The Washington herald., 1909-02-16
LAST NIGHT AT THE
LOCAL PLAYHOUSES
THE NATIONAL.
.sThe Richest Girl. .

Ihe Richest GIRL
That charmiagly quaint personality,
Marie Doro. now IN her second season
as FTohman star. captIvated a large
audience at the National Theater last
evening In her new comedy. The Rich
est Girl" adapted from the French Of
Gavauit and Morton.
The Richest Girl" IS a clean. whole
some comedy, which has entertained crit
ical American folk, and yet It Is French.
Il goes TO show that the Gallo tendency.
by perseverance, may be overcome IN
time. and the inimitable French genius
for comedy situations be productive OF
something worth while
Benjamine Nonnler-not Menier-daugh-
ter Of the chocolate king. touring In her
motor car. unaccompanIed save by her
chauffeur. finds herself at Il O'Clock at
night ten miles from q railroad with a
ruined tire and 10 alternative 20 spend
ing the night under the roof OF q bach
elOr. Paul NOTmand- NOrmand's friend.
Felix Tarride. an artist. recognizes in
the advent Of the richest girl In France
into the life OF Paul, who Is only a clerk
n the department OF agriculture, the
means Of escape from q humdrum exist
ence. Felix sees that still one more tire
Punctured Is exploded. thus forcing the
girls acquaintance on Paul Paul. how
ever, is engaged. through no fault OF his
own, TO the daughter OF his chief. and
resents the intrusion. Meeting his III
humor at every turn with perpetual teas
ing, frOHcking. and flirting Beniamine
manages 10 lose for Paul his fiaucee,
his position, and his temper
Becoming that most uncomfortable Of
mortals. wooed man, he flies, after tell
ing Benjamine a few plain truths about
rich. idle folk who damage the lives. pros
poets. and happiness OF honest, hard
working individuals. BenJamine, made
thus acquainted with her own iniquities
decides TO take the veil, and becomes
Sister Beniamine. preparatory TO retire
ment 70 a convent Felix. however. treats
her seriousness as another OF her mad
cap pranks. and brings the lovers in
genioUsly together.
Excellent acting marked the perform
ance OF The Richest Girl. from the star
clear through 10 the members OF the cast
with but one or Two lines 10 speak II
there Is anything wrong with the comedy
itself Il IS the tendency 20 slow down. as
Il were. Beginning az top speed. develop
ing one faTCiCal situation after another. It
Is inevitable shat the seriousness brought
out at the end must seem a contrast 20
the swiftest Of action at the start. but
the lines throughout fairly scintHlate with
brightness and fun. and the situations
present the rare combination Of comlcality
and plaUsibility.
Mss D0rO. as Benjamine. has the best
part in which We have had the oppor-
tunity 70 see her. For three acts she Is
merry, 6eliciously tantalizing. and
roguish- Presto, she becomes serious. and
while We know that Benjamine's studied
sobriety IS put on like a glove. YET Miss
DOrO's serious moments are Thoroughly
convincing. and, Ike poor, harried Paul
we fan easy victims 20 her wiIes. Many
curtain calls followed every act. which
Miss DoTO acknowledged BY shyly peep
ing through the doorways.
Orrin Johnson. as Paul. carries grace
fully one Of the most difficult male roles
imaginable. His representations. always
cieaT-cut. are virile. and go thoroughly
into the depths Of the character. Fred
Eric as Felix. was natural in MS role
as the OverzealOus booster Of the reti
cent Paul Louis Massen- Frank Bur
beck, Elsa Maxwell. Desmond Kelley.
and Annie Meredith al contributed 10
the worth OF cast whose acting strength
was extremely high.