The Washington herald., 1909-07-06
THE COLUMBIA.
"Tbe Man from Mexico

Farce IS the prevailing spirit at the
Columbia this week. with the Columbia
Players appearing in du Souchet's clever
comedy. The Man from Mexico" with
the full force Of the company in evidence
and with two large holiday audiences
present yesterday
The play IS one Of those farces IN
which an extraordinary complication OF
episodes IS depended upon for comedy ef-
feet. aided BY the talents OF the company
IN exploiting certain eccentricities OF
character. Ren Fitzhew. a gay young
husband. assumes 10 be virtuous, and at
tempts 20 deceive his wife as 10 mis-
Whereabouts on certain evenings spent
away from home. but she has her sus-
plciOns, and goes 20 a certain resort IN
order 10 catch him. but she is unsuccess-
fuL he having left just previously. and
she, being caught IN a raid by the police
about this time. Is placed In a somewhat
stultihed position herself although she
succeeds IN concealing her identity The
husband goes 20 another risque place. en-
cages in a brawl. is arrested. sentenced
70 thirty days at Blaclcwells Island. and
Is allowed 70 so 20 his home on parole.
IN custody or a deputy sheriff. presum-
ably 10 TX Up his affairs, which
doing. Ike many others IN the play.
gave evidence OF remarkably len
iercy on the part q the authorities.
In order 10 invoke the influence of the
district attorney. he breaks the engage
ment OF his sisJer-in-law with an estima-
bic young man IN order that he might
encourage the attentions OF the district
attorneys nephew. breaks Up the party
n honor OF the engagement. and gives
as an excuse for his enforced absence a
trip 70 Mexico 10 last for thirty days.
The remainder OF the story Is taken up
with his dolngs at the island and return
az the expiration OF hts sentence. tle
majority OF which are attempts 10 pre-
vent the truth being known 70 his wife.
The whole thing Is very amusing. with
many aCutely humorous. though, os
course, absurd situations. The moral or
the comedy. II there IS any. we suppose
must be found IN the presence OF the
ixer." the friend who Is always going
70 settle every complication right away.
but who usually succeeds IN making mat
ters much worse.
Orme Caldara. as Fitzhew. is again the
center OF attraction. He gets about
everything out OF the role that there is
IN IL in the way OF comedy. which re-
quires continuous work. for the character
is on the stage about all the time and
everything revolves around Il In fact
this man and his doings are about all
there is 10 the thing. 1t showing every
evidence Of having been built for some
luminous comedy star 20 shine in. and
Mr.. Caldara IS fully equal 70 the Occa-
sion, nor can II be said that there is any
reflected light. He would probably do
just as well If the comedy had never been
played before.
Miss Julia Dean Is very engaging as
the wife while Mr.. Laurence Eyre comes
decidedly 70 the front this week as
Majors, "the fxer" Mr.. Everett But
terheld gives Us an inpersonation Of an
eccentric German. Schmidt; James W
Shaw gives a good sketch as Louis. q
convict. and all OF the other members OF
the company appear IN well-suited roles.
Including Alexander Frank, Charles Lane,
Thomas Chatterton. Alexander Calvert.
F. Cecu Lewis. J. c. Moore, Ethel
Wright. Ruth Blake, and Clara Sidney.