The Washington herald., 1908-06-23
AT LOCAL PLAYHOUSES

BelascO-"The Freedom of Suzanne"
By far the best and most pretentious
comedy that Miss Charlotte Walker has
put on during her stock season she pre-
sented last night In 'The Freedom OF SUI
same" which was written by Cosmo
Gordon Lennox for the use Of his wife
Marie Tempest, and which made a great
hit in London, but in this country has
not so far. been seen outside OF New
York
/ The comedy is clever one; its central
character, Susanne Trevor, young wom-
an impatient with the conventions of life.
and though she is happily married. she
rather likes the attentions Of other men
/ quite harmlessly-and is a bit too anxious
to see some Of the Bohemian side Of life.
/ When the play opens she Is missing
from her home. though it is past mid
night. and her husband and hts mother,
the family, solicitor. and others are
gathered in conclave to discuss her. When
she does come in, IL is 70 narrate a series
OF startling adventures. not the least of
which Is having been driven about the
streets in hanson with a rather notable
roue. who has tried 10 kiss her. She is
| scolded, Of course. and she insists on a
divorce, and her exasperated husband
! agrees TO get II for her.
In the second act she has been free a
Fyear, free 20 wear what dresses she
chooses, go where she likes. do what she
likes But men Of various s5rts are an
noying her; they are not particular about
wounding her feelings or insulting her. and
II is rather a relief when she meets her
ex-husband. whom she finds. now that
she has had chance TO compare him. to
be not bad sort at all. In the third act
she comes back 10 him, TO his fat in
London. and everything ends happily, as
II should
The part OF Susanne Trevor offers op-
portunities that Miss Charlotte Walker
is wonderfully capable OF making the
most Of. II calls for clever acting: for
the stimulation Of coyness. of reckless
ness. Of coquetry. and underneath II all
there must be that substratum OF good
that there is no mistaking To those who
| have seen the wide range Of characters
that Miss Walker has taken. ii will be
obvious that IN a part calling for these
requirements she would be thoroughly at
home. Through all her waywardness, she
held the sympathy OF the audience, and
he- comedy throughout was delightful.
In the last act. especially where she
takes off her supposedly, wet stocking
while her husband chafes warmth back
into her pretty pink toes, the scene was
admirably played.
Miss Walker. being her own manager
this week. through the detection Of Mr..
Page has augmented her company and
she is surrounded By clever people. Miss
Alice Butler shows her versatility by
playing capitally two such Numerically
opposed parts as Lady Charlotte Trevor
and afterward Mrs Putnam. a smut
faced charwoman, the characters IN
each case being Clean-cut and clever. Mr..
CASTOR was applaude6 for his clever
work as Lord Datchett, and Mr.. Ellis. as
Capt. Edward Cecil, and Mr.. Kellard. as
Tommy Keston, two other OF Suzanne's
admirers. were well done. In the first act.
Mr. Ellis also played an excellent chaTac-
ter part. that OF Fitzrow Harding.
The leading part IS played by Mr..
Sidney Mather, a conscientious and
earnest actor. who gave an impressive