The Washington herald., 1910-10-09
THE WEEKS PLAYBILLS.
CoIumhIa-"The GirI in Waiting.o

Columbia-"The Girl in Waiting"
At the Columbia Theater tomorrow
night Cohan and Harris will offer their
newest star Laurette Taylor, In a farcieal
comedy. by j. Hartley Manners, The
Girl in Waiting" The play had its pre-
miere in Philadelphia last spring. and it
was Miss Taylor's wonderful success in
the title role that advanced her to star
dom. This year Miss Taylor opened her
season in Chicago. where the general
verdict was that the young star fully
deserved her promotion, that she is one
of the most fascinating women on the
stage, and that the play. company. and
production were all that any audience
might thoroughly enjoy. Though this
will be the first appearance here OF
Laurette Taylor as a full-fedged star IT
was in Washington that this brilliant
young actress was first pronounced 20
be one of the coming luminaries of the
stage. and playgoers Of this city will
doubtless be pleased 10 see their judg-
ment approved of in such a thorough
and unqualified manner. II was IN Alias
Jimmy Valentine" that Miss Taylor
brought New York to her feet last sea-
son. and her engagement as a star by
Cohan and Harris followed the offers OF
many prominent producers 10 elevate her
TO this position.
J. Hartley Manners, who has written
a number Of successful plays in recent
years. has furnished the young and
dainty star with a comedy worthy of her
skin. The curtain of The Girl in Wait
ins" rises on a rainy night in a fashion
ale London residence district Sir
Joshua Turner and his young daughter
HauTette Taylor are returning home
from a reception, and discover that they
have forgotten the key 10 their door
The footman is sent back to recover IT,
while the pair seek shelter on a neigh
bor's doorstep. where the father. having
dlned very well. falls into a gentle doze.
The sight Of a well-dreSsed man and a
pretty girl in evening attire sitting on
a doorstep In the rain at o'clock In the
morning arouses the curiosity Of George
Hcmmings. a young man who Is passing
His inquiry as TO their plight is resent
ed by the girl. and the young man. act
ing on the impression that they are oc-
cunying their own premises, proposes to
break a window and open the door for
them. In a spirit of mischief. and to
punish him for his boldness. the young
woman permits him to carry out his
plan. In the meantime the servant re-
turns with their key. the father and
daughter seek their own home, while
their would-be benefactor. stumbling over
some furniture in the strange house,
arouses the police and is led to the lock-
up This amusing episode of the first
act starts a chain Of very amusing situ-
atoms. Young Hemmings, being the
nephew of a cabinet minister. his release
is easily obtained, while Scotland Yard
detective. who is called in on the case.
that he has been made the vie
tim Of a gang or clever thieves who had
tried 20 gain access TO the house When
the girl discovers the identity of the young
man Of her midnight adventure and
learns of his suspicious, she plans to
teach him a healthful lesson. When
they meet again 1t is in a tea shop, KEEP;
by the girls aunt, in a London suburb.
where she assumes the guise OF a maid
in waiting The play moves with light
ming rapidity. the characters are cleverly
cOntrasted. the dialogue is crisp and