Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-05
Columbia.

The resounding kiss, which re-echoed
through the theater announcing the
capitulation Of Miss Hobbs" for the
time being Julia Dean. to the romance
OF life and the right man, sent a thrill
through the audience at the Columbia
Iheater and started roar of applause
that seemed reluctant to die down. This
happened at both the afternoon and even
ing performances yesterday, when the
Columbia Players presented Jerome K.
Jeromes clever comedy based upon a
young woman's misconception of the
realities of life and her mistaken effort
to change things for the better
Miss Hobbs" is young woman who
has been imbued with anti-ma trimonial
ideas by an aunt who has had three hus-
bands and buried them all. She has a
very poor opinion of men, and her pecu-
liam ideas get to work in an effort to
rescue Beula. the young wife of Percival
kfngsearl, from a husband who loves
her. and Miss Millicent Farley. young
girl. from George Jessup. to whom she
is not only engaged. but deeply attached.
Her plot fails because she mistakes
Wolff Kingsearl for the wicked husband.
Wolff is a friend of Percival He has
been long abroad. is a man of the world
and the impression is given that he
knows how to WOO q woman. Miss Hobbs
coquettes with him. pretending she is a
maid servant, and invites him to call at
her home intending when he is in the
duce the young wife and thus expose the
husband. The denouement is very laugh
able and very disquieting to Miss Hobbs.
Wolff Kingsearl has really fallen in love
with her, though. and starts about his
way to win her. She has been described
to him as terrible sort Of woman
Percival wants to wager a dinner at
DelmOnico's that he cannot win q kiss
from: her in six months. Wolff at first
declines, but later, after he has seen the
attractive young woman, he makes the
wager and notes in his memorandum
book that he will kiss her in one month
or forfeit the dinner. Miss Hobbs sees
the book The kiss is the climax of the
last act and the play and tells how sue
cessful he was.
Julia Dean, aside from her own person.
atty and judging her purely by. her art
was very charming Miss Hobbs. She
played the part just as one would imagine
young woman of her Accomplishments
would act in real life under the circum-
stances. That 1t was eminently satisfac-
tory the applause Of the big audiences
told over and over again.
Paul McAllister, as Wolff Kinssearl.
easily shared the honors with Miss Dean.
He was natural and effective at all
stages OF the play, and altogether gave
one OF his most satisfactory performances
since he has been a member Of the COM
pany.
Emile Melville has deservedly won her
way into the hearts Of the Columbia
patrons. No matter in what part she is
cast. she seems to take it right over the
footlights to each individual in the audi
ence and make him or her thoroughly
sympathetic with her. Her role in Miss
Hobbs" is that of Aunt Susan, one of
those delightfully."- human old ladies who
knows the world and with all her heart
aims to keep it out of trouble. Miss
Melville shone in it as a bright particu-
lar star.
Everett Butterfield. the young husband,
and Florence Huntington. the young wife,
had but little to do. except to show how
billing and cooling could be successfully
carried on. though married. Miss Hunt
ington also rose equal to the occasion
when she realized Miss Hobbs mistake.
She was quite the real thing when she
flew to the defense of her husband as
we'll as when she explained to Miss
Hobbs how things had happened. Phyllis
Sherwood as Millicent Farley, made
very natural as we'll as very charming
young sweetheart for Frank Shannon, the
other two "victims' of Miss Hobbs mis-
taken theories. Walter Wilson, as cap
tain Of the yacht; Arthur Richie, as
Charles. the butler. and Pearl Havlin, as
the maid were fully adequate to the re-
quirements of the minor roles.