The Washington times., 1909-03-16
Fluffy and Wayward Kitten
PuErs and Is Petted at
National.
MiSchief'S Name Is Billie
Burke, and Rug Is
Love Watches.

a little white kitten, fluffy and way
ward, purred and was petted at the
National Theater last night Mischief's
real name is Billie Burke and the rug
che plays upon is a French comedy by |
r. de Flers and G. Caillavet, which |
is called Love Watches" and was /
adapted by Gladys Unger. The pat |
tern Of the rug will not bear much |
analysis. But the kittie is so very |
pretty ard dainty and her pyHring is !
music so sweet and infectious that no
one thinks of anything else. So from |
every row Of folk at other times dig
rihed and serious there were upturned !
10 Miss Burke last night faces wreath |
ed in smiles
Love Watches" has had consider |
able vogue in Paris. That is easy to
understand. II, is near-faTce, the
course Of it's events is leisurely and
transparent, and there is so much dl-
alogue that one wonders how it came
across the ocean without excess charg- !
es. Our French critical contemporaries
would be seriously intent not 70 take
st seriously. But over here in America
we realize that il is only a playground
for a fondIing puss and with Miss
Burke to dart here and there or baSk
drowsily in the glow of love from the
whole household (and occasionally to
NEW and fuss and scratch, though ever
so lightly it is we who get most out
OF II.
No one ought to pay much atten-
ton 10 the play There are in il wood
carving types of the bookworm, the
able, the accomplished rake waiting To
4 n
widow. the sophisticated grandmother
the negligent guardian, and the ladies'
maid-fller-in. These all follow kitue
about, scampering after hyr when she
plays stroking her when she purrs,
wildly alarmed when she news, and
smiling delightedIy (even as you and
ID when she scratches. For the pur-
poses OF the drama it is given her TO
tell arflessIy of her love 10 captivate
the young scapegrace with her limo
cence, TO be jealous. and finally to pun
ish the poor bookworm at the very
moment the hapless oaf is fulfilling her
own Instructions.
Performance Well Rounded.
In all this Mr.. Frohman has seen to
it there should be nothing lacking. The
rake is smiling vanity and moderate
good looks personihed in the person of
Thomas Holding. Ernest Lawford really
impersonates the bOokworm, so that he
obtains momentary attention from the
audience. Dear old W. II. Crompton,
who has been acting old men since
most of us went TO our first matinee,
is the Able: he can well afford 70. be
satisfied with so complete an assump-
ton Of new character, but IL is hard
for US to be so when he is so little on
the stage. Maude Odell makes of her
self a drawing in the round of evanes-
cent widoEhood, rouged with sentiment
and self-Iove. And Kate Meek accom-
plishes thing always rare on our stage
and apparently growing rarer, which
is 10 say the impression Of elderly good
breeding. There are others. including
Louise Drew-they also serve.
II takes some resolution 10 turn away
from Miss Burke long enough TO OBJ
serve these things. For she alures the
most art-ridden among Us. All that she
WAS in My WIFE with John Drew
She is now In 81 owe Watches with
a year added. Her little head has a
new charm when the face Is in repOSe
and the same delightful crown Of rivu-
letted red hair All her gowns are
white-nOt pure. cold, stark white. but
now family cream ike an egg she'll
nov gray SO as TO make an appropriate
BACKGROUND out Of every piece OF
WedgewoOd furniture in her own deli
cate drawinE-rOom. nov silver, as a
sort Of Iargess for the penanCe she has
required Of her misunderstood sweet
heart.
AIlurement of Voice.
The voice has colored a little, per
haps. II is, at any rate. used with still
more effect than last year. And wher
In the very springtime Of her girlisF
happiness she seats herself at the piano
and sings a commonplace little love
song, We come fully to realize how large
a factor in allurement a throat may b'
If only IT is beautiful outside and in
side
what you have called personality act
ing - II is indeed. II is Miss Bill
Burke. not art The only art NANTES
is that which is revealed in instinct 70
appropriate gesture. with rise and IA
OF the voice, howeT-Hke fittings Of
nNeet and pure cOunteuance, and tn
wheedHng which has enabled her ser
TO drive logic ANONYMOUSLY from tn
neld
But which of us would cut open
lustrOus pearl 10 see II II was all com
pactP or tear apart the petals Of ia
anemOne2 what do YOU and 1 care G
what scientific family they belong
Let's be happy when we can IN tn
contemplation Of the sheer JOY Of
beautiful girlhOOd- We shall nnd theT
enough Of what the gentle Tennyso
was wont 20 call the moral shu
within the bosom OF the rose -Oni
this time it is shut within the bosom
Of a little white kitten
ALLEN u. ALBERT, JR.
rHTER ~ Az