The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-10-11
NAUGHT BUT ECHO
OF FRENCH" LEFT
Girl in the Taxi" Thorough
ly Denatured Before Ar
rival in Capital.

Minus a taxi but with a glittering
and unexpected array Of clothes, THE
Girl in the raNi,' who made her debut
IN Chicago some time ago arrived IN
Washington. and last night was given
a warm reception al the National.
They were all there 70 greet her, that
IS the hrst mghters, for a business agent
had preceded hex and aIluring CO oOs-
tiers had given promise Of one OF our
spiciest little shows. Right down in
front seats We're at a premium. and an
IDEA Of I'm here to be shocked" per
yaded the house when the curtain went
up During the first interInission,
rather disappointed looking throng Of
smokers stood around out front. but by
the time the second act was OYER an i'm
prcVement was noted. ard the general
impression seemed to prevail that while
The Girl In the Taxi was not so fast
ai;er all. In fact almost proper, Il was
surprisingly interesting in a more Iegit-
innate sort OF way.
Truth to tell. the pruning process has
Deeh applied 70 the production, and
Whlle the basis of the plav has little 10
recommend. il being bIilded. like so
many "rench farces. on the idea that
lhhoeiity and married life are almost
SYNONYMOUS, only two or n rec really
oh-@olor lines remain and there are
many laughable situations ana much
genuine comedy.
Echo of Naughtiness.
Echoes Of naughtiness may stu be
heard. and the second act is suggestive
but il is hot obtrusively 50. The prin-
cipals are 2 middle aged banker. out
wardiy a respectable citizen. who occa-
sionallv feels the call OF the wild and
makes a night Of il, his wife. who be
heves him everything he should be-
their son. whom they both think stu an
innocent boy; their nephew. who has
throat trouble so badly twice a year
that he has 10 come TO New York for
treatment. his wife, a coloTless sort Of
individual without suspicion OF what this
treatment consists Of: the girl in the
taxi, who in private life. is the wife OF
a perfume manufactures, and a friend
Of the family who IS responsible for
most CT the trouble
The Iirst act shows The familiar noe
turnal getaway OF the male members Of
the household, after the wives are
peacefully slumberinS- Then comes the
scene IN the private dining room Of the
cafe Churchill. with a touch OF the bur
leSque. and the subsequent return home.
with exposures and recohciiaJions.
Inc complications that arise when
father, son, and nephew catch each
other with the goods" are genuinely
funny.
Made Good Impression.
Carter De Haven made a decidedly
good impression in the role OF BERTHE
Stewart. a mammals boy who doesn't
know how 10 be naughty. but who in
herits his fathers vagaBes and is more
than willing to learn. Handicapped by
an allowance Of s. a month. he raises
funds by pawning his fathers clothes.
and develops into a regular cut-up. In
the second act. he introduces a song
and dance that met with much ap-
proval.
As the friend OF the family, Dallas
WaIford, an old faVorite, makes good
IN his own peculiar way, not with what
he says, but by the way he saws it,
Frederic Bond. as the father. handles
the comedy IN his role very well, In
deed, and Jesse MilWaTd makes much
Of the role Of the wife and mother.
which in itself is very insipid. Charles
p. Morrison, as the perfume manufac-
turer and major. and Morgan Conan,
as the bankers nephew. add much 10
the fun. but both have a little tendency
10 oveTdo.
Laura Guerite. the girl IN the taxi,
Is vivaciOus and attractive. and wears
stunning clothes
While The meter in this particular taxi
does not record any breaking Of speed
limits, fast enough time is made, and
the farce is no disappointment, save TO
those who would not have Il verge on
the respectable