The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-06
NEWS OF THE WEEK
IN THE MIMIC WORLD

to Nellie sellinger, daughter of Lady
Sellinger
But a trifle such as this does not deter
the ingenius Mrs. Dot from carrying out
her plans. She resolves to eliminate Nell
lie Sellinger. But how? Why, by marry
ing her to another fellow, of course. Mrs.
Dots nephew, Freddie Perkins. is Sc
lected as the matrimonial sacrifice and in
order TO accomplish her plans she in
vites all parties concerned to her villa on
the Thames. With the aid of a cynical
bachelor Mr.. Beekinsop, who provided
more amusement than all the other men,
bers of the company put together, she
succeeds in carrying out her scheme and
marrying the elusive Mr.. Halstane
But more must be said of Mr.. Blekinsop.
This role was played by Fred Kerr, who
really deserves the laurel wreath in this
production. Although his lines are I'M
doubtedly the best, his success is not due
to this TACT alone He eakes advantage
of every opportunity and supplants wild
amusement with genuine entertainment.
Aitss Burke, however, proves a misfit.
Although possessed of extraordinary his
tiionic ability and rare personal charm,
the part emphasized too clearly her lin
itations.
The other members of the company are
fairly good. Julian lEstrange makes q
handsome Gerald Halstane, although the
role is rather a dull one. Basil Hallen. as
Freddie Perkins. has made a decided hit
by interspersing his lines with a silly
donkey laugh, which invariably evokes
laughter
Maxine Elliott displayed something be-
sides her beauty and one white linen suit
n Has. ,,I, 81
which opened recently at Days theatre,
and that was her rare ability as a
comedienne. Not in years has Miss Ell
lott been seen in so charming a role
The play is the work of Frank Stayton.
an English playwright, and although it
is brin1ful of absurdities, 1t contains a
large amount of clever dialog, and at least
can be said to be amusing.
The theme Of the play is a threadbare
one having for its principle that impos-
sible character, the woman hater" and
the inevitable and beautiful young her.
oine, who not only oYercomes his pref
udiee against her, but makes him her
abject slave for life But the manner
in which this subject is treated is unique
and entertaining
Charles Winsow is the awful woman
hater.' He sets sail on his private
yacht seeking seclusion in order that
he may devote his time to writing a
book denouncing the daughters of Eve.
But he is hardly out of sight of land
when he runs across a row boat being
tossed about on the waves, containing
the senseless form of Eve Addison, who
had lost her way while rowing and had
been drifting for 35 hours.
OF course he takes her on board which
results in his being compelled to sleep
70 his oilslSn, while his fair charge oc-
cupies the only stateroom. He acts in as
bearlsh a manner possible under the
circumstances, which SO exasperates Eve
that she incites the crew to mutiny in
order that she may be put ashore.
But the sailors take her seriously, with
the result that she and Winslow are COM
PEELED to 'barricade themselves in the
cabin and use their revolvers. They use
them to good effect, too, and the rautiny
is finally quelled. but not until Winslow
has received a bullet in the leg.
Then it falls upon Eve to take charge
of the boat and look after her wounded
,rescuer and so slSiilfully does she do 1t
that Winslows idea OF the inferior sex
is so completely changed that he hobbies
around the deck in obedience to her COM
mands.
But people can't live in a yacht all the
time so when a steamer comes in sight
taken aboard, but not until she has given
her convert her London address.
Miss Elliott, of course, played the
charming Eve Addison and was the only
woman In the play. Arthur Byron, as
Charles Window made the best of q
rather stupid part, which improved TO-
ward the end. c. b. Clarence, as Bon
nett the butler, was exceptionally funny
and Mr. Tamamoto made an excellent
Chinese cook.
Spiritualsm is the theme of Cora May
nard's new play, The Watcher now
playing at the Comedy theatre but the
subject is treated in such a crude way
that the play is not likely to convert
any seoffers. The watcher is the spirit
of a dead mother which hovers within
The limited and material confines OF q
New York fat and guards the destiniet
OF family whose existence is a series OF
Inisfortunes
Not until the last act does the Twin,
influence of the mothers spirit bring
harmony into the family The play reek
with sensationalitn, and the sordldnes
of some of the chafacters at times nrnve
disgusting