The Washington herald., 1908-03-15
"Girls." /"

a distinct and happy addition 10 the
laugh-provoking plays Of the American
stage is Mr.. Clyde Fitch's latest sue
cess. Girls" which was produced for
the first time at the Belasco Theater last
week. 1t is by way OF being one of the
cleverest Of all the plays he has writ
ten, and Girls" makes his fifty-first at
tempt. 1t contains satire. genuine hu-
NOR. novelty of situation. directness OF
plot brilliance OF dialogue. and clever
Characterization. and altogether it is a
play that appeals 10 an American au-
dience with great force and spirit
We say American audience because
much OF the humor of the play is dis
tinctly American; its slang and its situ-
ations would be impossible in any coun-
try but our own. Heartily enjoyed as
Girls" was by large audiences during the
week. there We're some critics from other
countries-members Of various European
legations-who saw Girls" and nearly
with one accord they said that they did
not like IL; could not see why there was
so much laughter and applause
But 20 American audiences. here is a
play that is sure to make a large appeal.
The bachelor maid is with us-she is al
most an American institution. for it is
only in America that we spoil our women
50 much that they venture to set up A
realm for themselves. We like TO be as
sured-as Girls" assures us-that al
though our bachelor maids may try
hard. they cannot. after all. quite do
without US. That though they affect 10
despise US and 10 be strong enough not
to need either our protection or our SYM
pathy, they are really hoping a little bit
all the time that we will break through
the artificial barrier they have raised.
and, as the conquerors OF old did. Just
take them in spite OF themselves. Be
cause Mr.. Fitch's comedy reflects such
thoughts as these. its appeal is very
wide. Men like IT because II fatters
their vanity TO think that girls can't get
along without them. women like II be-
cause they recognize the truth that II is
no use in fghting-not against the men
but against the instinct and impulse born
in their own hearts. which makes mere
man part Of their very destinies.
1t must be said too that the success
Of Girls" so instant as II was IS due
IN no small degree to the excellence Of its
cast and the high quality of its PLAYING
Mr.. Charles Cherry. the leading man.
has most difficult part 10 PLAY. and
with anything less than that fine spirit
or goOd-felIowship IN which he plays #.
as II life was a huge joke and the pre-
tensions Of the bachelor maids a farce.
much Of what takes place would seem
improbable or at best would affect one
unpleasantly. Miss Laura Nelson Hall
too, is most excellent. and so iz Miss
Zelda Sears and Miss Ricard and Miss
Maycliffe and Mr.. Standing. II was a fine
quality Of team work that was called
for in this play. and the result was emil
nently satisfactory Miss Mayclife
young ingenue who has made something
OF hit in Girls because Of the ex-
cellence OF her part. seems a bit in
clined to let success run away with her
and 10 take undue advantage of her op-
portunities. She has not vet learned that
even II the situation on the stage gives
a player a chance to get an extra laugh
as. for instance. If Miss MayclifTe. as she
did once or twice last week. exaggerates
the situation OF the Charlotte Russe-she
must not hog" il. at the expense Of
the other players. That is not team
work and il hurts a play Her faults
are those Of youth and inexperience. and
she has a brilliant opportunity TO make
a fine name for herself with the fine start
she has