The Washington herald., 1907-09-24
Clever Comedy Attracts PeO-
pie to the Columbia.
BELAsCO OPENING POSTPONED
Webcr's Scenery Did Not Arrive in
Time, SO, show Opens Tonight.
Jack Barrymore Makes "a Speech.
CohHn's New show, FIFTY Miles
from Boston, Proves Big Success.

barrymore, the youngest or the talented
Barrymore family-and promising to
be as attractive TO the ladies in
the audience as bis sister Ethel
is to the men in her audiences-and
an excellent supporting company. The
piece is by Miss Rida Johnson Young,
well known as the author Of Brown Of
Harvard" It was put on first in New
York last autumn at the Hudson The
alter. with AIT. Arnold Daily In the prin-
cipaI part. but it was not psychological
enough for Daily and he got peevish and
pulled out.
THE Boys Of Company b. is a comedy
Of National Guard life: that is, the
young fellows in the piece are all men,
bers OF the National Guard. which gives
opportunity for more or less accurate
picture Of tbe young fellows IN camp and
in society. The plot IS not wildly excit-
ing though the story is plain and fairly
consistent Tony Allen. captain Of Com
pany Z, is in love with pretty Eileen
MaCLaue. very well played by Miss Jose
phine Drake. Unfortunately. Tony-Jack
Barrymore is Tony ono one is ever going
To really call him John" in spite Of his
press agenU-has no money, and is de-
pendent on his uncle. c. Holbrook Allen.
fine low-comedy part played with such
skill as only Mr.. Werner Charges can
afford.
Maj and Mrs. MacLane are poor. and
though Maj MacLane is favorable TO
Tony's suit Mrs. MacLanc is anxious
that Eileen shall marry Arthur Stabler,
son Of the millionaire, Henry Stabler.
Mrs MacLane has secured a promise
from Tony that he viii not make love to
Eileen for two years, and the two years
are up on the day the play opens. Even
then Mrs. MaeLaue begs Tony 70 give
up his idea Of marrying Eileen, telling
him that she knows what poverty is.
that money IS the only thing that counts,
and that she wants Eileen 20 marry
riches The truth OF the matter is that
she is heavily indebted 20 Henry Stabler
for money. and be holds her notes. Tony
manages 90 get Mrs. MacLane TO agree
that if hls uncle viii settle 5000 on him
she will not oppose the match, and Tony,
being hard put 10 It. prop, SEES 10 Eileen.
and is accepted. over a sp akIng tube.
The second act shows the boys OF
Company 3 in camp. The ladies come
down 10 visit them. Tony has Inveigled
his old uncle 10 enlist. telling him the
exercise viii do him good, and as he is
a captain and bis uncle IS a private be
makes the old mans life a burden. put
ting him at digging trenches, washing
dishes and SO ON. until his uncle 20 get
released, agrees 20 settle the 5000 on
Tony. Unfortunately. there comes another
pretty Usping girl o. the camp, and
Tony fIirts with hgr a little and kisses
her SO that Eileen sees IL. She forgives
this. but shortly after. one OF the other
soldiers. also in love with the girl Tony
has kissed. wants 10 write her letter.
He has "a spraincd wrist and gets Tony
O. write for him. The letter falls into
EHeeu's hands. and iu her pique at what
she considers T0ny's falseuess, she aC-
ctpts the hand OF Stab,eT.
The last act Strengthens out the COM
plcauous in % satisfactory way. At the
very last minute when Stabler has been
got ont Of the way and the business of
the love letter has not been explained,
the girl. who lisps. and her soldier lover.
who also Hsps. rush in and make a
lispins explanation. 1t Is quite salts
factory To Eileen. bat the lisping lovers
hang Uu in the room. Tony looks at
them. aching TO get rid Of them AT
last 'NiHgt-truis," he cries "WhatT'
asks the bcwildered lsping soldier.
"ViuEt-tr0is" repeats Tony. Don't you
Uuderstand-tweuyy-three;' and as at
last. they comprehend. lie takes Eileen
in his arms.
The comedy is wei conceived and is car
ried out admirably. 1t is not n highly
consequential play and its construction is
mighty loose and shaky IN one or two
places but its situations are clever, and
its dialogue is bright. Here are a few
specimens OF the best things that at
tract the attention Of the audience:
Touy-The trouble with the cid folks nowadays Is
that tie children don't take enough interest in
them.
Jm-wbate,er possessed you to kiss Nadse right
cut IN mettiug{
Touy-Just my internal curiosity. wanted TO
see what it was like TO kiss girl with a lisp
Tony-women have no sense Of humor on the sub
Jet o. other women.
T1ny-It isn't the fellow who cu spread on the sirup
the thickcst before marriage That can make gil
satisfied with the dry bread when The honeymoon is
over You know well enough that sou and could
60 housekeeping with pair II tenais racSets and
/ couple q golf sticks in q tent CU az Westehester
and he perfectly happy.
Aiajor-I always believe in letting the women run
domestic affairs; saves friction
T1ny-Of course it saves friction. Any one can save
friction who sits down and lets things 80 TO Bay-
hoo Just because he's afraid 20 ia. the brakes
That's what the matter with MS ia America. We
put these delicate. highs,ruug. eItfayagant crea-
lures at the wheel and give then right OF way;
and don't they 60 it, Al they want Of us men Is
that stag down in the stokChole and furnish the
coal We let them leave the word obey out OF
the marriage ceremony. Whyf Because it saves
friction. We Jet them dress rs zap in fruck coat
and a buttonhule bouquet AMI march M the
church aisle while our very 'uS are hardening for
a quiet corner in the paTsua Sc paIlCr. Whyt Be
cause il saves friction W. let them boss the sob
all through the honeymoon because that saves frc
uon. and We let them kee IL mp all The rest Of
lives because we can't he'll ourselves; and IT
MS d. wen right.
In the first act tht e Is a sort Of musi-
cal number by Mr.. ignore. and in the
second act some singing by the sol
der boys.
The acting OF BOYS of Company
b leaves little -e desired. Mr.. Jack
Barrymore has a decidedly attractive per-
sonality, a pleasin voice, and sureness of
manner which coz IS for very much in
a light comedy of this sort His work
won hearty and gene Gus applause. and at
the end Of the secon- act he was called
out for a speech. Il really was not much
OF a speech
The work Of Miss Josephine Drake was
very pleasing throughout. and she made
an admirable foil for Mr.. Barrymore
/ The part Is slight, and makes no great
demand on her powers. but she gave evil
3ence that she is capable of handling
better and stronger things. The Flor
ence Henderson of Miss Marie Mallon
was good, and the character part of the
lisping girl, Madge Blake played by
Florence Nash. was most beverly sus-