Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-19
New National.

There are times In this workaday
| world when one doesn't want to work.
or to walk, or even to think, but just
to be amused without much physical or
mental effort; when simple love tale
| is preferable to an elaborate drama, and
| pretty girl saying bright things and
doing lots of nonsensical ones fills the
bill better than the most important per-
| sonage on earth. If one be in such a
Mrs Dot" as an entertainment of de-
lightful quality. The play is a pretty
love story charmingly told. There is
nothing heavy, nothing of the mysteri-
Gus, nothing of the underworld about
| IT. 1t is along the line of the stories
that w. Somerset Vaughan has put in
his plays recently presented in this city
Mrs. Dot is rich and, it must be ad-
mitted. a very attractive young widow
She is in love with Gerald Halstane. a
young scion of British aristocracy, who
Is in love with her. but broken in for
tune and engaged to another girl, who
| loves another young man, Mrs. Dots
cousin and secretary. At the psychologi-
cal moment, when Gerald, with the moth
| er's full approval, is about to release
his f1ancee from the engagement, comes
the announcement that his relative is
dead and he has succeeded to title and
great fortune.
This puts new aspect on the situation
oA0 LILO AiCtHCI iLuuleuldESlv makes the
most of 1t. The engagement Is not
broken. Then begins the plot. and it is
| the plot of the charming Mrs Dot to
marry the other girl off to her cousin
and to marry Gerald herself This she
| finally succeeds in doing without at any
| time arousing suspicion as to her artful-
ness except with her co-conspirators.
her aunt, Miss Eliza MacGregor. and
James Blankensop, a friend of both her
self and Gerald's, a cynical. rich. blase
mt lar vR-lSn
| matrimony than suicide. Mrs. Dot sue
| ceeds in her scheme by inviting all per-
sons concerned to a house party at her
| country home. and playing one against
the other, while at the same time pre-
| tending to be in love with Mr. Blanken-
| sop One of the 1aughabIe situations of
| the play arises when Blankensop pre-
tends to, he actually in love with the
young widow and makes love to her In
the most desperate fashion, much to her
| amaHement, because 1t isn't part of her
| plan. She retaliates a little later by pre-
tending to be moved by his alteration
and accepting his offer of marriage
There are many bright things in the
play, and Miss Burke's portrayal Of her
part added volumes to the reason why
she IL a thorough fAvorite with the many
| who go to see her whenever she appears
quite regardless of the play she may
present. Fred Kerr as Blankensop was
all he could be expected to be. Basi
Hallam, as Freddie Perkins. Mrs. Dots
cousin and secretary, who was put for
ward to catch the other girl and get he,
out Of the way, doubtless fulfilled the
authors conception of the part. Kate
| Meek made very natural and accept
| able maiden aunt to the young widow
and Julian L Estrange played the role OF
Gerald Halstane. the widows lover. The
| remainder of the cast evenly balanced
the whole, and assisted in making the
play thoroughly enjoyable to largs
| audience, of which the President and
Mrs. Taft were not the least enthusiastic
and appreciative.