The Washington herald., 1909-02-14
THIS WEEKS PLAYBILLs


One who Stimulates or affects a certain
character" Is probably the most fitting,
though simple. dictionary definition Of a
sham.
Sham" IS the title OF new comedy
in three acts By Geraldine Bonner and
Elmer Harris. and VIII be given its pre-
mere by HenEietta Crosman. the popular
and weli-known comedienne. at the Co
Iumbia Theater tomorrow night.
Miss Crosman has not appeared IN
Washington since her production OF The
Christian Pilgrim and while sham
differs theatrically. materially. and in
every other way from EARLIER Offer
ing. the announcement ae VIII re-
turn IN a comedy win r- Ot be vel
coined by theater-goers.
Katherine Van Ripper IS the character
Miss Crosman VIII create. and, It is re-
ported, the nom du theatre IS obviously
apparent TO those who are II the know
concerning the sudden marriage recently
of certain wen-known New York So
eiety woman
The action OF the play occurs in New
York, though Tor that matter it might be
located anywhere. 50 lar as social condi-
tons are concerned. Katherine Van
RiDer's father squandered two fortunes
before he died, and left bis daughter a
very small income, together with all OF
his extravagant ideas. Katherine was
brought up by her aunts TO expect life
Of luxury and 70 marry the first man
with money who asked her She came
very near il once OF twice. but season
after season went by, and Katherine re-
mained single
In the meantime she had 70 I've: so
she became a sham. II was the only
thing she could do. She had 10 have
new gowns. and. being a well-known
woman, she got them on credit and failed
TO pay for them She had 20 eat. and so
the butcher and the baker, too were her
victims. Everybody who came IN con-
tact with her had 10 contribute some
thing. and she was clever enough 10 make
them think she was doing them a favor
by accepting And stin there was not
one vicious thought In Katherine Van
Riper: she simply did not think
Then one day there came into Kath-
crimes lie two men. One was young and
rich Of course. her family wanted her
20 marry him, 50 they would get her Of
told Katherine she ought to marry him.
But there was the image Of another man
in her heart, and she began 10 see what
a sham she was. This other man. whose
image was in her heart, did not know
that Katherine was a sham. but ne knew
there were such persons in the world. and
Katherine one day found out his opinion
OF ShaIns Ike herself This other man
was not rich nor was he poor-he was
simply not a good catch.
Then Katherine thought this man
found out that she was sham and went
away and left her; but really he left be-
cause her aunts told him she was going
to marry the mau with money.
When she thought she had lost the
man she loved. Katherine resolved 20
become the kind OF woman he would want
her 10 be SO she decided 10 sell her
necklace. that had been her mothers. 10
pay her debts. Then she found that her
father had sold the real pearls. years
before, and had substituted paste so that
even the necklace was sham
However. Katherine did find way 70
pay her debts and she married.
Besides an unusually elaborate scenic
production, which has been enhanced by
lavish settings Of Sheraton furniture. old
prints, some Cnderdunk landscs-s-x and
Baptioni figures. Manager Maurice Camp
bell has provided for Miss Crosman the
best supporting company she has ever
headed The most prominent PLAYERS are
Charles Walcott. Margaret St. John. Ida
Waterman. Paul Dickey. Edward Du-
rand. Amelia MaybuTn. Homer Niles.
Louise BTuneile. and Frank Jamis0n.