The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-04-19
LAST NIGHT AT LOCAL PLAYHOUSES
THE COLUMBIA.
Mask and Wig Club.

The coming OF The Mask and Wig
Club" is a pronounced social as well as
dramatic event. and last night the society
OF the Capital turned out in force, crowd
ing the Columbia with an audience IN
usual in brilliancy OF personnel, receiving
with unbounded enthusiasm the presenta-
ton by the club of The Desert OF Ma
homet," it's last vehicle by Howard X.
Mohr
The play has plot enough to hold things
together. something of a rivalry for the
possession Of a brick bearing a cuneiform
Inscription OF great scientific value. said
brick being found IN some ruins in the
Arabian desert. and said rivalry being
between a young graduate of the Uni
versity Of Pennsylvania and a Teutonic
and somewhat foxy professor Of that uni
versity. but the strength of the enter
tainment lies in the cleverness Of trav-
esty. the brilliance OF color. and the great
dancing Of the boys. the last being. as
usual. che distinct feature OF the evening.
The stimulation OF the opposite sex by a
contingent of the boys also created the
accustomed diversion. some by faithful
ness Of imitation in facial makeup dress,
and movement. and some by palpable
absurdity. In its entirety, the show is
one Of the best that the organization has
presented In recent years. and compares
more than favorably with the current
vehicles now in use on the professional
stage. both as regards the amusement
afforded and the manner IN which the
production Is staged and carried for
ward
The entertaining character OF the fea-
lures used is Of such even callber as 10
warrant the assertion that all are clever,
with nothing distinctive OF an individual
nature. The Belle and the BilIiken" IS
Ia fine travestry on current craze. while
In Vaudeville" is as equally effective
along the same lire. Others scoring sig
.nally are Bachelors Lead a Jolly Life"
What Is a Degree" Life OF a Dlplo-
mat" Foolish Prattle." and a long list
of others. All were presented with a
wealth of respondent colors. making
stage pictures Of unusual brilliancy and
almost every one was accentuatcd by
those dancing accomplishments which
have made the performances Of the Mask
and Wig famous,
1t Is the ensemble work OF the club
that produces the greatest effect, al
though the individual efforts OF the cast
fit in tremendously, including particularly
Z. II. Rogers. as Henry Hilton: G. L.
Carey, as Jerry Judson. J. II McFad-
den, jr, as Count Paul de Ia Castaigne.
O. 3. hiesewetter. as Prof. Donnewetter:
Roland Turner. as Sallm: y. H. Smith, as
Hiram Biddicomb, W. d. Selby. as Mrs
Biddicomb. r. c. Schmidt as Lucille
and F. D. JeH, jr., as Huda. The must
cal programme was skillfully conducted
by Richard Schmidt, and the cast IN full
follows:
Henry Hilton. Penrsylvaria. CO. a Young million
aire with a hobby ..............E II ROGERS u L
Jerry JudSon. Pennsylvania. %. Hilton's chum-
q. L. Carey. Is g.
Count Paul de Ia Castaigne former sChoolmate Of
Hitou's az Geneva. n. McFaddcn. IT.. 10 @.
DR.. Diederich DoUnerwetter. of the school Of
Archaeology. University al Pennsylvauia.
o. r. Kiosewetter 10 c.
SeIim. Bedouin chief Roland Toner, II q.
Eastus, negro butler. 18Th g. Mccall I3 G.
Hiram Biddicomb L. 5. consul az Onaninorle.
n, Smith. II @.
Nfrs. BHdicOmb. D. shelly % c.
Mamie, daughter Of the Biddicombs renfant ter
--..-.-....---... Harrison Townsend IT, y @.
Lucille youns divorce sister Of Hilton.
Hilda Dr. Dounerwcttcr's niece F. u. ZeIl r. - q.
Chorus. Bcdouius Arab girls gas widows tour
lists. funkics, chefs French maids &c.
THE SCENES.
Act I-Ex'erior Of ruined temple at an oasis in
the Arabian Desert.
Act 1.-The garden terrace Of the L. S. consulate
al OmauinoFle
Time-The summer q Iona