The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-11-02

r. Vi qultG do diiS all o
~ used to be, but still beautiful and
able to lend distinction to ex-
auisite clothes, Lillian Russell appeared
in the Newark Theatre last night in
me role of the widow In Edmund Days
comedy, THE Widows Might"
With a glorious costume for each act,
and there were four, Miss Russell was
thoroughly complaisant, giving a per-
Torrance hat was very pleasing, If not
impressive. Her support was excellent,
honors going to Susanna Westford. who
played Mrs. Henry William Puffer,
whose husband became suddenly rich
through speculation, with a whimsical
humor that was delicious. Perhaps 1t
is not generally known that Miss West
ford is a younger-quite some younger
sister of Miss Russell.
The plot is vague enough to do credit
TO a musical comedy. Mrs. Laura
Curtis Miss RusselD Is a widow whose
affairs are under the charge of Hher
anols, Silas Grierson. Uncle Silas has
speculated, not wisely but extensively,
with his fair niece's funds. Mortimer
Wall, a railroad magnate, very much
in love with the widow, discovers the
state of affairs and threatens to dis
close everything unless Uncle Silas
turns things owe to him, that they may
be Strengthened out. Uncle Silas goes
TO the widow and tells her of the state
OF affairs, describing Wall as the rea
culprit, and painting himself as n Of
Raphaels cherubs. Then the widow.
who has been in love with Wall I'M
la secretly decided to marry him, be-
gins to try to hate him. because Uncle
SIlas had told her that he had be-
trayed the trust reposed in him by her
dead husband.
Meanwhile Wall and his three chums,
all of whom were close friends of the
dead Billy, and present suitors for the
widows hand, are trying to invest what
little remains of her funds so as to
bring best results. Uncle Silas, for the
SAKE OF weet revenge. does his best to
thwart them. 1t looks as If he would
succeed, when the widow, h has been
In hiding in a brokers' office, hears
Hamilton Broad, one of her suitors,
accuse the uncle of the very things he
had blamed on Wall. She rushes forth,
places all of her funds at the disposal
Of his partner, Charles Hoffman, who
hurries down to the floor to buy. He
miraculously succeeds in bringing the
stock up from 22h to 100, and they are
all saved. The widow d%enounces her
uncle and finds herself in Walls arms,
as snug as a bug in a rug, while the
three other suitors In the background
gnash their teeth.
Through all this plot there is
sprinkled little bits of comedy that re-
lieve and make possible its dryness.
Richard Wall, a nephew of Mortimer
Wall, is in love With the widows young
saassr.-A4ter many attempts he sue
ceeds in announcing to the widow that
he Is In love and wants to wed. Before
he ar go further that designing
woman, to save herself from her quar-
tet of lovers, pretends to think he loves
her. and, to his horror, accepts him..
The terror and despair he vainly tries
to hide provide one of the best situa-
tions In the play.
It takes close attention to follow the
plot. The average audience will leave
THE Widows Might" with a pleasant
impression, however, of pretty scenes
and immaculate evening clothes, with
Lillian Russell coming down stairs and
going up, smiling prettily at entrances
and dimpling over her shoulders at ex-
its. And, after all, what more could
such an audience desire? 1t went to see
Lillian and II saw her, very much, hav-
ing been given plenty OF time to Inspect
her e~ver-radiant countenance and Won
der by what magic she keeps old Time
in the distance.
The roll of Mortimer Wall is credit
ably presented by Frederick T~ruesdell,
and young Dick, his nephew, is a low
able youth, as played by Joseph Tuohy.
The other suitors for the widows hand
are excellently played by Julius Nc
yiekar, Walter Hitchcock n Sydney
Booth.
BY ADELINE STANLEY CARRICK.