The Washington herald., 1909-07-20
LAST NIGHT AT
THE THEATERS
THE COLUMBIA.


Mr8. Temples ietcBram-'
Mrs. Temple was not at all trustful Of
her husband, and after he had stayed ouJ
all night. having been detained at the
I top Of the Ferris wheel at the Earl's Court
exhibition. in the company of his friends
wife. Mrs. Frank Fuller Mrs. Temple
was not content with the explanation that
Mr.. Temple gave. He said he had been
spending the night with his friend. John
i Brown. at elm street, Pickleton, and Mrs.
Temple sent a telegram TO John Brown,
Pickleton. for the purpose Of finding out
liz her husband was telling the truth
Mr.. Temple got his friend, Frank Fuller.
: 10 impesCnate John Brown, whom he be-
+ lieved TO be a fictitious parsonage. I'm
fortunately, there was a real John Brown,
and also a real Mrs John Brown, who
took a whirl in the affairs or Mr. and
Mrs. Temple.
/ Such a mixture Of three married cou-
/ pies. and such a continuity OF disconnect-
\ ed lies, form the basis OF a hilarious
/ farce which was enacted by the Columbia
Players last night under the skllful
guidance of Mr.. Frederick Thompson.
After the players set up. a little faster
pace, they Will get more out of Mrs.
| Temples Telegram" than they did last
night, but considering the fact OF its be-
\ ing first performance. they did very
well indeed. Farce comedy must be
snappily played. or II does not carry
across the footlights. At times the per-
I formance last night dragged, but for the
most part Il was fast enough. so that the
/ audience could assinilate II with ease.
There was a fine audience. for the turn
I in the temperature brought out every
] ~ oil 4
I trom 'front.' to rear.
I Mrs. Temples Telegram" enlists the
services Of a strong company. for every
/ role Is important. There are only nine,
I but these are splendidly played by the
cream OF the Columbia Players. Mr
Alexander Calvert is given a fine oppor-
tunity this week IN the part OF Jack
Temple, the husband who would rather
resort 20 subterfuge than tell his wife
tho truth, and Mr.. Caldara, as the friend
who assumes 10 be some one else IN order
TO help Temple out with his lies. made
as plausible a pair OF prevaricators as
farce comedy could reasonably hope to
claim. Everett Butterfeld, IN a part decid-
edly different from that OF the Imp. that
/ Of an assistant hairdresser. the real
Brown. was amusing in one scene. and
Mr.. Frank, as the talkative butler, and
Mr.. Eyre, as Capt Sharpe. rounded out a
quintet OF male characters IN whom no
I glaring faults could be pointed out The
general thOrOughness which marks a Co
/ lumbia first night was IN evidence for the
most part, and there was little OF no hesi-
tauon so far as lines or business were
! concerned.
Miss Ruth Blake as Mrs. Frank Fuller
appeared only twice. but she made an ex-
eelient impression as the lady who shared
Mr.. Temples night IN the Ferris wheel
Miss Dean was the suspicious Mrs.
Temple. and played up 70 tempo most Of
I the time The real scream" was Mrs
/ Sidney, who as Mrs. Brown drew a carl
cature which threw the audience into
cOnvulSions OF laughter. Miss Laura Oak
man made her debut with tho Play
ers as the ingenue. Dorothy. and
/ was sufficiently winsome to make
herself solid with these who are on the
outlook for favorites. She played BE
/ iieve Ne II All Those Endearing Young
/ Charms on the piano at the beginning
Of the third act m an effective semi
darkness
! The performance Is one that VIII attract
1 those who desire 10 see the Columbia
Players m their most frivolous mood.
l The comedy Is on a par with those which
the Players interpreted with so much vim
and intelligence. No stock company with
1 IN recollection has such a clear !uea OF
| the way IN which these brisky. sprightly
farces should be presented