The Washington herald., 1909-03-23
THE NATIONAL.
John Drew.

The annual engagement OF JOhu Drew
began At the National Theater last night,
ana his new comedy. Jack Straw" by
w. Somerset Vaughan, made a most
agreeable impression Mr. Vaughan who
seems 10 have succeeded TO the mantle Of
Carton, Jones. and Crundy, and some
other Of the formerly prolific writer's OF
polite English comedies. has realized 10 a
nicely the requirements Of this particular
brand Of play. OF course. Jack Straw
viii not measure up 10 the best Of the
clever and epigrammatic society come
dies. for which the English stage is
noted, but it adds sufficient note OF the
broader elements of farce 10 the better
class Of comedy 10 make an appeal 10
all classes.
The Archduke Of Pomerania. fond OF
adventure, and a waHderer about the
world. finds himself, through force OF
circumstances. filling the position OF
waiter at the Hotel Babylon. in London.
Here he meets an old friend named Hol-
land, who, unaware OF the archduze's s
real identity, has known him under the
name Of Jack Straw. Holland and his
friend. Lady Wanley, are taking tea TO-
gether. and become unwitting witnesses
to the snubbing Of Mrs. Abbott. the wife
OF an inoffensive curate. by an atrocious
snob and nouveau richie. Mrs. Parker
Jennings. who. accompanied by her hus-
| band and son and daughter. are also in
the tea room. To pay Mrs. Parker Jen-
nings for her snobbery, and also for her
Inbred treatment Of himself. Jack Straw
/ agrees 70 Lady Wanleys suggestion that
he pass himself OF on the Parker Jen-
/ ningses as a person OF title.
He stipulates. however. that his as
sUmed title shall be the Archduke OF
Pommerania- The only member OF the
Park Jennings tribe who Is nos a snob is
Ethel the daugEter, with whom the arch
duke promptly fails In love
Jack Straw is carried away by his new
friends and established as house guest
AT their place in the country Here the
Parker Jenningses give a grand fete IN
his honor. Holland and Lady Waniey.
however become nervous and entreat
/ Jack Straw 10 go away before he Is
discovered. since the Pommeranian Am
/ bassador is one Of the invited guests. AS
| Jack Straw is enjoying himself and the
/ Joke immensely. and is particularly in
! terested In the daughter Of the house. he
fatty refuses to leave and Mrs. Parker
Jennings IS told that her supposed arch
duke Is only a waiter from the Grand
Babylon Hotel Her wrath knows no
bounds, and though she threatens Jack
Straw with the police he still refuses 20
| bulge. The Parker Jenningses realize that
their safest course lies IN bluffing the
matter through. although their suffer
/ incs under the cool nOnchalance OF the
/ impostor as ne orders them and their
/ servants about in his character as scion
Of royalty. are intense.
When the joke has gone Tar enough
and the ambassador arrives 20 welcome
/ the archduke with open arms and apprise
him Of the emperor's permission 10 marry
I Miss Parker Jennings. the horrled Mrs
( Parker jennings falls IN a sCbbing heap
on a sofa. eXcIaiming. And 20 think OF
/ the things I called himt' But she rallies
sufficiently 10 state as the curtain fails,
Z You can't deceive a mother. knew
/ he was the archGuke all the time
II IS always q pleasure % watch John
/ Drew act. He IS thoroughly al home IN
whatever situation he finds himself and
/ the reason IS that he IS perfectly natural
and distinctly himself al all times.
/ Therein lies apparently the secret OF his
! success. He acts. walks. and talks eN-
actly as a gentleman would, and it costs
him no effort 20 do so No other light
comedian s. so fascinating. so apt az
! turning a humorous line. or so thoroughly
/ v-AU able 10 convey the full meaning
across the footlights. He establishes al
! once an Intimacy between himself and
his audience that IS maintained 20 the
end OF the play. The character Of JACK
straw Sc as characteristic as though
written for Mr.. Drew-certatn Il IS that
/ he gets a wonderful amount out OF the
role
/ Rose COghlan was warmly welcomed
\ She has not visited Washington for a long
/ time. and while so unpleasant part as
[ Mrs. Parker Jennings seems at first q
/ be out OF her line. she soon shows that
she has made a deep study OF the charac-
/ ter.
/ There are probably Mrs Parker Jen-
! ningses IN the world, and perhaps we
/ need not 20 so far as London society u
find them. But Of all the characters ir
/ the pIav this one stands out clear and
distinct. and TO this result Miss COghiar
/ has contributed quite as much as Mr.
! Vaughan. who perhaps drew her from
I lie
/ Edgar l. Davenport as Holland. and
I Frank Goldsmith as Lord SerlO. were
/ best among the men. but in fact the
/ whole company Is a good one. Miss Mary
Boland, as Ethel. was charming and jUs'
such a wholesome-loOking English gir
as an archduke or any one else might
1 love. The discOrdant note was that she
I should be a member OF such a family as
the Parker Jenningses. Adelaide Prince
/ always a delightful actress, was the LADY
! Wanelyl
] The audience was a large and distin
1 guished one. quite the usual welcome
which Washington theater-goers Siv'
/ John Drew. WILLIAM OSBORN.