The Washington herald., 1908-02-11

slightly thrilling, and rather exhilarating
racing comedy is "Wildire.' in which,
under the management OF Mr., Joseph
Brooks, TIE perennial and beautiful Lii
han Russell appeared at the New Ma
tional Theater last night. The play is by
| George Broadhurst and George V. Hobart,
! is most cleverly constructed, without be-
ing too pretentious or burdensome in the
matter of plot; has clever eharacteriza-
tion and dialogue which is unusually
witty and smart; situations that are cleY-
/ erly conceived and adroitly worked out,
and, altogether, while "Wildfire" viii
never set the world on hre it is a pleas
urable. Clean-cut entertainment proyoca-
tive Of applause and laughter and good
/ feeling
The story Of the play centers around
Mrs Darlington "A charming widow
whose husband owned racing stable,
and who. on his demise. left her little
else. For obvious reasons the lady does
not care 90 have the fact known that she
is the owner of running horses advertised
TO the world. SO she calls her stable
the Duffy stable, and leaves IL practically
/ In charge Of her trainer. Matt Donovan
Her nearest neighbor is a DR. Wood
hurst, who is conducting a campaign
against racing. and much of the comedy
comes from his efforts TO enlist his fair
neighbor in his crusade
There is also serio-comedy element
in the fact that DR. Woodhurst's son.
who IS engaged to Mrs. Barrington's sis
ter. is, or has been. a follower Of the
races, and is IN such straits that he de-
pends entirely on the efforts of Mrs. Bar
Fingtons best horse, Wildhre. 10 win
the Ocean Stakes and get him out of
trouble The fact that two decent chaps,
John Garrison, a lover Of horses, and
Fred Sauderson, an automobile enthu-
siast. are rivals for the hand of Mrs. Bar
ringtou lends serious interest 10 the com
edy. and contrast 10 the humor of the
piece is furnished by one John Duffy. who
takes advantage OF his reputed connec-
tion with the Duffy stable 10 try and
throw the race and ruin Garrison. That
be does not succeed Is due entirely 20
the efforts Of Mrs. Darlington, who. In
scene that is fairly thrilling and ex-
citing, al the end OF the second act,
manages TO fool him. mixes up the sig
nails. and wins the race for her fayor4e
horse
There are many side issues. and some
OF the comedy is rather dragged in by
the heels. but it Is there nevertheless,
and for the most part. is so good that
it is its own Justification.
The play has been rather clcYcriy fit
ted one might imagine. 10 the abilities
and the limitations OF Miss Lillian Rus
sell. She. for her part is one Of the
wonders of the age, Il is not good form,
perhaps. to discuss the years Of lady,
even if she is the star Of comedy, but
Who's Who?' tells US that she was born
I'm 1861; popular tradition would place her
birth further back than that, but even
il the printed book is right and Miss
Russell Is in very truth only forty-seven,
it must be said that she doesn't look IL,
She Is not a great actress-she. herself,
would be the first perhaps, TO laugh at
any such claim; but she is beautiful
woman, with "a charm OF manner and, as
the Irish would say. "a way wild her. So
that the graces she has quite override
any minor deficiencies In the matter Of
dramatic technique, though. as Matt
Donovan would say shes no slouch "a
that. either Much of the dialogue Miss
Russell has as Mrs. Darlington Is of that
worldly cynical sort which she can de-
liver most effectively. and because it is
she who Itters it, il takes on additional
force and quality Certainly some OF her
on
than any other actress could have evoked
with the same material Take that scrap
of dialogue;
Before marriage every girl has an ideal-aftsr
marriage n'Y deal
'-But suupue she never knew me bftters'
Don't uGuy; she viii-after She msHies yuu.'
AS Miss Russell spoke it, it sounded like
cryptic wisdom.
The supporting company is an excellent
one. Last night-although the audience
did not know it-Mr. Howard Gould play
ed the leading part of John Garrison tor
the first time. His predecessor, Mr.. Boyd
Putnam, was taken IN. and Mr. Gould
was called In at the eleventh hour 10
take his place. He had never seen the
play vet last night he was letter perfect.
and gave an excellent rendition of a role
that is by no means easy. The other
parts were all we'll done Gilbert Douglas
gave a clever impersonation OF the inn
possible "giddy-ass' sort of an English
man. who is the butt Of everybody, and
Norman Tharp. as Ralph WOOdhurst.
gave a conscientious and pleasing per
formance
The comedy hit Of the piece was made
by Herbert CortheH as Matt Donovan,
the trainer; a character part that, al
though it was strikingly clever in an
original sort Of way vet reminded one of
the work Of Victor Moore. whose work in
a similar line has recently won him fame
Mr. CoTthell. in his good work here.
shows himself to he a very clever artist
who earns his laughs legitimately and
who deserved every bit of the applause
he won last night. Another very clever
comedy character was that of the young
ster, Bud, admirably played by VIII
Archie. His every appearance on the
stage was the signal for roar of laugh
ter.
Taking it all i'm all, 'Wildfre" is a very
pleasant and agreeable comedy. a fine
entertainment II wins lots OF good
clean. and wholesome laughter, and well
deserves the success It has won. That it
was greatly enjoyed by the audience last
night was amply testified to by the gen
erous applause, and at the end of the
second act Miss Russell was called upon
for a speech. which she delivered in her
usual graceful and perfectly poised way
HECTOR FULLER.
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