The Washington herald., 1907-08-20

Closing Bill of stock Company.
The Marriage Of Kitty" a clever COM
edy introduced to the American public
some years ago by Marie Tempest. is
/ the Offering for the closing week Of the
stock company at the Belasco Theater.
Last night the audience was large and
generous with It's applause. as much for
the clever comedy and its situations as
for the work Of the players.
The play is a delicate and dainty com
edy adapted from the French by Cosmo
Gordon Lennox. It is based on a rather
/ improbable will by which fortune is left
TO Sir Reginald Belsize on condition that
he marries neither a Peruvian nor u
widow. This strange provision is due
TO the fact that Sir Reginald is rather
entangled with Nine. de Semiano. who IS
both a widow and a Peruvian. To get
around the win Sir Reginald is induced
70 maTry-the marriage 10 be q matter
Of form only-Miss katherine Silyerton, a
very pretty, charming, and engaging
young girl who agrees TO let him get a
divorce within eighteen months. Thus
Sir Reginald viii get the widow and his
uncle's fortune too But unfortunately
the year Of waiting disgusts Sir Reginald
with his Peruvian, and when he sees his
wife he falls in love with her-with the
inevitable consequences.
Just trife rlsque as this theme is. it
is handled in this adaptation in the
Anglo-SaXon rather than the Latin man
ner. and is. therefore, void Of offense. It
IS a charming comedy. that touches no
deep problems. nor has any moral lesson
TO inculcate. Il is just a happy continual
ton of bright flashes Of wit and merri-
ment. with situations that border on the
farcical and dialogue that tx markedly
brilliant in many places.
Il cannot be said that the stock com
pany does entire justice 10 the play, which.
being a light and frothy comedy. demands
llgEtHoss, quiciness of repartee and no
trace G. hesitation ar any point In some
way the comedy seemed insufficiently re-
hearsed ana il suffered from the fact that
some OF the players were not up in their
lines, and at critical moments. when they
should have been brilliant, could only
look into vacancy and humble irrele-
vances
Mr.. Guy Co0mbs. who has done some
good work with two stock companies this
season, was not ar ali familiar with his
lines, and his obvious nervousness over
this communicated itself TO the other
players The result was that errors were
made that. had the Itay been less worthy
In itself might serioutly have marred the
entertainment.
Miss Charlotte Walker was charming
IN the iugeuue role of Katherine Silver
ton. She entered into all the situations
heartily and did much 10 insure the
plays success. 1t is evident that Miss
Walker has a decided forte Tor light
comedy; she is quite az home here.
certain Of the effect she wants 10 gain.
and gains il, through her marked ability
In this direction. with little effort and
considerable grace As Katherine Silver
ton her touch is light. but sure. the
note she strikes Is the true one, and her
performance was. therefore. "a delight in
many ways.
Very clever work was done bv Mr.
Alfred Hudson. jr. who has shown his
ability previously, but has not before had
such an opportunity. Mir Hudson has
decided gifts, and though il is plain that
he is stronger in comedy than in heavy
roles. he is a conscientious and pains
taking player who should be heard from
some day. Miss Alice Butler. as Mime
de SemianO, gave another Of her good
characterizatons, veIl thought out and
sustained The minor roles were I'm COM
petent hands.
THE Marriage Of Kitty is mighty
enjoyable play and we'll worth going 10
see.