 1T aims to
teach that the human vertebral struc
ture is the basis of most uninherited
mental arrangements.
The footwear mentioned in the title
cuts about the same figure in the plot
as does Desdemona's handkerchief in
the story of "Othello." Discovery of
the lady's boots upon the fire escape
outside the window of a bachelors s
apartment lead to complications in
which the scientific lession is deftly
conveyed. Her husband starts a muss
when he learns of where the boots
were found, and one OF the results is
an estrangement between the bachelor
and his sweetheart
When the play begins, at the home Of
Thomas Bonner (Mr Walling), din
ner party is being given, to which the
Lefhngwells are invited. Mrs. Letting
well arrives, but her spouse is storm
bound and cannot get there. Walter
Corbin (Mr. LytelD, on whose fire es-
cape the boots were found, drops in
to use the telephone, and he, too, is
stormbound. Dick Ainslee (Mr. Glen
dinning), a younger brother of Walters
fame Mabel Ainslee (Miss Lang). also
turns up at the Bonners', and proves
himself an INSCRIPTIONS scapegrace by
trying to raise money by falsely re-
porting that his sister is dead. She is
there, however and after an angry
scene he departs, vowing vengeance.
In the second act the dinner is over
and the scene has shifted to Bonner's
studio, he being an artist All have
retired to rest except Corbin and DR..
Rumsey (Mr. Byers). over the tele-
phone the absent Lefingwell learns
that his wife and Corbin are under the
same roof, and we are given to under
stand that he is coming to make a
scene. Prior to this, however Dr. Rum
sey tells Corbin in a chat over the
whisky nightcaps his theory OF the
relationship of the vertebrae to the
brain and demonstrates il on an artists
manikin Then young Ainslee enters
as a burglar, is captured by Corbin and
removed to the surgery, where DR..
Rumsey operates on him to remove his
thieving propensity
In the third act the operation has
been successfully performed and in his
right senses the young fellow confesses
that it was he who placed Mrs. Letting
wells boots on Corbin's fire escape, his
purpose being to levy blackmail.
This scanty sketch of the story does
not give any of the ludicrous situa-
tions, scenes and bits of characterize
ton that make the comedy delight
incidents CTOWQ atop VI SdSi ObhO-
with such rapidity as to keep the Alca-
zar actors very busy and compel ad-
miration OF the studiousness that has
enabled them to handle such tricky
stuff with such facility after only a
weeks rehearsal.
Augustus Thomas has written
brighter lines than are read In this
comedy but some of the speeches are
memorable Law we are told, lis an
arbitrary prohibition of what the ma
iority of the people want to do" When
informed that at a certain place the
temperature was 110 in the shade the
person so informed declares that he
would have kept out of the shade
There are many bits of dialogue equal
ly clever to those two
Among the characters there is little
opportunity to attain distinction by
acting. and it is excellent team work
that makes the piece go so well. Mr.
Lytell displays commendable poise as
| Corbin. and Miss Lang, who reappeared
last evening after a months illness and
was giving a fiattering ovation, is in
good fettle, both physically and ar
! tistically Miss Coverings versatility
finds new vent in her role of a Hiber-
nian housemaid who has been frost
bitten, and Mr.. Maher as an English
butler who appreciates the dignity oi
! his position is very funny All the
other parts are adequately played.
OF course the staging is both elabo-
rate and artistic The Alcazar is no.
torious for doing that kind of thing