Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-08-10
A M U S E M E Mt S !.
Columbia.

Those who saw "Charleys Aunt at
the Columbia Theater last night simply
laughed until their sides ached and
those who will see 1t during the re-
mainder of the week will do likewise
They may not know why they laugh but
they will laugh just the same. AS Il
sure cure for the blues, for hot weather
for all 1.-The ills that flesh is heir to-
and other things besides. .'Charley's
Aunt "a roaring farce in three acts
was specially. designed by its author
Brandon Thomas. and never once from
the start to the finish did his hand slip
at his work. Before the week is half
over the Columbia Players, with Everett
Butterfieid In the lead will make a good
ly portion of the Washington playgoers
lose all thought of care for the time
being and revel in the delight of a good
wholesome laugh that will not easily
Subside. They will show that this tai
ented band of players knows pretty well
how to satisfactorily present anything in
the dramatic line worth presenting and
that those who find pleasure In the the
alter nave known what they were about
when even in the warmest weather they
have crowded the Columbia night after
night to see them
Charley's Aunt is not new play
Its mlrth-provoking qualities have long
been Known and appreciated. Its presen-
tation last night. barring little over
doing at times, was enjoyable and quite
up to the standard these players have es-
taplshed for themselves during this sum
mers season. Everett Butterfield of
course. in the title role as a not over
dlSnIned young man in the garb of an
elderly maiden lady whose chief worry
from start to finish is to find just where
she IS al added greatly to his reputation
as versatile and accomplished actor,
and easily claims first credit in a credit
able show
or the new members of the company all
ol mem rem valuable additions. it may be
SAID mat the honors were divided between
James A Bliss, a naturally comical and
always amusing comedian, in the part of
Stephen SpettiSue, and charming Edith
Luckett, as Ella Delehay, a role for which
sne is admirably suited and which she
played with exquisite taste. She received
handsome basket of flowers after the
second act. J. Malcolm Dunn and Robert
cam, as Jack Chesney and Charley Wyke-
ham, Oxford undergraduates, could not
nave been better. while Louise Reed, as
nifty Verdun, was charmingly delightful
Yet such is the spell the old favorites
nave woven around the Columbia patrons
they seemed to hold the chief interest of
the audience last night. Each of them
received hearty round of applause as
he or she appeared on the stage, Everett
Butterfield getting really an ovation
Ruth ID. Blake's fmpersonaton of Donna
Lucia d Alvadorez, Charley's real aunt
was distinctly excellent. Miss Blake has
handsome stage presence and she never
stunning gowns in which she CARRIED the
lady who came from Brazil where the
nuts come from Those who know her
capabilities feel that Miss Blake has not
yet had part commensurate with her
ability. but all seemed to feel she was a
distinct factor in the equation of
"Charley's Aunt" Alexander Frank also
gave a dignitied and satisfactory presenta-
ton of Sir Francis Chesney, while Ruth
Chatterton. like a delicate bit OF Dresden
china. made another conquest as Amy
Spettigue. Miss Chatterton is always
charmingly natural and acceptable. James
w. Shaw, as Brassett the college scout,
and A. III. Prichard, as the new footman,
were all that could be expected of them.
1t was a bit disappointing to those who
were more observant that the splendid
setting of the play did not receive the
recognition it deserved. The scene of the
second act especially. and that of the
third. deserved a hearty round of APP
plause as recognition of the splendid
work of Frederick A. Thompson, whose
stage direction during the summer season
has as distinctly marked him star in
his line as any work done in front of the
footlights.