The Washington times., 1908-03-17
"THE TRAVELLING SALESMAN"
MAKES PLEASING IMPREssIo.


Washington put the stamp Of ap-
proVal on The Travelling Salesman. +"
James Forbes new four-act comedy.
which was giver rIs premiere last night
al the Columbia Theater.
In The Travelling Salesman" Henry
3. Harris presents Thomas W. Ross
In the title role. and he. as well as the
pay scored. Mr.. Ross. however. Is
MT the only star in the cast. for Miss
Marion Kerby, Arthur Shaw, Perclval
I. Moore. and n. d. Blaeknsore shared
honors with him. AS a matter Of fact,
Mr.. Forbes has .Ecceeded ia distrfbut-
ing the lines and situations so that
nearly every member Of the company
appears 70 advantage on one OF more
occasions during the action OF the play.
Dir. Harris has added 10 the enjoyment
Of the comedy by surrounding Mr.. Ross
with capable company.
As Ia The Chorus I.ady." the play
wright has shown an Adesque power
In character delineation. For his
scene he has taken a small rail-
road junction village and almost
the whole OF the first act Is given over
20 introducing the natives and thus
showing the conditions that surrounded
Beth Elliott, who Is the telegraph oper-
ator and station agent. Near the end
OF the act. the hero. Bob Blake, ap-
pears. Mr.. Forbes has drawn the pic
ture OF the drummer" with great hdeI-
ity.
In the second act three more drum
mere" are NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Shaw as
Ted Watts. Ernest Lamson as John
Kimoall. and Nicholas Durham as Ben
CObb-and these are as true 20 the
genus as Bob Blake. They are gath
cred in BIalze's sample room on Christ
mas Day and spend the time with story
telIlng, tOasts, singing, and poker play
ing. The picture is so realistic that no
one who knows anything Of the knights
Of the sample case can fail 70 be i'm
pressed The ST. &c setting is ideal.
II Is IN this act that the plot develops
PeFciVal 7. Moore as F'ranklyn Royce
special representative OF Martin
DFury IN Questionable deals, becomes
intoxicated and in a maudIin way boasts
o. plan 10 buy some worthless land
owned BY Beth Elliott at a tax sale for
mere matter OF 500 The railroad
Royce with liquor until he Is helpless
and then approprtates Royce's own
sleigh 10 go TO the sale himself.
The next act IS in Rovce's Office the
following day. Drury is there and with
Royce,s conHiyance they get Beth Ell
lott there; convince her that Blake is
trying 70 rob her and get her promise
TO take advantage Of q legal technicality
% redeem the land with their money
and then sell 70 them for $500 IN the
last act Blake succeeds IN explaining
matters fully and as the law does not
allow q wife 20 execute q deed and Il
IS the only truthful way SC- OF the d.
JENNA. the play closes with Blake at
the telephone telling the clerk to send
up a minister and two witnesses right
away"
From beginning TO end the lines are
scintillating and the situations are
keen The ClimaXes are well arranged
and she interest IN the pot which Is
well connected and unfo,ds gradually,
never waivers. AS in his ether success.
Mr.. Forbes did not forget 10 put in a
heavy sprinkling OF melOdrama- This
happens in the third act but II is ali
IN talk. OF course. there are plenty
of rough edges to the play, but these
viii be gradually remedied.