The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-11
MISS TAYLORLAUGHS.
AND AUDIENCE DITTO
Newest and Youngest Star
ScatterS Sunshine at the
Columbia.
"GIRL IN WAITING"
is FARCE COMEDY
And Would Be Scream With Few
Slight Alterations-Cast
Is Good.

The newset star, and the youngest
star-obiections fled by Elsie Ferguson,
Elsie Janis. ct al, duly noted and over
ruled-twinkled for the first time in
Washington at the Columbia Theater
last evening.
Miss Laurette Taylor is no Halley's
comet. She isn't likely 10 blaze down
Broadway 10 the extinction of such es-
tablished luminaTies as Mrs. Leslie Car
ter or Mrs. Fiske. But unless some OF
us who saw her in The Girl in Wait
ing are much mistaken. she is des-
tined TO shine brightly and steadily. And
she will be not the least luminous in the
constellation where she properly belongs
among Miss Billie Burke. Miss Bertha
GaIIand. and Miss Marie Doro.
Miss Taylor has a laugh. It is her
chief claim to distinction this week. II
ranges all the way from q musical CUR
gle to a merry ha! ma. The star had a
chance to give each member of the cast
the latter variety before the curtain tell.
The play is written that way. And be-
tween these two extremes there are
dozens of variations. II the audience
didn't laugh at hsr it would be disposed
TO laugh with her.
y
in Washington. Miss Taylor became
something Of q favorite here when she
played with the Belasco Stock Com
pany two seasons ago. She was seen
in the same play which introduced her
10 stardom last night. Then il was
known as Miss BTOWn-BuTglaT."
Considerable change has been made
since then. and the author, j. Hartley
Manners. isn't satisfied with it yet. ON
close analysis, perhaps the audience
wouldn't have been, either But there
was so much that was enjoyable that
few palpable defects in construction
were overlooked and surprising patience
shown at some wordy passages.
Needs a Copy Reader.
All that The Girl in waiting needs
IS good copy-reader. CBrief note Of
eXplanation-A copy reader is the man
on newspaper who cuts out about
half the words a reporter writes. so
that the public can understand what Is
meant) 4 bit OF blue-penciling in the
first act would not be amlss.
The play opens with an effective
rain scene on a doorstep in fashion
able quarter Of London The weather
isn't favorable for explanations, so a
scene follows in which the author
gathers up lost threads. II the explain
ing were done more Skilifully, the
interest need not lag during this pc
riOd.
The denouemeUt is also unsatisfactory.
IT the numerous taugleS could be
Etraightened out once FOR all the mem
berS OF the cast, instead Of having
repetition for the burglar hero, the audi
ence would be sent home earlier and
happier. II this consolation comes about
A suggeStiOn-let Miss Taylor do the ex-
pAininZ- That was one OF the prettiest
bits OF her performance
Miss Taylor had the title role, and
that of George Hemmings. who was
made thief unawares, was taken by
n II. Van Buren, His chief claim to
consideration was the intermittent
declaration Il Love You in deep gut
tural tones. The rest Of the cast made
the most OF some splendid opportunities
for character work.
Has a Novel Role.
Percy Ames Was assigned a rather
immoral role of kleptomaniac. whose
theft Of his mothers tiara, which he
sold for $500. was naturally excused
when fond parent learned that the tiara
was paste and worth not nearly that
much.
A Scotland Yard detective was well
played by +. II. Kelly. and Wallace
Erskine furnished considerable amuse-
inent as Joshua Turner, VI. p
The Girl in Waiting" is labeled a
comedy; II is a farce, and ii would be a
scream with the alterations suggested
1t should afford Miss Taylor a durable
setting in her new found stardom.
Just one question Why doesn't such
- excellent and experienced stage
manager as Fred Berger give
the visiting director a few sug-
gestions as 10 Shifting scenery in
quicker time? There was too much in
PERMISSION at the Columbia both this
week and last. J. r. HILDEBRAND.