The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-14
IN H THEATRES
MRS. WIGGS" PLAYS TO
CROWDED HOUSE.
It Is Most Creditably Enacted BY
Blanche Chapman and Company-A
Good Show at Proctors.

The return of Mrs. Wigs OF the Cab
bage Patch for a wcek's stay at the New
ark Theatre will gladden. the hearts OF
many who have welcomed the play here
before. It is a story that appeals to all
who like their humor and sentiment IN
aliopathic doses. It is a simple play for
simple people. appealing solely to the snr-
face emotions, never to the intellect Yet
II Is so nenr to human nature. a kindly
sort Of human nature, that its effect IS
cheering and one oyerlpoks the fact that
II Is theatrical and unlifelilSe in its manner
OF Development. 1t is not a very dramatie
niece; there are few STRONG" situations,
and, constructively, the play is marred
BY the almost inevitable defects OF the
dramatized novel.
Mrs. Flexner. who evolved Mrs. VICES
from the two most popular books OF MISC
Alice Hegen Rice. has succeeded IN retain
ing all their salient features. The char
acters are types peculiar to American coun-
Try Iife-albeit overdTawn. Indeed, char
acterizatjon. especially that Of Mrs. WiGss
herself. is the keynote of Mrs. Flexner's
success.
Now that she has become a perennial
visitor. memory and association have IN
vested Mrs. wigs with the charm OF q
friend whose CHEEKY philosophy and sunny
smile sound an optimistic note that trims
.he edge of Impotence and gently raiys
hope from zero to about SO in the SHADE.
Yer determination to always see the bright
side. and wiring consolation from misfor-
tune radiates as sunshine 10 the Cabbage
Patch. where she mothers every inhabitant,
old and young. smoothing over the quar-
rels Of her neighbors, and retailing their
sniteful gossip in such a way as TO DE-
sirny its venom. awkward, shiftless IN
her household economy, she the
most of her opportunities to do good
fslessed by a troupe of unwashed, unkempt
children she pays more attention TO theit
moral welfare than she does to the layef
Of soil that cakes the little races, ana Is
as nearly a devoted mother as she knows
hoy-a woman, typical OF the 'po' white
frashp strata of Southern society in her
eontempt of soap and water, but a shining
light in the practise OF her own quaint
brand OF philosophy, expressed with a
foree and direction that stand frequent
repetition.
Miss Blaneh Chapman gives to Mrs.
Nlens a touch of personality thar wen
Illustrates the persistent cheerfulness OF
17er character. Through an the scenes OF
the MAY she moves as a quaint, tender,
optimistie, compassionate n very Vltal
figure whose kindness of heart is reflected
IN Qtf G1nTlkdblG NikNo RA0
Is gifted with The power OF natural
expression of the lighter as well as the
more stressful emotions. disdainins the
theatrical. n her expression OF pathos
is true and poignant. She gets her effects
with remarkable simplicity, and Is only
less successful than was Mrs. Madge Carr
Cook in the same role.
Charles Carter. in the role of Stubbins,
The angular beau of Mis- Hazy, neglects
40 opportunity to create mirth. He de-
niots the sad falling from grace and re-
turn home OF Stubbins with much droii
humor. Miss Hazy was enacted by Miss
7Tivia Ogden. who sent the feminine por-
lion OF her hearers into a storm of laugh
ter from time to time by virtue of her
makeup. Lovey Mary is well taken care
Of BY Miss Phyllis Sherwood. The other
members of the east we're all good.
The performance was an Elks benent
and the house was crowded.