The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-12-13
THE BELAsCO.
.Drifting..


There was one Of the most brilliant au-
diences of the season last night at the
Belasco Theater. an audience OF the sort
that turns out TO grand opera. for it was
SO special an occasion that the first bal
cony was converted into q tier of boxes
where fashionable Washington was Oc-
commodated with seats
The occasion was the first performance
in ashington-practieally the first real
performance, though the premiere was in
New Haven-of a comedy in three acts
called Drifting" the work OF Mr. Pres
ton Gibson, young gentleman known in
society. to whom majority of the fash
i0nable audience was very friendly and
cordial and who rewarded the authors
efforts with liberal appreciation and APP
plause. At the end Of the second act. at
ter the players had been called upon 10
make their bows, the applause continued
until Mr.. Gibson appeared on the stage
and bowed his acknowledgements with
smile.
Much was expected of this three-act
comedy by Mr.. Gibsos, for it is the latest
work Of man who has written several
things for the stage. OF these, it is not
necessary to speak. perhaps, except to
say that they might have been expected
TO teach their author some of the princi-
pies of dramatic technique Of which
Drifting betrays so remarkable a pauc-
ity.
Many people win be interested IN the
story Of Drifting" It's scenes are all
laFH
Newport, r, I, Hitler Mr., Harrison
broker of sorts and some money. has
brought his young wife Also, as soon as
the play opens. ne brings on a visit his
friend, William Worthington, a rich cad.
whose reputation among women, in spite
of his reputed wealth, is such that it
is highly improbable that he could find
Judgment in any gentlemans house.
But already enscOnced in Mr.. Harrison's
house is Althea Anderson. who is in love
with Harrison and who is frank enough
TO confess in the hearing of the audience
that she has had disgraceful liaison
with WOrthington. II appears that Al
thea Anderson is sadly in debt, and her
money lender is bothering her In fact.
he calls upon her at the Newport villa,
securing his entree in spite Of the ser
wants. and lie threatens TO expose her.
But Althea manages 10 plaeate him-nay
she turns the trick that the old actor
of Richard Steele's day, Billy Barry
turned on the bailiffs who came to ar
rest him for debt she borrOws more
money from him. this time on the secur-
Hy-which seems good enough To this
money lender-that she will bring about
a divorce between Harrison and his bride,
and will marry Harrison and his money
herself
The next act jumps from July 20 Octo-
Der, in which time HOrtense Harrison
they all call her ''Tensy" in the play
has learned To smoke, 10 drink. to gam
BILE and 20 1irt; at least il il can be
called flirting TO sit on the veranda with
d man who is making love 10 you until
8 O'Clock in the morning. That night
tTensy' has lost SLIGO at roulette: her
account is overdrawn and she is afraid
To ask her husband for more, so Bill
Worthington offers her check for $500,
which, without too much demur. she ac-
cepts. Then Bill, when he has pressed
the check into her hand. wants to kiss
her. and just then Mr. Harrison comes
in, finds all about the check, and leaves
her.
IN the third act Althea persuades
"Tensy' that there is nothing left for
her 10 do but 90 so of to Europe with
Warrington while Harrison gets his d.
Vorce, Mrs. Harrison thinks that would
be best TOO, and so Bill Worthington
comes over in his motor to take her
away. But as they are carrying a suit
case. out together the husband comes in.
He explains that he has been walking
without his hat, and that the salt spray
on his forehead has cleared his brain:
and so he stops the clipping couple,
makes love 10 his wife all over again.
fOrgets the check and the kiss and Bill
Worthington. and the play ends with
husband and wife In each others arms.
10 be as happy as the previous circum-
stances with which the dramatist has
environed them would allow them to be.
OF course, the first thing that strikes
you IN such story is its utter and alb
surd unreality. These people of Mr. Glib
sons are not peOple-they are creatures
out OF society novel. Why, even Mr..
Gibson himself has recognized this. else
he would not abuse the credulity of his
audience by his APT alliteration's artful
aid" in naming his marionettes. Glance
down the list of his characters:
Thomas Thornton.
Althea Anderson.
Stanley Sylnington
H0rtense Harrison
Henp Harrison.
William WORTH gton
Sidney Skinner
isabel Icthot lUingtou
Dorothy Dickinson
John Jerome
Edward Ellsworth
Aictorine Nignauc
Every one of them dOuble-inffE led. e
If such "a coincidence as that were any
more possible than some of the extraordi-
nary things that happen in the drama.
Here and there throughout the pIay
there are moments Of humor. but this is
because one could hardly try a hundred
times 10 hit a mark and not come near
IL once in a while. The author Mr.. Glib
son, is strong on epigram. He evidently
believes. with Disraeli and Oscar Wilde.
that society people are known by the
epigrams they make. and so. without
rhyme or reason, through the dialogue
OF this play are scattered these supposed
tO-be epigrammatie witticisms The wit in
most of them consists in antithesis, as
II the author believed that a sentence