The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-29
New York Sees
Several Plays
After We Do
By A. H. BALLARD.

New York. March IS.
T EO DITRICHSTEIN has written
an entertaining farce, Bluffs.
and produced II at the Bijou
Theater, and he appears in it as
the star. II is amusing large-sized au-
diences nightly, and has elected various
comment.
There is 10 question that the farce is
amply able TO take care of itself as to
general popularity. There is plenty of
spirited situation in il; there are gem
eroUs stretches Of pungent dialogue.
and the laughter provoked is rather
constant. especially during the later
acts. II is probable that the weaving
Of the farcical plot is more complicated
than seems necessary; the unraveling
thereof com9els the auditor TO listen
closely, and keep track infinitely OF all
the threads, in order to catch the en-
tire gist OF what is going on. and 10
take in all the big measure of funny
incident that is launched upon the
dramatic fabric. With this exception
and. at the same time mentioning that
there is plenty Of speed, action and
inspiring farcicaI incident that one can
not help approaching with half an eye
Mr.. Ditrichstein's new effort Bluffs. p"
1 would declare. is Of more than ordI-
nary artistic worth and completeness
Possibly he has Overelaborated some OF
the direction" required too many
points TO De "pegged." in certain
scenes: and perhaps. the piece would
be benefited l. the author had drawn a
little less in Messionnier-like minute
ness. BOlder strokes of Characterize
ton might simplify and strengthen the
picture-but the fact remains that the
play as IL now runs. strikes a happy
sympathetic chord of humorous fancy
in the average bosom. and looks TO me
like farce that will hold its own in
lightly entertaining the people Of the
United States. To be sure. there are
prudish, haiT-splitting considerations
that rebel at some of the lines and the
foreign" points of view put forward
in the development OF the rather racy
story But. if II trangresses good taste.
1 confess I sat through the evening
without feeling that I ought TO blush.
1 could wish that they might have
made the newspaper woman in the cast
less bOufant. less raucous. more like
the brainy newspaper women who real
y NAASAr anu II So Atlfu the role WOulQ
have served its purpose in the play bet
ter than the clustering actually that
marred the scenes in which she ap-
peared. AS a whole, the farce does
credit to a remarkably able author and
actor. Incidentally he plays three
parts, accomplishing some fine charac
terizatiOn in each during the evening.
There's a suggestion OF faint in e.; but
it seeps up mildly, ard Is neither in
sisted upon. nor does 1t become obtru-
sive. And does the world violently pro-
test against faint wherever and when
ever It appears in sight2 In European
society, and IN the society Of this
country. the consciousness OF this faint
lends ZesU to the solving OF the prob
lens. Why should the farce be denied
its sOupCOn OF taint2 Farcical writing
is eXaggerating humanity's foib!es and
weaknesses And, in fihe, we forget the
daring quality of Mr.. Ditrichste;n' s
latest farce because we are carrio-l
along with its fine art and its kindly,
humOr.