The Washington times., 1908-09-08
Forceful Play at the Belasco With Blanche Bates
And Nanncte Consock RleaSes in Ne20 Drama
Jet" Given Successful Pre-
miere at Columbia
Theater.
Promising Actress Surprises
Friends by Cleverness
of Her Work.

xV TTTH the premiere presentation
M of Jet" a four-act comedy
v v drama by Louise Lowell, AT
the Columbia Theater last
evening. a new star was added 10 the
theatrical drmament in the person Of
Miss Nannette Comstock. Whatever
niay he said Tor or against the play III
which she appears, there IS no gainsay-
inE that her Interpretation OF the title
T5le IS above criticism. Miss Comstock
Is no stranger 10 Washington theater-
goers. having appeared here on several
previous occasions in support Of other
stars. and the wonder is that she was
not discovered before.
The vehicle in which tie new star aD-
pears is q pretty little romance dramH,
with its locale IN rural Texas district
one OF its strongest features is that rhl
characters are all 50 human, and auotn-
er is the eventual success OF the villain,
II DR.. Sam can be called such. Tins
latter feature is somewhat al a novelty
ia LlayWriting, and rather pleasing
OQe. even though II jars tne sensiDlhties
of those who adhere 10 the time houOred
biOt or the complete triumph OF the
hero and utter rUut Of the villain. IT
doesn't always happen 50 IN real lie.
Therefore when play can mold up the
i
UTai moods, and at the same time pre-
sent 4 series Of pictures aud incidents
mat hold the interest il should be ac-
corded a place higher than the drama
whose plot Is fascinating but impossible
A Play TO Amuse.
In writing Jet Mss Lowell has not
given the world another Music Mas
ter" nor another "Witching Hour" IL
is not q play that viii make the auditor
study; its purpose is rather 20 amuse,
and that il acc0mphshes this end was
well attested al the opening presenta-
! tiOn last evening. Like nearly ali new
plays. jet" has pumber OF rough
edges that will have % be worn down
| The framework Of the play is excellent,
and the dialogue abounds in bright lines.
| As these. with a good supporting COM
I pany. are the chief requisites for sue
cessful theatrical produc ion, It IS not
J beyond the bounds of reason 20 eXpecL
| that Jet" Will prove a success.
| As is the case in nearly all nrst pro
| auctions, one OF the chief faults 10 be
I found with Miss Lovers play Is liis
! tendency OF the first and second acLs "
| drag The plot is TOO long unfolding IT.
| self and the audience Is left somewhat
| beWildeTed at the end OF the nrst act
I wondering what lt was an dDDLt-
| The third act. with its tense scenes
{ z II
his persisIency IN wanting her 10 -
away with nin until such a time as he
| Woui4 be able TO marry hef ana -el
! Remuneration Oh her love because or the
insult is by far The best OF the four.
I The Interest. which has been thorough
lv aroused in this third acE IS con
tiuued and upheld through the fourth
ard last act until the end. In this
/ act there ~ a reforIna ton or the FliIlaI'
and MS forgiveness by All concerned.
/ Tef cans me climax by marrying hint
I W hich is contrary to all rules OF novel
! istic ard melcdramalc WflJng. Dul,
/ nevertheless, quite refreshing
Miss Comstock's Work.
/ Miss Comstock's Interpretation OF the
/ simple Texas girl is a delight She dem
Z onstrates her versatility with the l:ghl
| comedy OF the first and second G@ts
/ and the very emotional acting In the
! third She is an actress Of great per
sOnal magnetism and II Is PLAINLY "a
| be seen that she eLerts II over lel
] sIpp0rfing company as well as the aud
ienCe She has q speaking voice OF raEe
I quality and 10 goes long ways To-
/ ward making her what she is-a star
An agreeable surprise IN the preSeu-
. fafiOu of Jet is the clever work done
( bv Miss Edith Luckett, sister OF
the former manager Of the Columbia
{ theater. She has q rather lnc0nSpicu-
gus part as Lone Star, a hOydenlsI
} girl i'm knee dresses, but she makes
! the most of IL ana impresses her audi
! ence with the fact that she is capable
/ OF much better things The character
/ OF Jim is portrayed most c0nvinclngly
by Fred A. Sullivan. A trip through
. the rural districts Of Texas viii reveal
many such characters as that pic
tured by Mr.. Sullivan.
/ Another pleasing character portraya
! was tina, OF ". T. Clarke as the major
. and Miss Marie Haynes as Aunt Clem
! They are responsible for most or the
! comedy, and while il follows the old rll
! OF the widow and OLD bachelor, the lines
/ are clever, and the impersOnatOrs carr
unstinted approval by infusing mucI
life into their scenes. The Eph OF Fred
W. Strong and the Miss Watkins OF
/ Miss I.esbi9 Grealis are quite satsfaC
/ tory. The role Of Doctor sam is in the
bands of Thomas Meighan. The play 1:
-eelI staged J. r. z.