The Washington herald., 1910-02-08
THE COLUMBIA.
Henrietta Crosman in "sham."

Henrietta CrOsman In "Sham'
Henrietta Crosman. In her successful
comedy. SHAM" the joint work OF
Geraldine Bonner and Elmer Harris. ap-
peared at the Columbia Theater last
night. and the indications. as adduced
from the attendance and manifested en-
joyment, are that the play will be quite as
popular here. upon its second appearance.
as it has been heretofore in New York
and upon the road. 1t is vehicle emil
nently suited TO this accomplished actress.
who unquestionabIy bears off the laurels
of serious comedy work from all present
OF like caliber upon the American stage.
and by serious comedy we mean the true
comedy. the legitimate method OF teach
| ing lesson or pointing a moral by
means of the frailties and frivolities OF
| human nature.
| This play is an expose Of the evils aTis-
/ ing from the manner of living INDUCED in
| by a large contingent of the sO-called
upper classes. who feel called upon, by
reason of family pride or traditions. TO
| keep up appearances after the resources
have been exhausted by years OF indul-
gence and luxury. when every artifice
! conceivable 10 the mind is invoked for the
purpose Of deluding friends and cheating
trade people, in order TO live, or seem 10
live, In the style fitting ones pedigree.
/ The authors choose for their heroine one
of this contingent, a young woman, born
OF spendthrift parents. left without means
and reared by relatives deeply imbued
with the spirit of Sham"
Naturally. she falls into the same cur
rent. and only awakens 10 her true
womanly nature when love comes from
one-or, rather. two-honest men, and
she realizes the despicable character of
the life which she has allowed 70 grow
upon her. She determines to begin anew.
pay off her debts by selling her famous
necklace of pearls, an heirloom Of the
family, and is shocked 10 find that that.
too, is a SHAM" artificial gems having
been substituted for the real ones by her
impecunious father. Her aunts. how
ever, come to the rescue Of the family
honor buy the pearls. the debts are
paid, and she goes off to Idaho with the
accepted man. The story is full of In
terest. the episodes are cleverly strung
together. and the lines are brilliant with
wit. making altogether a most agreeable
comedy.
Miss CrOssman Is at her best as Kath-
crime Van Ripper. the chief figure in thC
play. imparting that delightful sugges
ton Of Celtic piquancy which has marked
/. all Of her successful representations. and
which always makes the wit seem nat
uraL Her emotional powers are also 81
the highest order, and always used witt
discretion. She gives charming delinea
ton, comparable in every respect witt
her Rosalind. Mistress Nell, and Kitty
Bellairs-
The supporting company is all tina
could be asked for, with Albert Brown
in the highly sympathetic role of J. Mon
tague Buck attracting, perhaps, tn
greatest interest. which statement, how
ever, IS intended TO be entirely withou
disparagement TO Paul Dickey. as Ton
VIccars: Marguerite st. John. as Mrs
Fordyce Brown; Emma Butler, as Mrs
AIerrington; Charles Walcott, as Jane.
Fordyce Brown; Inez Plummer, as MAUD
Buck; Gertrude Clemens, as Rosey; Au
gusta Scott, as Miss Leroy; Frank Jami
. Ison, as jeremiah Buck and Henry Berg
: man, as Jacques d'Eauville, the last men
toned being an especially notable piece o
character work.