The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-02-18
COIumbin-"A village lawyer

NoAum bih-"A NlllAEe Lawyer
At the Columbia Theater last night VIII
NJ. Cressy and Blanche Dayne signallzed
their transfer from vaudeville, where for
many seasons they have been well and
favorably known, into the legitimate. The
vehicle used is a rural comedy, built
along familiar lines. and called "A Village
Lawyer" II Is by Mr. Cressy himself.
assisted by James Clarence Harvey. The
meat Of the play comes from vaudeville
sketch which Mr. Greasy and his talented
wife did some seasons ago. and this has
been expanded into four-act play. more
or less coherent. pleasing in. effect, simple
in plot. and depending very largely on
the efforts Of the star for It's success.
a Village Lawyer" is a play that
will probably achieve popularity with a
certain class Of theatergoers to whom the
bueolc drama appeals. There is enough
OF this class to insure the success of such
plays as THE Old Homestead" and way
Down East" and this new rural drama
has much the same sort or chance that
these big successes had. Its central
character Squire William Tappan. the
conceived portrait OF a simple. guileless
old gentleman vf d kindly heart and a
generous disposition, whose mission in life
seems 10 he 10 work unselishly for every
bcdy's happiness but his own. II he has
one oYerweening ambition. it is to own a
real clarinet, SO that he may play in
the Silver COrnet Band but every
time he gets about enough money TO be
able 20 afford it he has to give II away to
some one who needs it worse than him
self He has two nephews. young men
whose love affairs form the subplot of the
play, but they and their affairs are never
very real Indeed. the one thing real In
the play is the character Of Squire Tap
pan. and that is due 70 a great extent
70 the art of Mr.. Cressy.
VIII NJ Cressv Is as clever a come
see lie has a fine quality OF human
ness about him that is convincing. and
he makes the character a sympathetic
one. The dialogue wherever ne has "a
share in il, is abundantlv clever. cpl
grammatic, smart, and fun OF a certain
Yankee shrewdness that is delightful.
There is one scene. where the old bach
elor squire is expecting "a baby TO
come 10 his house. charity legacy
from an Old reprobate OF the town-the
baby turning out to be good looking
woman. that is delightful
Miss Dayne does not have \ great
deal TO do in the play; neither does
any one else. for that matter. save Mr..
Cressy. There are lot OF minor char
acters whose only excuse for being i'm
the play seems 10 be that they lend
atmosphere 20 it-a French Canadian.
q man with hare-lip. queer musicians
and a comedy negro; but these do not
affect the main story of the play i'm
any real way. and only serve TO keep il
from becoming sort Of Cressy mono
logue. Happy Jack Gardner PLAYS the
role Of the negro. and plays II well.
but the part offers little opportunity 10
an entertainer who, In vaudeville, has
shown himself to be very clever
\ Village Lawyer was heartily
liked by the large audience that saw
IL last night. There was much laugh
ter: genuine. spontaneous applause. and
after the third act Mr.. CresSy was call
ed on for n speech. which was as clever
as any Of the set speeches in the play
For first performance everything
went very smoothly indeed IT Is evil
dent that the play can be bettered by
being more closely knit together. and
by the elimination of some of the mat
tiers which now only befog interest
i'm H. As il is, il is pleasant
End cheerful entertainment; optimistic.
hopeful; presenting no problems-just
a transcript of life in New Hampshire
that il is good to sympathize with.
good To laugh at HECTOR FULLER.