Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-06

'Con & Co.. with its first production
on the American stage. proved a most
suspicious opening OF the season at the
Belasco Theater yesterday. A large audi
ence, which came" with Missouri stti-
tudes, saw what was called a cheeky
comedy" from the French. and were
conquered by It's ever hilarious fun. 1t
proved the jolliest kind of a farce. and.
although adapted from the French.
wholesome withal.
The play hinges around the nephew Of
a United States senator. who. on an al
lowance of S. a week. hires miles of taxi
cabs. buys tons of American beauty
roses and whole rows of stalls at the
opera. and saves up money to start
housekeeping in a four-story stone front
that has an automobile waiting In front.
The senator's nephew, Cornelius Pink
ney, jr., is the Con" and his partner.
Hobson the Co" Of the firm OF Con &
Co." How they accumulate that which is
exchangeable for flowers and taxi rides
affords many OF the laughs OF the even
ing.
The first act brings in the big COM
plication that gives the farce it's plot
the discovery by Herr Won Scheffel that
one of Cons" guests has Won Schef-
fers wife's picture in his pocketbook.
Con- agrees for q compensation, which
BELTS his name. to get the guest, Hon.
Frederick Balchester. and Frau Won
SCneHGl out Oh the lTOuDfeS Drought OH Dy
the discovery of the photograph He pro-
nounces the picture that of Lottie Pom
pom, an actress. The plot thickens when
the irate husband insists on seeing the
woman who bears such a striking like
ness to his wife and boils. without any
preliminary simmering. when the wife
attempts the role Of the imaginary
actress and tries to convince him she is
not his wife. One Of the most amusing
scenes OF the play is that In which Herr
Cchoffol co1lS nv hic q he
pseudo-actress' apartment and hears his
wife's voice over the telephone in which
she is talking In an adjoining room of
the same apartment.
The action of the play is swift. There
is no slow moving UP to- humorous
situation. The humorous complications
come thick and fast. without warning or
awkwardness. In adapting IL from the
French Of Nancy. Gavault and Armont.
Oliver Herford has Americanized II so
that the humor appeals to an American
audience.
The play. too. has been placed In ex-
cellent hands. Some Of the funniest
situations migH have been spoiled by
a single slip OF q word or a seconds
delay in action. But the members of
Henry w. Savage's company proved to
| be hard workers. with a heart in their
| work. and for a first performance last
Maude Odell. as Sally Won Scheffel. had
| the big feminine role, and her viva
ciousness and charms were bright fea-
lures of the evening. She shared hon
ors with Nelly Roland. who as Lulu
was delightful In difficult role: with
Grace FRANKLIN, who was good as the
flirting Mrs. Hopper. and with Susette
Gordon, who was satisfactory in the
simple role of Lima.
William Burgess as the Go" captured
premier masculine honors He bobbed
up serenely as police officer. valet, fire.
man and mother" and he touched the
risibilitfes at each appearance. Harry
stone made an excellently droll Con.
and will improve as he more fully re-
Allies the possibilities of his part.
Much depended upon Ben Hendricks as
Herr Won Scheffel, and he proved equal
| to the demands. In the part of Sem
ator Pinkney Tom H. Walsh was good.
and Gilbert Douglas made much out of
a role that had little satisfactory dia-
logue for Il.