Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-01
ADJUSTMENTS
Belasco.

The name "Grossmith" is one to con-
jure with in the realms of English
comedy, associated as it is with some
Of the most emphatic successes Of the
London stage. It is no presumption to
present Mr.. Weldon Grossmith as 1.-THE
eminent English comedian" nor have
the heralds who described Miss Gran
Vile as an English beauty Of the stun
ming type been unduly sanguine In
r. c. Carton, has to his credit one play,
Lord and Lady Algy," which must
live in admiring recollection among all
who enjoy the lighter side Of the drama,
without demanding buffoonery.
'Mr. Preedy and the Countess" which.
after its London success. was offered for
the first time before an American audi
ence last night. is another study Of Eng
lish social types. with more whtmsicality
and less sentiment in its story. The
| character of Mr.. Preedy has a certain
humorous kinship with the plodding. un-
aspiring heroes who in the stories of w.
w. Jacobs manage to become involved
in the most Irrational mix-ups. There
are few farces whose complications are
not maintained until the close of the
evenings entertainment by the assump-
ton Of abnormal stupidity in one or
more of the characters. A word of frank,
straightforward truth such as would COM
promise nobody would suffice to clarity
the situation in most cases. and the i'm
genuity Of the author is chiefly devoted
to keeping the atmosphere sufficiently
clouded to afford proper background
for his own electric wit and the tenn
peramental display of his actors.
Mr. Grossmith's position in the play is
q highly responsible and difficult one,
calculated to tax even the powers or q
PLAYER of his proficiency and discretion.
The plot requires him to prove that a
man Of timid personality in an emergency
may become bold, resourceful and keen
of intelligence, faltering only at such
junctures where a display of these quail
tiles would interfere with the author s
praiseworthy project Of postponing the
denouement until a reasonable hour Tor
bringing down the final curtain. Like ali
English comedians, Mr.. Grossmith pro-
ceeds to his duties as comedian with a
fitting sense of responsibility; he sights
no opportunity to appeal for a laugh.
either by the passing play on words. by
physical indebtedness or by absurdity
of costume. BY all the rules and meas
urements applied by serious-minded folk
in an effort to reduce humor to an exact
science, the performance is exceedingly
funny.
All the elements of contrast are sup
piled: Mr.. Preedy, conscious of his own
moral rectitude, is small and nervous;
the countess, as dashing madcap as
Lady Algy herself, iS stately and
serene; the leading characters are
forced to do things entirely at variance
with their sense of personal dignity
and considerations of propriety are
strictly observed in the face OF an
apparent defiance Of conventions. The
action holds a fairly rapid pace, in
spite of the necessity of narrating
things which have already occurred
for the benefit of characters who had
the misfortune to be absent at the time
and who must understand them in
order to let the plot proceed.
The players were among friends, a
representative Washington audience
being in attendance The laughter was
frequent and the applause hearty. a
spirit of unmistakable welcome and
well-wishing being manifest.