The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-11-22
THE COLUMBIA.
..The Fascinating widow"

ssTbe Fascinating Widow"
It was really a jolly sight TO see a
great big audience at the Columbia Thea
ter as there was last night to see 'The
Fascinating Widow" and it was all the
better that it was an enthusiastic audi
ence. highly pleased throughout with
what is probably one OF the greatest
novelties in tho way Of a play that has
been seen on the American stage for
years. For the star of the play is Julian
Eltinge, the most remarkable female I'M
personator Of his time II there was ever
one as good or as convincing In any
previous time. the annals Of the stage
do not record II.
Julian Eltinge has been known for some
little time as an extraordinary artist IN
his particular and unique specialty-not
Of initiating but OF really impersonat-
ing-various types or femininity. 1t is
said that he first discovered that he had
the faculty of doing this when taking
part in amateur theatricals IN his college
DAYS. but how or when ne discovered It
matters very little. since II is undoubted
to-day that there has never. until his time.
been real feminine impersonator. In
his vaudeville engagements he has been
seen as the bathing girl; as a modern
society woman he has been clad In elab-
crate evening gowns and has worn them
as well or better than most women could.
he has QUESTIONED Salome; he has por-
trayed dozen different types. And now
his great talent in this direction has been
taken advantage Of By Otto Hauerbaeh
10 build a play with this talent as its
chief asset, and the result is a comedy
rich In humorous situations, clever III
dialogue containing surprise after sur
prise, and always with Julian Eltinge as
ii central figure
Much of the time he Is the center of
a bevy OF preIeS girls-chorus girls
selected with more than the usual care
and yet, in every situation. in every cos
tme-and he wears several-he Outshines
them all. II is so amazing, this imper-
sonation, that many IN the audience echo
the note OF surprise uttered by one OF
The Fascinating Widows" friends:
well, say, IL an ordinary looking guy
like you can make as peaehy a girl as
that, what in the deuce 90 all the real
girls We know look like?'
ing how much paint. powder, false hair.
and a good corsetiere is responsible for
modern beauty,
A clever story has been written 10 fit
Julian EtInge's talent In 1.-THE Fascinating
Widow" It's scene is a coed college,
with Hall Blake (A1r. Eitinge) in love
with Margaret Lefingwel the daughter
of the matron OF the girls dormitory.
Hal has a reputation Of being rather fast,
and Mrs. Leffingwell wants her daughter
10 marry Oswald Wentworth, a sOphO-
more. but Hal Blake punches Oswald in
the nose, and to escape arrest has TO fly,
Still. he does not want 10 leave the field
with Margaret Lefingwell clear to his
rival, so he comes back 10 the college as
the fascinating widow.
II is easy to see the complications that
ensue. The disguise Is so perfect that It
deceives every one; even for a time Halls
friends who are in the plot. and who
speedily become jealous when their own
sweethearts Cuddle up and caTess the
fascinating widow" Everybody makes
love TO her. The widow puts on her most
raVishing gOWns-and they are all beau
Ties that delight the hearts OF the ladies
in the aGdIence-and ono after another
the men propose 10 her. Mrs. Lefingwell
makes Margaret agree to marry Oswald.
and 10 prevent it HAL as the widow,
makes love 70 Oswald himself and wins
him away from his own sweetheart.
The final scene shows the widow as
bride ready 10 marry Osald. but at the
last minute the widow manages 10 get
word with Margaret and asks her II she
would marry Hal Blake II he were to
come In now.
You bet I would" she says,
Snatching OF his womans wig with a
laugh, the widow rushes from the stage,
yelling.
Just wait TIL I get a pair of pants!"
Ia three minutes he is back. clad IN
evening clothes; Margaret is the bride,
and all is happy as a wedding bell.
Incidental 10 this main story on The
Fascinating Widow there is a lot of
delightful comedy that gives the other
members Of the cast good opportunities.
There is Eddie CARVE as the college
trainer, who does some good work
Charles ". Butler, an excellent come
dian who adds a lot 10 the fun; Neil
Mcneil, a new sort Of comedy detee-
tive and several others. Carrie Perkins
gets some good fun, especially IN the
second act. out Of a spiked punch
howl, and Ruth Mayclihe, as Margaret
Leffingweli. is very charming.
Incidentally. there is some music IN
1.-THE Fascinating Widow" written by
Karl Hoschna 1t really does mot help
the piece much except In the last act
and in the songs sung by Julian Eltinge.
His song with the bathing girls in the
drst act was a big hit. as was his with
Downcast Eyes" the bridal song. sung
with a bevy of eight stunningly gowned
bridesmaids. Eddie Garvie is a joke
when ne tries 10 sing a song like "Cllng-
ing Vine" in the first act. but it Is
not the sort OF Joke that helps the show
along.
II would be a mistake to regard The
Fascinating Widow seriously. II is
meant for fun; its basic idea is fun,
and all the producers have TO do TO make
this one OF the big successes Of the sea-
son Is 70 make the show as funny as
they can. AS 1t IS now, II Is a bully
good entertainment, but with a very
little touching up II can be made twice
as good But after all, the whole thing
centers in the star. and IL the work OF
Mr.. Julian Eltinge that win carry the
piece into high popular favor.
HECTOR FULLER.
THE CASINO.