New-York tribune., 1909-02-23
THE DRAMA
GRACE GEORGE At THE HACKErT.
"A Woma1's Way

The sportlve. piquant. Enschievous fabric of good
old theatrical tricks and sensible satire. called a
yyouan's Way" that was presented yesterday af-
ternocu the Hackett Theatre with Miss Grace
George as its central parsonage. kept large audi
c-ce IL condition % interest and merrirnent from
lie first word the last and. If auspicious
c-rior means anything. its successful continuance
ran De confidently expected. Il proclams Itself
be a comedy. but Il demonstrates title that
serious designation. Il is farce that hovers
the brink OF serious domestic drama. The basic
rostulate Of II Is distortion Of nature. made for
the purpose Of sustaining structure Of comic in
cIdents and the conduct Of - simple plot while
involving an occasional moment Of true feeling is
OPENLY fantastic The story presents a husband
and wife, Howard and Marion Stanton. members
Of wealthy. fashionable society as temporarily
traneed from another.-the husband having
taken fancy a gay widow and become. quite
supsrciaIy. weary Of the society OF the wife, who
nevertheless. continues love him. The gay widow
Ms. Elizabeth Bakemore. as by and by il appears,
has unknown TO Stanton. been implicated in hrta-
tlons with several men Of his circle. Mrs Stanton
invites Mrs. Blakemore 10 a dinner and assemblies
not only hey family relatives and those Of her hus
band, but the several who have at different
times been dangling after the widow, and adroitly
contrives sort of verbal duel with that charm
er and the eventual disillusonment OF her
husband. first by arousing his jealousy and then
fy exposing the fCkeness and triviality of his pu
tative idol The movement Is brisk. the persons
clearly Disseminated ana the COnoquy Is light
rapid. and sometimes pungent with tart. incisive
lines. The text would be improved by elimination
Of all anusion 10 God. and there Is a latent and
completely unnecessary element OF coarseness in the
storv-nanely. intimatiou Of intrigue with the
widov-which easily could be. and certainly should
be ex1irpated Miss Grace George. irlpersonating
the wife gave charming presentment Of gentle Yet
suirited woman hood. coutrlving, even in faTcicai
situations and in dialogues Of banter, To convey d
decisive inluressiCu Of sweet earnest, almost pas
stonate feeling The ease. huency. and sparkle OF
the performance, IN speech no less than acllon
were indeed. quite in the vein Of comedy SlsilIl-
ca1t facial expression and Geft use Of acute en-
,.sfs combined zy3th an arch 6eTleanor, not wholly
concea ling tenderness. still further commended this
hlithe achievement TO public sympathy IL was al-
,nirable and T. much admired MI FRANK
zS-,-+bine warmly welcomed and often heartily
,-1s,5p5 again manifested that innate refinement
- rarsonalitv and that artistic skin with winch ne
can make fiimsy and censurable character seem
radically innocent and strongly attractive
Taken seriously. Howard stanton would be con-
+e,pribla Irrpersonated aIniabe iarceur ana
made gracious with an ingenious sofJness ana a
f,uovant air. he becomes, in this rare coIleolai :
treatment Of him. plausible. attractive anu 1e
c{o77elv firoll Mr.. Workings appearance on lI-e
rocs1 e4a &c Is always auspcious lncloe1l lOI I
: ,,a Of rre most accomplished comedians OF oil
sre His art is that Of the imQersonatoI. anu, anu d"
- hest as he is easily in this play, ms io'i'i-
-, z-i+F character is perfect A look move
,nan+ a gesture, intonation are py Llii' MAJ
:. ,,-z,a-- 2 world Of meaning. very ull-
+or,I= mart that of Oliver Whitney an non"
as1 lover of Mrs Stanton, who IS, IN 4 c--li1SS
manner cal.sed 10 interiect real PASSION mo q
mes, Of farcical perplexity, was made 1c'-a'-.
,7a-,.ral and decidedly sympathetic by MI Leo'
warwick The all-fascinating widow 9lis' D---l> ~
- --,-osa c-,sracter Is so composite and dubi-
oBs found pleasing representative in Miss % Cofo-
-hv Tenran- who expressed coqnetry "I'i4oIl
coarseress and made capital fel 70 | tle genre
woman hood Of Miss George With hut hllle q@-i
,.-a-;cn "A Wonan's Way.''-Written by MI
Thop.rson E11chanan.-is good farce eNeeeairEly
,a11 acrsa. II gives pleasure and it deserves me
public regard
CAST OF "a wOMAN's Way
Frank WGTthing
TiegiIlat1 a
rel 7r7g
60 George
Alefiel ls.alLLs-- Ruth Benson
Power
SaIe livingston f-a--ins cr
ETre n= -
General 7,--,-5--
Oliver i
15ob Mary FerUier