The Washington times., 1910-03-29
Marital Happiness Theme of
New Comedy by Eng
liSh Playwright.
BRIGHT PORTRAYAL
BI MARIE TEMPEST
Comedienne Again Justifes De-
parture From Musical Comedy
Field-Support Acceptable.
BY J. R. RILDEBRAND.


The stage seems TO abound in good
advice for young married folk In this
season of 1910. 1t begins 10 look like a
willful usurpation of the rights Of the
French drama, which has been said to
Degin where American plays left Off
at marriage
But British and American pIaywriChts
have started out to throw some new light
on the subject. Their little problems
don't end in the divorce court or IN
suicide. Far from il. For instance.
there is a play at the National this
week called Penelope which might
Just as well have been named How to
Live Happily Forever After"
And this play is a sort Of COMPANION
piece 10 What Every Woman knows
and a Woman's Way" which Wash
lnston has heard about but hasn't seen.
W. Somerset Vaughan. who wrote
Penelope" didn't strike any new
truths. He elaborated the Emmanuel
matrimonial movement idea advanced
by J. NJ. Barrie and others. Its really
very simple The patient must have
infinite faith and be kept guessing. that
Is all The treatment is left largely to
wife-y.
Man Is Defined
Man. according 10 Mr.. Vaughan, Is
naturally polygamous animal-which
isn't an immoral remark At all. II is
only. another way Of stating Shake
speare's opinion. that woman is Of ir-
finite variety. Mr.. Vaughan thinks that
# she isn't she ought 70 ne It's
sort Of battle slogan ne sounds-now
IS the time for all good women to hus-
tle-Or something stirring like that
The little sermon was well preached
end COUChed in such bright lines. too
original To have been purloiued from
oscar Wilde It didn't. require much
Of plot. DR.. O'FarreU had been fed
for five years on strawberry-ice love.
which seems TO he the very acme Of
affection. and didn't have a taste of an
occasional dill pickle. So he planned a
little intrigue
Wife-y, that Is Penelope. took coun-
sci with an unnecessarily large number
Of relatives who came in and went out
hut didn't have much 10 do, and she
was advised to let hubby have his rein
until he tired Of #. She did
Hubby got long leaves Of absence bv
inventing a Mrs. Mack who was in a
preCariOus condition for nearly month
nd needed 10 be operated on weekly.
These operations and almost daily CON
sulations kept hubby out late nights
After the reconciliation the Other Wo-
man IS told by Penelope that Mrs.
Mack is dead There ensues one of
the most delicious scenes of the play.
Miss Tempest's Acting.
The matrimonial experiment couldn't
have been placed in better hands than
those Of Miss Marie Tempest. Her most
arden admirers must grant Miss Tenn
pest a repertoire Of little manuerisms
and they can't claim that she has a
voice that IS at all times pleasant. But
she had a great deal more excuse for
forsaking comic opera than several
stars one might mention if it wouldn't
be impolite.
She can't weep as effectively as Mar
Faret Anglin. but in her cheerful mo-
ments she proved the most delicious.
tantalizing. and buoyant creature to
quote some orchestra neiEhbOTs. that
Washington has seen for many q day.
Sne mas the aptitude OF a Comedicnne
for making a sly glance seem infinitely
funny ad bringing out the humor Of
every line
Mr. Vaughan, was told. dristed from
medical practice INTO the dramatic field
In Penelope he disclosed some Sc
CretS OF the earlier profession Physi-
clans who split hairs 10 the extent of
prescribing bread toasted on one side
only, with jelly on the untOasted side.
same in for gentle raillery as did pa-
5sS-s who wanted such advice The
2aTJ Of one patient. dissatisfied because
is ailment was not serious. was we'll
played by !. Sebastian Smith
The clever situations are made hv
ingenious juggling Of the lines rather
than by a logical working out Of the
plot, And though the play is highly
enjoyable, II isn't particularly well con
a la rg
duction OF a number Of lay figures
which, on the whole. We're well plaved.
Graham Browne was acceptable as the
husband